Lutheran Disaster Response > Spiritual & Emotional Care > For Children

For Children

It’s not just grown-ups that have something to do to help people after disaster. At Lutheran Disaster Response we thank kids for the great things you can do to help us respond to disasters. When you get a little older you might volunteer to help in a place where a disaster has happened. Until then, there are two REALLY important things you can do.

One, you can PRAY. When you say your prayers, please pray for all people who have had a disaster happen. Pray for their safety, pray for their needs, pray for them as they work so hard to clean up and rebuild, pray for all people that are helping them.

Two, you can LEARN. There are many wonderful things to learn about how to help make your home safe from a future disaster.

FEMA for Kids - a site that teaches how to be a Disaster Action Kid.

You can also learn about severe weather and how to prepare for it:

          http://www.education.noaa.gov/students.html

          http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/
 

"God's Can Do Kids" & "Renew U" -   NEW!

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response offers an exciting package of two curriculum for youth who have experienced disaster. "God's Can Do Kids" is designed for children ages 5-13 and helps youth to deal with their fears and stress through crafts, games, and other activities. "Gearing up – Renew U!" is designed for youth ages 14-18 and empowers youth to deal with their fears and stress through hands-on projects that teach practical skills.

Both programs are centered around people in the Bible who overcame personal disasters with the help of God. The two curriculum come in a single, reversible binder and can be easily used by groups in disaster-affected areas. The curriculum are flexible to a community's specific needs and can be held in a few days or over a weekend.

Order "God's Can Do Kids" & "Renew U" for use in your community.
 

Camp Noah

Camp Noah, a program supported by Lutheran Disaster Response, is designed to help children process their feelings and fears following a disaster and to allow children an emotional break from recovery through play and recreation. Disaster processing is incorporated into Bible studies to let children know that God’s loving care surrounds them through the disaster and recovery. The curriculum follows Noah and the flood story and helps the children relate their disaster with Noah’s disaster.

Camp Noah was created in Minnesota, after the floods of the Red River in 1997, as a week-long day camp for children who had survived the flooding. The idea grew out of a need to respond to children who had lost not only their homes but their playgrounds and schools. Children had also lost their summers of fun and play - the majority of city recreational programs were cancelled. For families with younger children, many lost their childcare provider. In East Grand Forks alone, the floods destroyed 19 of the 22 childcare centers.

Camp Noah's daily schedule typically includes opening worship, Bible study/disaster process, snacks, crafts, lunch, all-camp games, fun activities in small groups, field trips and a closing worship. This is a community camp for all children who have completed kindergarten but have not yet entered 7th grade and have been affected by disaster.

Send a child to Camp Noah.