Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Camp to be held on NSU campus

(Tahlequah, Oklahoma) -- The Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council will be hosting the first ever Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Camp July 14-18, on the Northeastern State University Tahlequah campus. The free camp is open to students entering ninth through 12th grades.

This camp is geared toward students who are interested in helping their school and community be more prepared for emergency situations. Participants will learn basic response skills, teamwork skills and community action planning, all in a stimulating and fun environment. All participants, including adult sponsors, will receive a full 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team training that includes a CERT certificate of completion.

NSU Emergency Manager Andi Smith said she is honored that NSU has been chosen to host this camp.

Not only will it prepare these young adults with the basic life skills they need, it will also improve the overall safety and preparedness of their homes, schools and communities, she said. Preparing these students is the greatest gift we can give them.

During camp, all participants, including adult sponsors, will stay in residence halls at NSU.

Deadline to register is June 15.

The Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council is seeking sponsors to make the camp available to all students at no cost. They are accepting funding and donations of camp supplies, meeting space and volunteer time. Sponsorship packages are available. 

About the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council:

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security works with local emergency managers, tribes, volunteer agencies, youth and FEMA Region 6 to develop youth disaster preparedness in Oklahoma. To promote youth preparedness at all levels, they formed the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council, which is made up of public safety professionals from various disciplines and multiple Oklahoma youth from Oklahoma communities.

The program seeks to educate youth in local communities about disaster preparedness and response.