Bringing Camp to Kids Impacted by DisasteR

Welcome to the Rapid Response Camp Network (RRCN) 

The Rapid Response Camp Network (RRCN) is a coalition of camps and camp professionals ready to support their communities after natural disasters. By using local expertise and resources, the RRCN helps Project:Camp ensure families have immediate access to trauma-informed childcare when they need it most.

Camp Decision Makers

Sign up to partner with us to prepare for possible needs in your area

Sign up here

Individual Camp Professionals

Sign up to join our ranks of On-Call Directors

Sign up here

How RRCN Camps Contribute:

Local Coordination

Introduce Project:Camp to other local partners, including schools, youth-facing organizations, and emergency management

Facility Support

Identify or provide space for temporary programs

Volunteer Recruitment

Use alumni and staff networks to find skilled childcare volunteers

Resource Sharing

Loan or give supplies like recreational equipment and art materials

Community Outreach

Make sure impacted families know about available camp services

On Call Directors

The On-Call Director program is for experienced camp professionals. Deploy with us and work alongside the Project:Camp team to direct and run a pop-up camp. Any time we pop up a camp, we’ll reach out to see if you’re available to come. A deployment is typically 7 days, including travel.

Deployment Details:

  • Stipend: On-Call Directors receive a daily stipend for their leadership.

  • Logistics: Project:Camp covers all travel, meals, and lodging costs. 

  • Professional Growth: This is a chance to apply camp management skills in emergency situations.

Case Study: The RRCN in Action

In January 2025, wildfires struck Southern California. Because we had a network of On-Call Directors and RRCN Camps in place, our response was remarkable: 

  • 10 Pop-Up Camps opened in just days. 

  • Key Partners: Tumbleweed Day Camp, Tom Sawyer Camps, Catalina Island Camps, Catalina Sea Camp, Camp Bob Waldorf. 

  • RRCN Camps provided the staff, local venues, and volunteer alumni needed to quickly expand our reach.

On-Call Director FAQ’s

  • Once you apply, we’ll review your camp leadership experience. If it matches our needs, you’ll undergo our Trauma-Informed Disaster Response training. After that, you’re officially in the 'Ready Pool.' When a deployment is triggered, we send out a 'Call to Action' to the pool. If you're available on those dates, you say 'Yes,' and we will reach out to let you know who is going and when. We take care of your flights, lodging, and logistics right away.

  •  Our standard program model is five days, but with travel and setup, an On-Call Director usually commits to about seven days.

  • During the deployment, you are a part of our team. We respect your expertise, which is why we offer a daily stipend and cover 100% of your travel, lodging, and meals.

  • We look for high-level experience, such as Assistant Director, Director, or seasoned Department Head. Once you’re part of the group, we provide trauma-informed training you’ll need before you deploy.

Camp Frequently asked questions

  • Not at all. RRCN activation is 'opt-in.' If we reach out and you’re in the middle of your own summer session, you just say “not this time.”

  • We respect your inbox. You’ll likely hear from us once a quarter with network updates, optional zoom trainings, and learning opportunities. If a disaster strikes we will contact the RRCN and On-Call Directors to assess availability.

  • Item descriptionWe are a needs-based organization. We only deploy when a disaster disrupts local childcare and schools. In a typical year, that might mean 3 to 5 deployments across the country. However, as the climate changes and disasters become more frequent, we are scaling to meet that need. For example, in early 2025, we ran 10 camps at the same time during the LA wildfires.

  • RRCN is a voluntary response network. Your camp comes first. We know that June through August is the busy season for the industry. If we activate the network during the summer and you’re fully booked or understaffed, you simply decline the request. The RRCN is made to be a flexible coalition. We only want you to respond if it doesn't compromise your own program’s safety or mission.

  • The RRCN offers several avenues for camps and their staff to contribute when activated, which include: 

    • Community Liaison & Local Influence: Camp directors can introduce Project:Camp to local contacts, including emergency management personnel, schools, and other youth facing professionals. This action opens channels to community leaders and helps forge local partnerships. 

    • Provide Physical Space: Camps that remain operational after a disaster can function as the site for the pop-up camp. These sites offer a secure, familiar, and well-equipped setting for children displaced by the emergency. Camps may also know of and direct Project:Camp to appropriate spaces within their community. 

    • Volunteer Recruitment: By reaching out to staff, alumni networks and other connections, camps can help recruit local volunteers with childcare skills to help staff pop-up camps.

    • Community Awareness: Camps can help spread the word to impacted families about resources available to them during emergencies. Because camps have a direct line to kids, they can help ensure members of their community know about pop-up camps that have been set up while schools and other childcare is disrupted.

    • Staff Deployment: Experienced staff members can join the Project:Camp on-call team. They will provide direct leadership at pop-up camps in disaster zones, ensuring quality programming and trauma-informed care. 

    • Provide Supplies: Camps can donate or loan program supplies, such as art materials and recreational equipment. This ensures that temporary camps are engaging, safe, and adequately resourced.

  • The Disaster Response Timeline: How it Works  

    STEP 1: THE TRIGGER 

    Disaster Strikes. Project:Camp monitors the situation. If schools or childcare are disrupted, we prepare to deploy. Members of the RRCN may be contacted as we gather information. 

    STEP 2: THE ACTIVATION 

    The RRCN Alert. We reach out to the network for spaces, volunteer & camper outreach, etc. 

    On-Call Directors: Who is available for the next seven days?

    STEP 3: THE DEPLOYMENT 

    Logistics in Motion. Project:Camp books flights, lodging, and transportation for Directors. We either ship supplies or source them locally. We finalize insurance and permits.  

    STEP 4: THE POP-UP  

    Camp Opens (usually within 48 hours after deployment). Directors arrive, local volunteers are vetted, trained and briefed, and kids come to camp 9am-3pm for trauma-informed play and community.  

    STEP 5: THE HAND-OFF  

    Recovery Continues. As schools reopen, we close the pop-up and provide families with resources for long-term recovery. Directors return home with a stipend and new skills. 

  • We provide specialized trauma-informed care training so you’re prepared for the specific needs of kids in a disaster zone.

  • First, make sure you are signed up as an RRCN camp. If a disaster affects your area, we’ll reach out to see if your facility is safe and available. From there, we handle the heavy lifting: we supply the On-Call Directors, the program, and the insurance. You provide the 'home base,' and together we get kids back to play.

  • Project:Camp has its own liability insurance that covers our pop-up operations. When we team up with a RRCN site, we make sure our coverage works alongside yours to keep everyone protected.

  • It’s not therapy; it’s therapeutic play. We focus on felt safety, routine, and empowerment. We use structured activities that help kids gain a sense of control and calm while their world is in chaos.

  • That’s where the RRCN is crucial. We collaborate with local government, emergency management, and the camps in our network to spread the word to families through social media, shelters, and community hubs.

  • We’re a non-profit. Our camps are always free for families, and we handle the funding for staff stipends and logistics.

Hear From Parents

“For my daughter, the best part of [Project:Camp] was seeing someone familiar and being able to see one of her best friends from school who, like the rest of us, has been flung about like puzzle pieces. There’s a lot of uncertainty for adults and kids alike so being able to experience something positive in the middle of all this -- I vicariously gained hope through it.”

— Sierra, parent of Cidra

“I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was. I have two active boys. It was such a relief that they were safe, active and having a good time during this period of high stress.”

— Zanetta, parent of Zachary and Vinny

“Project:Camp really was a godsend. Being evacuated, there were no resources, no community. But coming to camp, with the structure and the friends and the fun, gave [my boys] something to look forward to while we figured out next steps.”

— Jenna, parent of Titan and Bear

Some of our past camps

We work nationwide to ensure that every child impacted by disasters is cared for, working with community partners to provide trauma-informed programming for kids to process through play.

  • In response to the Lahaina fire's devastation, Project:Camp was on the ground almost immediately to set up a day camp at the Maui YMCA. Our days at camp were filled with fun adventures like exploring a community garden, crafting paper airplanes, and playing "Captain's Coming," all while providing a nurturing environment for children to process their experiences and find safety and stability. Our presence on Maui was met with overwhelming support, reflecting the community's resilience and desire to heal. After a successful two-week pop-up camp, we transitioned the camp's operations to the Maui YMCA, helping to meet the continued need for childcare on the island. 

  • Project:Camp's response to Hurricane Ian involved a collaborative effort with Charlotte County Government and Save the Children, offering over 2,000 hours of trauma-informed childcare amidst the storm's widespread destruction. With additional support from Walt Disney World Resort, including donations of Mickey Mouse plushies, we brought smiles and comfort to the children, emphasizing the power of community and partnership in times of crisis. The camp also served as a vital support system for the children of first responders, playing a key role in the community's recovery efforts. This experience reinforced our commitment to providing essential childcare during disasters, highlighting its impact on overall recovery processes.

  • Facing the early onset of wildfire season, Project:Camp established a pop-up camp in Glorieta, NM, outside of Santa Fe, offering a safe and engaging space for children affected by the wildfires. The camp featured a variety of activities, including sports, arts and crafts, and an educational tour of the solar system, facilitated by the support of Glorieta Adventure Camps and local volunteers. Over the course of 10 days, we delivered 1,488 hours of free, trauma-informed childcare to more than 50 unique campers, providing relief and normalcy to families in crisis. This initiative not only helped the children and their families but also showcased the strength and generosity of the New Mexico community, coming together to support those in need.