![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/23205440-5923-4c69-8d87-1a3247e2db12/outdoor-education-redding-ca.jpg)
GROW BACK STRONGER
Whiskeytown Environmental School Community
A nonprofit organization with a mission to rebuild Whiskeytown Environmental School.
Funding the Future
Help bring back students full-time to Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES) through the Grow Back Stronger Campaign! Our cherished outdoor school was damaged and temporarily closed by wildfire in 2018. Founded in 1970, WES offered week-long programs, daylong field trips, and summer day camps for students in 9 Northern California counties. The school reopened in 2021 with programs for daytime K-8 field trips. Join the cause to bring students back to a modern, revitalized campus with full-time programming!
Our Mission
Whiskeytown Environmental School Community (WES Community) exists to support educational goals through immersive outdoor experiences for learners at Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES). WES Community contributes to the school’s mission through advocacy and relationship building with communities, businesses, and public agencies to generate funds and further shared goals.
Our Vision
We envision each new generation, regardless of economic status or ability, joining the legacy of learning at Whiskeytown, growing to love wild places of every scale, and committing to long-term environmental stewardship.
Join The Cause
Join the collaborative endeavor, uniting Whiskeytown Environmental School Community, the National Park Service, and the Shasta County Office of Education in rebuilding Whiskeytown Environmental School. Your support means a renewed world of learning for North State children!
The Latest News
WES Community invites you to stay informed with the latest news and updates. Discover exciting developments and insightful stories from our dedicated community volunteers.
2024 CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
WES Community is proud to announce it has been selected as 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, District 1.
PHOTO GALLERY
Through the Decades
![1963 - Vision Valley Church Pond](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/5d49fc25-0d01-48e1-910e-6233a2a6ac19/wes-camp-1963.jpg)
![1968 - Dining Hall](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/8007afc5-3de9-418a-8666-356793e2ccc9/wes-camp-dining-hall.jpg)
![1969 - NPS Ranger Inspection Cabin #5](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/17bb1223-be14-46d9-88af-f5fe920e7f17/wes-camp-1969-ranger.jpg)
![1975 - Earth Ball](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/a1d54205-404a-4cd3-b0d1-2837c35780ee/wes-camp-kids-ball.jpg)
![1977 - WES was originally named Clear Creek Nature Camp](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/81e67a5d-a247-47ee-9a83-d58f4a515055/wes-camp-1977.jpg)
![1978 - Guitar Circle (Courtesy of Debra Fox)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/31267566-ac4d-4d21-a804-f1ed9200b854/wes-camp-music-1970.jpg)
![1983 - Martha Tinkler Instructor](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/32ad9abd-6f93-4605-bdc9-cae5d8b25e29/wes-camp-marth-tinkler.jpg)
![1983 - Naturalist Robert Quist at the Pond](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/e6f33b4f-d6bf-4e5c-9ae7-1361d35ef855/wes-camp-naturalist-teaching.jpg)
![1983 - Student Learning Circle on the Lawn](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/93dd6bdb-96a0-412b-b833-d39d85ecb26f/wes-camp-1970.jpg)
![1980s - Cabin 10](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/65a4442d-cd52-4ebb-8baf-43bc48c65ef3/wes-camp-cabin.jpg)
![1983 - Principal Brian Swagerty](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/ca9f445e-a61e-414a-9435-226b1fc64d4e/wes-camp-amphitheater.jpg)
![1983 - Naturalist Nason Webbema with Students](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/10856777-f995-4f9f-afd2-b61581bbad4b/wes-camp-creek.jpg)
![1980s - Enjoying the Merits of log balancing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/a4f57253-b976-4d5d-9079-3cd9a1b970df/wes-camp-kids-log.jpg)
![1983 - Recreation Time](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/75b40c16-0d44-44ba-9695-18244494d84b/wes-camp-cabins-1970.jpg)
![1984 - Earth Ball](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/13e4afa9-965a-45d9-bb23-093597654ff5/wes-camp-earth-ball.jpg)
![1984 - Fall Instructional Hike](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/dbb44047-30dc-4916-8228-77c95e5596a5/wes-camp-hike-1984.jpg)
![1984 - Learning about tree growth](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/b4ea3958-05e9-4d58-9956-e90a029658f7/wes-camp-kids-journaling.jpg)
![1985 - Mine Entrance](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/246b1ff3-7403-47ce-b9a4-f1e16258803b/wes-cam-mine-enterance.jpg)
![1993 - Grant School Tree Planting](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/a3595ee4-77f9-45ba-b438-d9e0711a39ca/1993-grant-school-tree-planting.jpg)
![1993 - Igo Ono School Adopt a Watershed](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/32835927-4e87-4ff2-b22d-030e790bbbea/1993-igo-ono-school.jpg)
![2000 - Heide Hatcher Principal](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65e24df6c474cf5b87533d89/e9f2ba0e-11f2-4a2a-ba53-76bd95c17041/wes-camp-principal-hatcher.jpg)