SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

HUNTSVILLE – Courtney Powell, a student at McKenzie School, recently attended Be Ready Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Space Center is NASA’s Official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center. The weeklong educational camp program was established in 2006 by the State of Alabama Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Alabama Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Madison County Emergency Management Agency and the USSRC.

Be Ready Camp is designed to educate young citizens about disaster preparedness while using a modified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training as a basis.

Powell spent the week training on search and rescue, first aid, shelter building, emergency kit preparedness and fire safety. The week concluded with a mock disaster experience in which the trainees used the skills they learned throughout the week to rescue survivors and aid victims of a simulated plane crash in a realistic setting.

Powell was recognized at a graduation ceremony for outstanding efforts and skills learned throughout the week.

Open to sixth graders throughout the State of Alabama, Be Ready Camp is a residential program that is free to selected participants. It is held annually at the USSRC, home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.