After the Wildfire, Students Prepare for What's Next

Resilience starts with giving kids space to process what happened and tools to face future risks

Red Cross volunteer talking to students alongside Pedro in an outdoor setting. Some students are raising their hands in response to a question.

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Hands were up and Rye Elementary School students were ready with answers as Pedro helped turn flood preparedness into an interactive lesson. The Sept. 24 Science Day, themed "Bouncing Back After the Fire," focused on recovery, resilience and risks that can follow a wildfire. Photo by Cora Davis, American Red Cross

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Rye Elementary School students raise their hands during a flood safety lesson at Rye Mountain Park in Rye, Colo., with American Red Cross volunteers Angelo and Robin Madera, Ralph Waters as Pedro, and Community Disaster Program Manager Hunter DeSario. The Prepare with Pedro program was tailored to focus on flooding and flash flooding for students whose community is recovering from the Aspen Acres Fire. Photo by Cora Davis, American Red Cross

A Red Cross volunteer gives a lesson while a student dressed as Pedro stands next to him.

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Hunter Desario, Southern Colorado community disaster program manager, shares a resilience lesson with Rye Elementary School students while volunteer Angelo Madera, as Pedro, demonstrates relaxation techniques. Rather than the usual home fire presentation, volunteers adapted Prepare with Pedro around the flood risks these students and their families are facing now. Photo by Cora Davis, American Red Cross

A Red Cross volunteer gives a lesson while another volunteer dressed as Pedro stands next to her.

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Volunteers Robin Madera and Ralph Walter (as Pedro) of the American Red Cross lead Rye Elementary School students through an interactive preparedness activity at Rye Mountain Park. Red Cross volunteer Cora Davis organized the organization's participation in the school’s "Bouncing Back After the Fire" Science Day. Photo by Cora Davis, American Red Cross

Red Cross volunteer dressed as Pedro the Penguin talks with students

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Volunteer Ralph Walter, dressed as Pedro, talks with students at Rye Elementary School's Science Day on Sept. 24. The Pedro presentation focused on recovery, resilience and risks that can follow a wildfire, including how to be prepared for flash floods. Photo by Cora Davis, American Red Cross

Water moves downhill, with a bridge in the foreground and debris in the water flow

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Floodwaters are seen through the burn scar left by the Aspen Acres Fire, carrying mud and debris across the landscape. Such floods are common with heavy rainfall following wildfires, as the ground burned by fire becomes impermeable for water. Photo courtesy of Jim Granath

September 29, 2026

From the outside looking in, last week would look familiar to anyone who knows about the American Red Cross Prepare with Pedro program: Volunteers arriving in Rye, Colo., to help teach students about disaster preparedness.

Pedro was there, of course, along with Red Cross of Southern Colorado volunteers as part of Rye Elementary School's annual Science Day. Themed "Bouncing Back After the Fire," the day brought students to Rye Mountain Park — just 10 miles from where the Aspen Acres Fire began.

But the lesson wasn't just about the wildfire these kids had already lived through; it was about what could come next. This time, Pedro talked about flooding.

For these students, flash flooding isn't just something that could happen after a wildfire. It already has and will for many years.

Since the Aspen Acres Fire, burn scars above Rye and nearby Beulah, Colo., have produced repeated flash flooding. On July 28, 1 to 3 inches of rain fell over portions of the scar, triggering flooding, debris flows, road closures and water rescues.

With that in mind, the Red Cross team tailored Prepare with Pedro to what families need right now — recognizing flood danger, knowing what to do when heavy rain moves in and staying safer around a wildfire burn scar.

Judging by all those hands in the air, the kids were ready.

Red Cross volunteer Cora Davis spearheaded the Red Cross participation, with Community Disaster Program Manager Hunter DeSario facilitating. Volunteers Ralph Waters, Robin Madera, Darlene Avery and Vanessa Hoener joined them, along with young Angelo Madera, who brought Pedro to life. Ralph also proved to be a naturally spectacular penguin.

And preparedness wasn't the only thing the Red Cross brought to the mountain.

At the Disaster Mental Health station, volunteers focused on another important part of recovery that isn't always visible. They gave students a safe place to talk about the wildfire, the flooding that followed and the emotions those experiences can bring. Through interactive activities, the team helped children recognize feelings of stress and anxiety, practice healthy coping skills and learn that asking for help is a sign of strength. While Pedro taught preparedness, these volunteers helped teach resilience.

"Programs like Science Day help turn a difficult experience into an opportunity for learning and growth," DeSario said. "By helping students understand the science behind wildfires, the recovery process and the ongoing risks that can follow a wildfire burn scar, we're empowering families with knowledge to better prepare for future disasters while supporting their resilience and connection to their community after the Aspen Acres Fire. That's what we're here for today."

Just days after Science Day, heavy rain is once again in the forecast for southern Colorado — making those conversations especially timely.

These kids have already learned more about disasters than any elementary school student should have to.

But on this day, they were laughing with Pedro, raising their hands and learning that being prepared doesn't have to mean being afraid.

Want to bring Prepare with Pedro to your school, Scout troop, 4-H club or youth organization? Email PrepareColorado@redcross.org or visit redcross.org/YouthPrep to learn more.