Pop-Up Camp Give Respite to Kids Hit by Hurricane Helene

The Weissmans are still facing significant challenges in recovering from the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene last month.

They are working to track down private insurance claims and fill out applications for assistance from the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

With the storm knocking out power in western North Carolina, they are concerned about mold growth in their home.

The storm also devastated Max Weissman’s office, leaving the 45-year-old therapist without a place to meet with patients. Additionally, the building housing the tea company where his wife, Aviva Weissman, worked was leveled.

However, the couple has prioritized their children amid these challenges. Schools have been closed since the storm, and their son Avi, 11, recently helped Max bleach the basement. Aviva temporarily took their 7-year-old daughter Reyna to stay with family in South Carolina before returning home.

Like all children, Avi and Reyna need routine and opportunities for play. On Monday morning, Weissman took them to a free, pop-up day camp where dozens of kids engaged in activities like making bracelets, drawing, and playing oversize games of Jenga and Connect Four in a large playroom. Outside, girls jumped through a hopscotch court as an intense basketball game unfolded nearby.

The camp is organized by the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Project: Camp. As storms grow more frequent and severe, the organization is increasingly visiting disaster-affected communities to create spaces where children can process the disruption and devastation while their parents focus on recovery.

“I feel pretty guilty telling them all the time, ‘I’ve never dealt with this,'” Weissman said. “‘This is the first time we’re dealing with a pandemic. This is the first time we’re dealing with a flood.’ And I feel like it just keeps on.”

The Brevard camp opened Monday and will run through Friday, with schools expected to reopen next week. Project: Camp is discussing potential locations for future camps in nearby communities. Schools cannot resume until water services are restored, and for some counties, the timeline remains uncertain. As of Tuesday, 15 school districts and most of the 21 charter schools in the storm-affected region remained closed, according to the state’s Department of Public Instruction. Three districts plan to resume classes on Wednesday, with more expected to follow next week.

With Hurricane Milton approaching Florida, Project: Camp is preparing for the possibility of providing assistance there as well. “It’s always been the case that there’s a lack of this,” said Dr. Irwin Redlener, founding director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University. “As quickly as possible, we have to begin reestablishing some level of post-disaster normalcy for children … The necessity for play should not be understated.”

Project: Camp volunteers are trained in trauma recovery, facilitating gratitude circles to help children focus on positive thoughts. They also conduct mental and emotional checks, known as “Me” checks, where kids assess their feelings and learn to evaluate their well-being. Importantly, they also just have fun.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press