High school students from the Gulf Coast spent four days at Texas A&M University learning how to protect their communities from natural disasters.
Camp DASH (Disaster, Advocacy, Sustainability and Health) is a summer academy that helps teens explore careers in climate resilience, public health, disaster response and urban planning, while building the skills and confidence to pursue them. Hosted by the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center (HRRC) in partnership with Charity Productions, the camp also offers students a first-hand look into college life.
This summer, 25 high school students joined the camp from June 24–27, traveling from Southeast Texas cities, with one student from Puerto Rico. Students lived in on-campus dorms, explored career paths and learned with hands-on activities tied to this year’s camp theme: flooding and storms.
Seth Jordan, the Camp DASH director, said many of the students come from coastal areas hit by hurricanes and environmental disasters.
Camp DASH helps them understand how urban planning affects communities and how disaster response professionals help. Jordan said early exposure to careers in these areas helps students see where they might fit in.
From Simulations to Real-World Solutions
Camp activities were coordinated by Dr. Michelle Meyer and Seth Jordan of HRRC; Jaimie Masterson and Cedric Shy of Texas Target Communities (TxTC); and Dr. Benika Dixon of the College of Public Health.
Students were immersed in activities that made learning about climate planning tangible. They ran stormwater infrastructure assessments, participated in emergency disaster simulations and redesigned vulnerable communities in a planning workshop.
They also attended a firefighter training demonstration hosted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), getting a close look at the preparation required for disaster response.
At TEEX, students suited up for emergency response drills, like practicing CPR and operating a firehose. Campers even donned hazmat suits to practice their dexterity. For many, it was their first hands-on glimpse into the world of first responders.
Seventeen-year-old Aaron Miller of West Orange, Texas, said he was surprised to learn how many types of water hoses firefighters use. “You could turn the fog nozzle all the way to the right and create a water shield for yourself if you underestimate the fire.”
Changing the Way Students See the Future
By the final day, Cedric Shy of TxTC said attendees were thinking about careers in a different way. Many students said the camp helped them learn more than they could in a traditional classroom setting.
“This is like a getaway for me, and it’s really fun,” said Alexis Robles, 15, of West Orange, Texas. “I love learning, and it’s really engaging.”
The campers connected their lessons on climate and disaster careers directly to the challenges their hometowns face. Jordan said students see themselves as able to change their community for the better in urban planning.
“At first I wanted to do sociology and psychology, but being at this camp twice really influenced my changes,” Miller said. “I want to get a minor in urban planning. I’m really interested in how it connects to society and how politics flow into how places are planned.”
Jordan said not every student plans to pursue a career in disaster response, but the experience leaves a lasting impression.
“Even if they’re working in a job not related to emergency management or disasters, when that hurricane hits their community, they’re going to be a little more prepared. They’re going to be thinking a little more broadly, and they can take volunteer or leadership roles.”
— Seth Jordan, Director of Camp DASH