August 2024 Newsletter
WES Community & Whiskeytown NPS Receive Conditional Approval to Move Rebuilding Process Forward!
Proposal: Safety/Administration Building
We’re thrilled to announce that the Investment Review Board (IRB) of the National Park Service has granted conditional approval of further plan development for rebuilding Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES)! Multiple planning meetings and proposed campus plans have been poured over to arrive at this point. Now, our dedicated team, in partnership with The National Park Service and Shasta County Office of Education, can begin detailed construction planning and the necessary environmental permitting processes. As the land steward of the school site, the approval and support of the National Park Service is necessary for construction to proceed.
Proposal: Student Housing
To help insure WES’s future, the National Park Service will be developing a business plan to optimize the operation and maintenance of the Whiskeytown Environmental School campus. This decision marks a significant milestone in restoring our beloved residential environmental education program. The actual construction will commence after this meticulous planning phase is completed, prioritizing the protection of our shared natural heritage.
A critical factor for the approval has been the groundswell of community support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and community groups through gift giving and letters of support. We sincerely appreciate the continued support from our generous donors and the community as we move forward.
Two Years of Love from ACE Hardware
ACE Hardware has generously supported the effort to rebuild WES for the second year in a row. This community-oriented business and their employees helped raise $4,000 for the Grow Back Stronger campaign during the month of June. Their fundraising efforts have resulted in a total of $10,000 in gifts to WES Community over the last two years.
We are most appreciative of the strong support received from ACE Hardware, as well as all the customers who patronized ACE Hardware and supported us with their “Round up at the Register” gifts.
Fire Weather Returns: Be Prepared
Whiskeytown Lake July 24th, Courtesy of the Mark McKenna
The Carr Fire began July 23, 2018, and then grew into a monster on July 26th, causing evacuations and painful losses in our community. Whiskeytown Environmental School was one of the fire’s victims. Thankfully, we have “Grown Back Stronger” and partial programming has returned to the school. Our community has also been recovering from these losses. We never want to experience this again, but as a community we have learned the importance of preparation.
An alarming new study has shown that 58% of Californians lack a disaster kit, and 69% do not have any disaster plans. California continues to be at risk from unpredictable wildfires. New growth of vegetation due to rain poses a significant risk once these fuels become tinder dry, as they can promote rapid fire growth.
Evacuating from your home early can mean the difference of life and death. When a wildfire or other disaster strikes, be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Having a 5-minute plan with an escape route can get you and your family out and safe. If you need additional time to evacuate or have livestock, you should pack up and leave when the warning is issued and not wait for an evacuation order.
Have an established meeting place
Pack an emergency kit with essentials like medicine, important documents, clothes, food, and water.
Watch for weather reports and Red Flag Warnings.
If you need to go, get your emergency bags and gather your family and pets.
Most important, don’t wait or hesitate – know when to go.
Visit firefightersonyourside.org for more information on creating a 5-minute plan and being prepared for disaster.
Fall Field Trips at WES
Field Labs have returned for the 2024-2025 school year! K-8 programs commence September 23rd, Monday-Friday. Students and teachers will enjoy the school this fall, the creeks are brimming with water after a wet spring. Teachers are encouraged to sign up online by visiting the SCOE website! Sign Up Now →
Pond Restoration for Kids Exploration! Giving Tuesday December 3rd
Become part of the pond restoration, our Giving Tuesday Project for 2024. Do you have fond memories of the pond at WES? Perhaps your children, (or you) spent time examining the polliwogs, turtles, mayflies, and other pond creatures found in the WES pond. It’s a great learning tool for students, especially the primary children.
The pond needs restoration, specifically, a permanent water source. Since the Carr Fire, it has become a seasonal water hole, drying up in the summer and limiting its instructional potential. We have located a pond specialist to help restore the pond in a manner that is ecologically appropriate and ensures a permanent water source. To join our pond restoration project that’s developing for Giving Tuesday, contact Kathy Hill at info@wescommunity.org.
Whiskeytown Harvest Festival - September 21, 2024
The Harvest Festival 2024 invites visitors to celebrate autumn on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Whiskeytown’s Tower House Historic District.
This family-friendly event features a variety of activities, including heirloom apple tastings, a Harvest Fruit Bake Off and Cook Off Competition, live music, craft activities, gold panning, and historical demonstrations.
Guests can explore the rich heritage of the area through Wintu and Chinese cultural exhibits, walking tours of the historic district, and traditional games like croquet. The festival’s highlight is the cooking competition, in which attendees can taste and vote on delicious fruit-based dishes.
Filling Sandbags to Prevent Flooding - Fall 2018
Removing the HESCO Sand Barriers - Spring 2024
Hahn Countryside Solutions donated time and equipment.
Campus Clean Up & Beautification - June 29th
Hahn Countryside Solutions donated time and equipment!
Twenty volunteers and Whiskeytown NRA staff worked together on June 29th to remove the unsightly debris flow barriers and sandbags installed after the 2018 Carr Fire. The barriers and sand bags were originally installed to protect the buildings that survived the fire – the dining hall and office building. Six years post-fire, the slope above the school site has stabilized with new growth. No slides or flooding have occurred and it’s now safe to remove the barriers.
The crew removed and repurposed 270 sandbags as well as shoveled out and broke down the HESCO sand barriers. The NPS is removing all the materials from the school site, creating a more natural and aesthetically pleasing setting for students. Additionally, this prepares the area for future construction activities. It was a wonderful day of support from our community!
