Camp Noah is a locally hosted week-long event for elementary-age children whose communities have been impacted by disaster. Camp Noah provides a safe, caring and fun environment where children build resiliency skills within the familiarity of their own communities, using a proven curriculum designed to help children process their disaster and/or trauma experience through creative activities and play. Mount Olivet's team is going to Cloquet, MN June 21-26! As you may recall, the Duluth area experienced massive flooding in 2012—and the effects still linger. Since then, Camp Noah has been bringing hope, healing and wholeness to the affected communities, and it’s finally Cloquet’s turn. Two churches in this community on the St. Louis River and the edge of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation are eager to host our team and the Camp Noah program.

Because of the location, participant costs and the number of days have been greatly reduced. The cost will now be $260 for the program fee, background check, mandatory training, uniform t-shirt, and transportation, plus six evening meals at your own expense. Lodging and two meals a day are provided, and stays in host homes (as well as at one of the churches) will be available. Carpools will be arranged, and participants will depart the Twin Cities at noon on Sunday, June 21 and return home around 8 p.m. on Friday, June 26. Some scholarships are available to help offset costs.

Camp Noah is a respected and effective model of trauma response in a day camp format. This is a unique opportunity to receive training and experience in the type of environment MCLC hopes to become. Volunteers in this adult-staffed camp must be at least 18 years old, discreet, energetic, caring and work well with children. Online training (five to six hours) and at least two of three two-hour group sessions are mandatory before departure. Volunteers will serve as small-group leaders and assistants, as well as actors/puppeteers.

For more information, contact Lisa Hansen at nodakeric@aol.com.