Campfire Conversations

Mikey Latner, the founder of Project Camp, which combines summer camp with disaster response to support children and families affected by crises, shares the inspiration behind Project Camp, emphasizing the importance of providing safe, engaging spaces for kids during disasters, and discusses the trauma-informed approach used in their programs. The conversation highlights the significance of addressing childcare needs during emergencies and the ongoing efforts to build community connections for long-term support.

A former camp director with two decades of camp experience under his belt, Mikey founded Project: Camp with the idea that camp and childcare professionals have critical skills to offer in times of emergency. In developing our pop-up camp model, Mikey strives to use the structure of camp as a vehicle to bring joy, safety, and peace of mind to children and parents impacted by natural disasters. He hopes this work leads to a seismic shift in the disaster response ecosystem, creating a more holistic, trauma-informed, and community-driven model that prioritizes the needs of families during emergencies.

For more resources about psychological trauma, adverse childhood experiences, community support, and mental health, check out PPN Resource Central, an expertly curated database of thousands of resources related to giving care to children — every day and in crises.

References

• Project: Camp
• Trauma-Informed Care – American Academy of Pediatrics