Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains (CAMP) was a project that embedded artist Kim Abeles in the Los Angeles County Fire Department to work in collaboration with the paid and inmate workforces who serve the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The two year CAMP project was managed by the Armory Center for the Arts and funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts National Park Service Grant.

The artist-in-residence (AIR) was held in two sessions: July 9, 2017 - October 8, 2017 (14 workshops) and October 15 - January 7, 2018 (12 workshops). The artworks and creative program that developed explored new models in two core areas: increasing public awareness, engagement and responsible stewardship through the County’s wildfire management programs; and providing skills development for incarcerated women through creative activities related to the Santa Monica Mountains.

This was achieved through the creation of a series of sculptural and instructional props or "valises" that Fire and National Parks Services (NPS) could use as educational tools at community outreach events. Through an iterative process with Abeles' consistent presence at the Camp and her interactions with the inmates, participation grew from 5 to over 25. Participants worked alongside the artist to develop the elements of the valises, supplying the content based on their experiences fighting fires in the region. The valises provide creative entry points for fire and park rangers to engage community members about these important issues.

Additionally Abeles presented her AIR project at colleges/universities and art galleries around Southern California. Through her talks about the AIR and collaboration with the inmates, their work in fire abatement and prevention reached a wider audience than anticipated. Further exhibitions of the valises with accompanying documentation are planned to expand the outreach and education.