Camp Noah

Camp Noah is a nationally acclaimed resiliency and preparedness day camp that brings hope to children Camp Noah teaches kids that they are not alone.

"So often, following a disaster of traumatic event, a young child may think that his or her thoughts or behaviors caused the terrible event to happen. What's worse is that they carry this fear secretly inside." - Melanie Davis, founder of Camp Noah

Over the past two decades, Camp Noah has quickly responded across the country to a wide range of natural and human-caused disasters - guiding children

toward a brighter future as they earn the phrase, "When things are tough, I learn a lot - about who I am, and what I've got!" Camp Noah is the only national program providing child-specific resiliency-building curriculum during a community's long-term recovery. Since it began in 1997, thousands of committed volunteers, donors, and community partners have helped support more than 14,000 children, hosting Camp Noah in 29 states and Puerto Rico. They develop critical skills that help them emotionally recover not only after disaster, but also from future challenges throughout their adolescence and into adulthood. Campers share their disaster stories, grieve their losses, plan for their future, play with purpose, and learn lifelong resiliency skills in a safe, structured setting. They also learn how to support others facing the unexpected - such as their friends and family members who are coping with their own challenges.

10/17/2025

After more than two decades of serving children and communities impacted by disaster, Camp Noah’s services will be going on an indefinite pause.

Camp Noah has been a source of hope, healing and resilience for children across the country. Through creative activities, storytelling and community-building, the program has helped youth process their experiences and build the tools they need to thrive. We are deeply proud of the legacy Camp Noah leaves behind and the lives it has touched.

We would like to thank all the volunteers and donors who have supported Camp Noah along the way. While Camp Noah will not be active for the foreseeable future, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota remains committed to supporting children and families in times of crisis. LSS remains committed in how the energy, creativity and lessons of skill-building and resiliency will continue to present themselves in LSS offerings now and in the future.

We hope to be able to resume Camp Noah activities at a later, currently undetermined date, and will continue to share energy, creativity and lessons of skill-building and resiliency through our services.

Thank you for being a part of Camp Noah.

12/12/2023

Camp Noah had a fantastic year and worked with many wonderful partners to bring hope and healing to children across the country.

Find out where we were in 2023, by reading our latest quarterly newsletter and don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date on all the latest camp and volunteer opportunities across the country.

12/06/2023

It’s December which means it’s cooling down and we’re gearing up for the Holidays! If you’re looking for an inside activity we encourage you to make fleece tie blankets for Camp Noah! These handmade blankets are fun and easy to make with a group of friends, and they become essential comfort items to kids who have experienced trauma. Click here for more information:

08/03/2023

Camp Noah has been providing programming from sea to shining sea this summer.

Check out our latest quarterly newsletter for more information and don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date on all the latest camp and volunteer opportunities across the country.

08/02/2023

Check out some of the amazing work happening with recovery in Eastern Kentucky!
https://www.weku.org/kentucky-arts-culture/2023-07-24/camp-held-in-eky-for-kids-focuses-on-resiliency-and-preparedness-for-flood-survivors?fbclid=IwAR1I_Hk5e3Ocn-VHWs820syVgZY4UcCNZR0safyVE9XErEChcBZG7lG1xtg

07/05/2023

What kind of parties do lions go to? A Lion dance!

Campers in Caldwell County Kentucky are taking time to practice their lion’s breath at Camp Noah!

05/02/2023

We are gearing up for a great summer here at Camp Noah! As we get closer to summer, we're continuing to look for donations in order to make this summer the best it can be! Every child who attends Camp Noah receives a Fleece Tie blanket and a variety of other items! We are currently looking for fleece tie blankets or kid's kits donations. If you want to get involved in helping prepare for this summer take a look at the options below!
https://www.lssmn.org/campnoah/get-involved/donate-goods

02/08/2023

To make an end is to make a beginning, T.S. Eliot

Please join Camp Noah in thanking Ruth Talford for six years of service! Ruth has made the decision to leave Camp Noah to pursue her ongoing passion for serving the most vulnerable by taking a position in Guided Decision Making. Although we will miss her greatly – we know that Ruth continues to hold Camp Noah in her heart.

On to brighter news: Camp Noah would like you to join us in welcoming Zach Rider to the team! Zach comes to us with a strong background in service. As a Youth Director for two congregations, a Program Director for a summer camp, and a recipient of a B.A. in Elementary Education; Zach has a lot to offer Camp Noah. Feel free to reach out to Zach at [email protected].

12/06/2022

A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers who made Camp Noah possible in communities across the United States! In 2022, 138 volunteers served at our summer camps for a total of 3,663 hours! In addition, dozens more of you helped with packing camp supplies, organizing blanket-making events and made Kids Kits and birthday cards for our campers. We could not do this work without you and hope that you know that the time and energy you give through Camp Noah really does make a difference in the lives of children in disaster-impacted communities around the country.

11/30/2022

“This is a great opportunity for kids in our area to meet new friends, have fun and tell their own disaster story,” said Grace Alworth, Camp Noah program manager for Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri.
“There are many personal ‘storms’ we all face in life. Our goal is to give kids special support and teach them skills they can use to face challenges now and in the future with confidence and hope.”

Camp Noah was recently featured in a news story in Paducah, Kentucky about seeking host partners for camps in Kentucky and Tennessee communities hit by the December 2021 tornadoes.

Check out the full story and feel free to share this out with your networks!

Camp Noah, a day camp aiming to bring hope and healing to children living in tornado-impacted areas, is seeking partners to host a week-long camp in areas hit by the

11/17/2022

Give to the Max Day 2022 is here! On this Minnesota giving holiday, please consider supporting Camp Noah, a program of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota..

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) supports neighbors in all 87 counties of our state - children and families, youth and veterans, people with disabilities and older adults. Thanks to your generosity, we serve 1 in every 65 Minnesotans. Will you join us?

11/07/2022

November is Native American Heritage Month. It is an opportunity to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of the individuals and tribes who are indigenous to North America and ensure their rich histories and contributions can live on with each passing generation. We at Camp Noah especially appreciate our Native partners for their commitment and ingenuity in adapting our programing in recent years to affirm their culture while facilitating hope and healing for children in their communities.

Address

709 University Ave W
Saint Paul, MN
55104

Telephone

+18009870061

Website

http://campnoah.lssmn.org/

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Our Story

Disaster changes lives — especially for children. Whatever type of disaster or trauma they have experienced, children often need support to process what has happened. Over the past two decades, Camp Noah has quickly responded across the country to a wide range of natural and human-caused disasters - guiding children toward a brighter future as they learn the phrase, "When things are tough, I learn a lot - about who I am, and what I've got!" During Camp Noah, a team of certified camp staff accompany campers through a proven resiliency building curriculum that enables children to process their disaster and trauma experiences. Each camp is customized to the local community and offers children a safe space to tell their stories and build the resiliency skills they need to move forward.

The first Camp Noah was held in 1997 in response to flooding in the Red River Valley. Since then, thousands of committed volunteers, donors, and community partners have helped support more than 14,000 children, hosting Camp Noah in 29 states and Puerto Rico.