fb pixel
DONATE

Camping 101 and Emergency Preparedness

Preparing for Emergencies by Building Resilience

Since the release of the Baldwin Hills Community Resilience and Access Plan in 2022, Climate Resolve has been working to implement key recommendations, from pursuing funding for climate-resilient infrastructure to leading programming in the Baldwin Hills Parklands. Enhancing community programs at the Parklands was a central tenet of the Resilience and Access Plan, which recognized that any improvements to resilience infrastructure should be coupled with educational programming to better prepare communities for climate change.  To deliver on this recommendation, Climate Resolve partnered with Tim Jones, an outdoor education instructor and Resident Advisory Committee member during the development of the Baldwin Hills Community Resilience and Access Plan, as well as Listos California, a project of California’s Office of Emergency Services, to create a class series called Camping 101 and Emergency Preparedness. Climate Resolve, Tim Jones and Listos California each offered their expertise to create a family-friendly and engaging curriculum that connects the self-sufficiency and social cohesion skills needed for camping and emergency preparedness with the knowledge needed to build resilience to local climate change impacts like heat waves or floods. Designed for residents of the surrounding communities, especially from South LA, the no-cost classes increased participants’ awareness of the Baldwin Hills Parklands as an available resource and enhanced knowledge around camping, emergency preparedness, and climate change. The class series would not have been possible without the support of Accelerate Resilience LA, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Transportation funding was provided by the Reinhardt Family Foundation.

In 2023 and 2024, Climate Resolve organized two Camping 101 and Emergency Preparedness classes at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.


The inaugural class, held in September 2023, was divided into three sections. Tim Jones guided participants through setting up a tent site and visually showed how to plan a camping trip with easy-to-access and affordable supplies. Nadia Wiggins from Listos, California, demonstrated how to assemble a “Go Bag” for emergencies, showcasing essential items like flashlights, non-perishable food, and portable chargers.


Climate Resolve discussed the importance of nature spaces like parks when facing extreme heat and shared information on ways our organization is preparing communities for climate change through infrastructure solutions and resident engagement. Inclusivity and accessibility were central considerations in the class design, so the classes included live Spanish translation, breakfast pastries and lunch, kid’s activities, and enticing raffle prizes, all provided free of charge. 


Building on the success of the first session, the second class was held in February 2024 and featured a similar interactive curriculum. Notably, we increased our outreach efforts and attracted over 75 participants from neighboring communities. We also provided a complimentary shuttle service to the class from a nearby transit station to make the class more accessible and offered bigger raffle prizes, including a brand new family-sized tent and starter Go Bags.

Camping 101 and Emergency Preparedness Curriculum

Click here to watch a recap of a Camping 101 and Emergency Preparedness Class.

Testimonials from Class Participants

“I enjoyed the interactive activities, discovering the park, and learning about how to camp from an expert.”
“I loved that we all had an opportunity to pitch a tent!”
“I will continue to be conscious about the climate and advocate for improvements in urban areas!”
“Parks matter and should be taken advantage of.”
“I learned that preparation is key!”

Partners

Tim Jones

Tim Jones is a seasoned instructor for outdoor recreation, and his experience includes coordinating “Gone Fishing at Kenny Hahn Park” and “Family Camping 101.” Tim served as Vice-Chairperson of the Los Angeles County Fish and Game Commission and an instructor for the California Certified Hunter Education. His other roles include United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 3-4 District 11SR, Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor, and Boy Scouts of America leader. He is a member of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, California Bow Hunters Association, Sierra Club, National Rifle Association, and South Bay Archery Club.

Listos California

Anchored at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) since 2019, Listos California has succeeded in reaching millions of Californians who otherwise wouldn’t have access to lifesaving emergency preparedness information. They engage a statewide network of community-based organizations, Tribal Governments, and Community Emergency Response Teams across the state to boost resilience, provide accessible in-language information, and advance a new culture of disaster preparedness.

Please click here to download a PDF of the Camping 101 & Emergency Preparedness Workbook.

Para descargar el Cuaderno de Acampar 101 y Preparación para Emergencias, por favor haga clic aquí.

Climate Resolve logo featuring a circular ring split into teal and yellow segments next to the words “Climate Resolve” in matching teal and yellow text
Circular logo with a navy blue border and white text reading “Listos California,” featuring a golden bear silhouette and a red star inside a white center.
Circular seal featuring illustrations of trees, a sailboat on water, and a person running under a sun, surrounded by the text “County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation.”
Circular seal of the County of Los Angeles, California, featuring multiple symbols including a ship, a cow, a mission building, a fish, and a central female figure holding a bowl, surrounded by the text “County of Los Angeles California.”