Team Oregon Build is a statewide initiative launched several years ago that teaches students skills needed for careers in the construction trades while learning through the hands-on experience of building shelters for people in need.
By 2026, the partners behind TOB saw a chance to go further and developed Ready2Respond, a five-day, overnight training camp that prepares high school students to respond to disasters while exploring careers in the skilled trades, clean energy, and emergency management.
Over five days in June 2026, 130 students from across the state learned emergency response protocols, construction site operations, heavy equipment awareness, safety systems, and field leadership, working side-by-side with educators, first responders, and industry mentors.
Through our history with Team Oregon Build, the PIVOT team was trusted as a core planning and coordination partner for this first-of-its-kind event.
PIVOT's contributions included:
- Recruiting students and educators statewide
- Building and managing the event budget
- Coordinating with the fiscal partner, Lane ESD
- Assisting with sponsorship, grant, and in-kind donation efforts that generated more than $800,000 in support
- Developing the master supply list
- Managing material procurement
- Coordinating delivery and staging of 12 shed kits and eight shelter kits
- Supporting event marketing and communications
- Compiling outcome and funder reports following the event
- Coordinating delivery of completed shelters to community partners
Ready2Respond exceeded expectations in its first year. More than 130 high school students and 35 educators took part, along with counselors, administrators, industry partners, and state agency and National Guard partners at Knife River’s professional training facility. Students built real emergency-response shelters and support units and learned skills in construction trades, culinary, emergency response, and communications. Educators received paid professional learning, curriculum alignment, industry connections, and a statewide network. Communities gained emergency-ready shelters and a new group of trained youth responders. Planning is already under way to expand the model to more regions of Oregon.
The PIVOT team worked closely with Oregon Housing and Community Services, Knife River, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Human Services, Lane ESD, Lane Workforce Partnership, and many others to make the camp a success. Presenting sponsors Knife River and OHCS were joined by ODF, OEM, ODHS, DRR, and the PGE Foundation, with Lane ESD serving as fiscal partner.
More can be found here: https://ccloregon.org/partners-ready2respond/
