"Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota expresses the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community."

Why do kids need Camp Noah?

Every time a natural disaster occurs, 25% or more of those affected are children. Since 1983, there has been a 500% increase in global humanitarian emergencies and in this past decade the United States has experienced 250% more major natural disasters than 40 years ago.

In addition, human-caused disasters like Oklahoma City, 911, the 35W Bridge collapse and school shootings have left children with a multitude of mental health issues:

• A study published in Psychiatry 2002 showed that 69% of all school-age children were likely to suffer severe impairments after disaster trauma.
• In a study of 665 displaced hurricane Katrina families, nearly half reported at least one child with emotional or behavioral difficulties.
• Many studies following 9/11 indicate that the mental health issues faced by those children will continue to manifest for years to come.
• Since 9/11 and hurricane Katrina, there has been an increasing awareness of the long-term psychological affect of disaster on children and yet little has been done to address this very issue.