The ultimate, fully immersive summer camp experience preparing Oregon students, educators and community leaders to respond to disaster, crisis and community need–while launching careers in the skilled trades, clean energy and emergency management.
READY2RESPOND UPDATE:
Camp is a wrap.
In June, 130+ students, 35 educators, and dozens of agency and industry partners came together at the Knife River Training Facility for five days of hands-on disaster-response training — and it exceeded what any of us expected:
The work doesn’t stop when camp ends.
Join the Ready2Respond Community for first access to program updates, partner opportunities and next year’s dates.
Our region faces growing demand for skilled infrastructure and emergency response professionals. At the same time, many students lack access to meaningful career-connected learning that shows them tangible pathways into these fields.
Ready2Respond is an immersive training camp that introduces high school students to emergency response protocols, construction site operations, heavy equipment awareness, safety systems, and collaborative field leadership. Students train alongside industry professionals in real-world environments, including Knife River’s training facility, which has been volunteered to provide authentic, hands-on experience.
Knife River has committed its professional training facility to support Ready2Respond, transforming an active industry environment into a learning site for students. This partnership elevates the program from theoretical exposure to experiential training. Students step into the same environment used by professionals—bridging education and industry in a tangible way.
Oregon Housing and Community Services brings statewide leadership and investment to the intersection of housing, community resilience, and workforce development. Through this partnership, OHCS helps anchor Ready2Respond in real-world impact, aligning student learning with critical community needs and reinforcing pathways into careers that strengthen Oregon’s housing and infrastructure systems. Additionally, they’ve committed funding for educator and student scholarships, and kits for building sheds and shelters.
Wildfires, floods, and natural disasters demand a prepared workforce.
Ready2Respond equips high school students with real-world skills, certifications, and leadership experience so they are ready to respond and assist when Oregon needs them most.
This is Career-Connected Learning, Disaster Readiness, and Community Resilience — all in one place.
This June, it became real at Knife River — and it’s only the beginning.
June 22 – 26, 2026 | Overnight, hands-on and unforgettable.Â
Students will:
Built real emergency-response infrastructure (shelters, support units, systems).
Trained alongside educators, first responders, and industry mentors.
Earned industry-recognized certifications and badges, including: First Aid/CPR, CERT, ORVID, Oregon Employability Skills, Incident Command Management, WiseMind Emotional Resilience and OSHA-10.
Site Map & Layout:
Nearly 200 Oregonians took part statewide this June, including:
NOTE*** space is limited and we’ are almost at capacity. Reach out now to reserve a spot for students or educators by contacting us via email connect@teamoregonbuild.org
Students: Career clarity, certifications, leadership, real-world experience
Educators: Paid professional learning, curriculum alignment, industry connections, statewide networking
Communities: Emergency-ready infrastructure, trained youth responders, disaster/crisis resilience
Camp directors, instructional staff and mentors, youth participation costs
Planning, permits, and insurance, safety equipment and training, PPE and tools
Instructional materials and hands-on training, guest instructors and industry demonstrations, workforce pathway exploration activities.
Meals and snacks, transportation assistance, camp supplies and materials
Students: Career clarity, certifications, leadership, real-world experience
Educators: Paid professional learning, curriculum alignment, industry connections, statewide networking
Communities: Emergency-ready infrastructure, trained youth responders, disaster/crisis resilience
For employers, unions, agencies and partners contributing tools, materials, staff time, worksites, or any equipment.
Help remove participation barriers for students:
Meals and snacks
Transportation assistance
Camp supplies and materials
Support career exposure and skill-building:
Hands-on training and certification materials
Guest instructors and industry demonstrations
Workforce pathway exploration activities
Ensure camp operates to the highest safety standards:
Safety & Risk Management Coordinator
Background checks and safety planning
PPE, tools, and safety equipment
Ensures full student sponsorship–including materials–for the duration of the camp.Â
Help capture the impact of Ready2Respond for outreach and sustainability:
Videography and photography
Production support and gear
Youth and partner storytelling
Get 12 shed kits, and 8 shelter kits for student teams to build during the summer camp.
Help underwrite core staffing and instructional costs:
Build materials (including lumber, hardware, etc.)
Planning, permits, and insurance
interactive simulated disaster
Support the entire summer program with:
Camp Director & Assistant Camp Director
Instructional educators and mentors
Youth participation costs
READY TO RESPOND: THE 2026 TEAM OREGON BUILD SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE