Master of Disaster: Youth emergency preparedness

Master of Disaster is a free classroom program designed to help young people learn about emergency preparedness. The program teaches youth in grades 4 to 8 about hazards in B.C.—like floods, wildfires, earthquakes and tsunamis—and shows them how to get prepared.

Program kits

Program materials are organized in a teaching kit and a student kit for each learner. These are ordered separately. 

Teaching kit

Each educator will need a teaching kit. It comes with simple instructions for three lesson plans and includes:

• A Teaching Guide to explain curricular alignment and help you plan your lessons
• A grab-and-go bag poster game to create some fun and to decorate your classroom
• Playing cards to use with the grab-and-go bag poster game

The following items are downloadable. Print and copy as needed.

• Letter Home: Program Notice (DOC, 136KB) - Before teaching the first lesson, download, edit and send this letter home with students
• Letter Home 2: Emergency Plan Introduction (DOC) - After teaching the third lesson, download, edit and send this letter home with students
• Certificate of completion (PDF, 1.58 MB) - For students to celebrate the completion of all three lessons in the Master of Disaster program

Read more about the teaching kit.

Student kit

Order a student kit for every learner in your classroom. It comes with learning materials that includes:

• A colourful Get Ready Guide workbook with instructions, activities and games.
• A fill-in-the-blanks Home Emergency Plan to take home and complete with their household
• A drawstring bag to help kick-start their personal preparedness

Read more about the student kit.

In addition to the resources included in the Master of Disaster program printed materials, consider the following activities to enhance your lesson.

Ember the FireSmart fox

Meet Ember, FireSmart's official mascot. She can educate learners on: alertness, adaptability, intelligence and community mindedness. Check out Ember's den for information and resources on how to help teach learners about preventing wildfires by becoming fire smart.

Map of top hazards by region

To learn about the hazards that could occur where you live, and in other areas across the province, visit the British Columbia hazard map.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Master of Disaster program, contact us at MasterOfDisaster@gov.bc.ca.