Training Tomorrow’s Workforce for Oregon’s Toughest Challenges

Sharing a recent newsletter article created by our peers at Willamette Workforce Partnership on the Team Oregon Build Ready2Respond Camp.

Day one on the job at Oregon Housing and Community Services was a pivotal moment for Jim Taylor. Tasked with helping rebuild homes for wildfire survivors, Taylor quickly realized the greatest obstacle wasn’t funding or materials, it was people. “We can’t build 20,000 home units in a year if we don’t have people doing the actual work,” he recalled. “We have a pipeline without anything in it.” That realization, together with multiple strategic state and community partners, sparked what would become Team Oregon Build and its immersive Camp Ready2Respond, a hands-on program that prepares Oregon students, educators, and community leadrs to respond to disasters while introducing them to careers in construction, emergency management, and community resilience. During the camp, students built fire-hardened emergency shelters, participated in disaster simulations, and learned the practical skills needed to help communities recover after a crisis. There were over 130 students from across Oregon, including several from Lane County, participating in this year’s inaugural camp. This summer camp experience would not have been possible without the support of our local Team Oregon Build partners at Lane Education Service District and PIVOT Architecture.

Jim Taylor standing inside one of the microshelters built during Ready2Respond.

A view of the on-site kitchen that provided meals to the campers, as well as a real-world work experience for the students who were in the Culinary track of Ready2Respond.

Rather than asking schools to change what they were already doing well, Taylor envisioned a partnership that strengthened existing career and technical education (CTE) programs. “The solution is, go to the kids,” he said. “You have to go back to the source of where talent is and guide them to the place and space that you need them.” Since the launch of Team Oregon Build in 2024, that vision has grown into a statewide effort involving 100 schools and more than 12,000 students. Along the way, students have built hundreds of emergency shelter units while gaining valuable construction experience. But for Taylor, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom. “Kids are solving problems that many adults have not been able to solve,” he said, describing how the shelters can help wildfire survivors remain on their own property, stay connected to their schools and jobs, and begin rebuilding their lives sooner.

At its heart, Camp Ready2Respond is about preparing the next generation to face challenges that are becoming more common across Oregon, and the country. Students spend the week responding to a simulated disaster, learning teamwork, communication, and emergency response techniques alongside technical construction skills. “Readiness means I must be ready for something to happen,” Taylor explained. “Response means I must be able to respond to something that’s happened. If we can be ready to respond so we can recover faster, that is a resilience loop.” Ready2Respond gives students practical skills, introduces them to careers in disaster recovery, and helps prepare the workforce Oregon can depend on when disaster strikes.

From left to right, and top to bottom: Students in the construction track built a temporary shelter. These tents provided by the Oregon National Guard are where the campers and volunteers slept. The outside of the temporary chow hall, also contributed by the Oregon National Guard. School districts across Oregon are participating – Monument School District is located in Grant County, Central Oregon.

Ready2Respond concluded Thursday, June 25th with students opening “Build City” to families, partners and supporters at Knife River Training Center (KRTC), which donated its state-of-the-art facility for the camp. Students honored Knife River Assistant Event Manager Will Crowe by naming him the honorary “Mayor of Build City” before guests explored disaster simulations, toured the construction projects and gathered for a community dinner. During the evening’s keyote address, a bald eagle circled overhead, followed by a flock of pelicans. Attendees later described the moment as very emotional, and a reminder that hope, resilience, and community often arrive when people come together to build something bigger than themselves.

If you’d like to see camp Ready2Respond in action, visit their Facebook Page and Instagram for videos, interviews, and content from the students who participated!