By learning how nature recovers from disturbances and becomes resilient to new ones, we empower educators and kids to build their own resilience.
Origin Story
In ecology, resilience is the ability to adapt to or recover from a disturbance in the environment that disrupts how life there usually operates. Our Ready, Set, Resilience (RSR) program arose from teachers in eastern NC who were looking for ways to help their students after the severe weather disturbance events of Hurricanes Florence and Dorian. The core idea of Ready, Set, Resilience is that we learn about what makes nature resilient and translate that into supporting educators and kids.
Four Core Components
Community Event with the Durham Museum of Life and Science
Mission Statement
“RSR equips students and educators with tools to face challenges, adapt with strength, and grow through stories, activities, and community.”
Ready Set Resilience was made possible with support from the Duke University Marine Lab, NC Sea Grant, the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Engage, Bass Connections, the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs, and the Kenan Fellowship Program.
RSR in the News
Hackett, L. (2025, October 7). Are the kids alright? Mental health problems spike for students post-Helene. BPR. https://www.bpr.org/education/2025-10-07/mental-health-problems-spike-for-students-post-helene
Leibach, J. (2025, September 25). Roots of Resilience. Duke Environment Nicholas Narratives. https://nicholas.duke.edu/narratives/roots-resilience
Larkin, Maro (2025 August 29). When Puppetry and Environmental Resiliency Go Hand-in-Hand. https://trinity.duke.edu/news/when-puppetry-and-environmental-resiliency-go-hand-hand
Kwong, Yasmine (2025, June 25). Resiliency in the Smallest Places at the Marine Lab. Duke. Arts. https://arts.duke.edu/resiliency-in-the-smallest-places-arts-at-the-marine-lab/
Yanez, Y. M. (2025, June 3). Duke arts announces summer 2025 Arts+ teams. Duke Arts. https://arts.duke.edu/duke-arts-announces-summer-2025-arts-teams/
Carteret News Times (2025, May 6) Morehead Middle’s Turpin among 30 state teachers named 2025-26 Kenan Fellow. https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_80009291-ca2f-4af5-809a-331b377b6abe.html
Condie, R. (2025, April 1). Perspective | Fostering ecological, community, and personal resilience through fables. EducationNC. https://www.ednc.org/perspective-fostering-ecological-community-and-personal-resilience-through-fables/
Natural resources professor promotes post-disaster resilience in NC. (2025, March 3). College of Natural Resources News. https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2025/03/natural-resources-professor-promotes-post-disaster-resilience/
Carteret News Times (2024, November 27). County educators share experience of resiliency with Yancey County teachers as they recover from Hurricane Helene. https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_ddba111e-accc-11ef-917b-eb8aa8d3c336.html
Reilly, Caitlin (2024).National Recreation Foundation: https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/ready-set-resilience-offers-critical-support-to-western-nc/
