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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 16, 2024 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Recognition of Graduates of the 2023 Orange County Youth Preparedness <br /> Camp <br /> DEPARTMENT: Cooperative Extension and <br /> Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Jonathon Smith, County Extension <br /> Director, 919-245-2057 <br /> Sarah Pickhardt, Division Chief of <br /> Emergency Management, 919-245- <br /> 6135 <br /> Kirby Saunders, Emergency Services <br /> Director, 919-245-6123 <br /> PURPOSE: To recognize Molly Selleck and Layla Woolfolk for fulfilling all requirements to <br /> graduate from the 2023 Orange County Youth Preparedness Camp, including completion of the <br /> PREP+6 Service project, impacting the disaster readiness level of fourteen (14) area families. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Orange County Youth Preparedness Camp is an annual day camp for <br /> Orange County teens conducted by Orange County Cooperative Extension and Orange County <br /> Emergency Services. The Camp was first offered in 2018 and is based on the National Youth <br /> Preparedness Initiative founded by Mississippi State Extension. The Camp has been held <br /> annually in Orange County in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. <br /> During the June 26-30, 2023 camp, students engaged with the Federal Emergency Management <br /> Agency (FEMA) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) curriculum, exploring topics <br /> from search & rescue to emergency medical services to fire safety. Instructors during the week <br /> were County emergency services professionals and members of the Orange County Sheriff's <br /> Office, as well as employees with the Department of Social Services. Through experiential <br /> learning activities, presenters provided insight with youth into their career paths and <br /> responsibilities. Youth also earned CPR/AED certification and participated in a disaster simulation <br /> to apply skills learned throughout the week. <br /> In order to officially graduate from the camp, youth are encouraged to impact their community <br /> preparedness level by completing the PREP+6 project. This project requires each participating <br /> youth to help their own household as well as six other area households develop an emergency <br /> preparedness kit and communication plan. The camp participants provide educational resources <br /> from FEMA to each household and provide additional guidance on ways to improve the <br />