News

Sierra Pacific Foundation Renews Donation of Lumber For LVNP’s Youth Campground

ANDERSON, Calif -- Sierra Pacific Foundation renewed its commitment to youth camping and the Lassen Park Foundation, this past week, with their donation of lumber for the construction of structures at Lassen Volcanic National Park's new youth group campground, Volcano Adventure Camp.

The contribution, valued at over $40,000 in materials, includes redwood and Douglas fir decking, girders, joists, rafters, posts, fascia, sheeting, blocking and braces that will be used to build two common area pavilions and ten tent cabins at the national park's new youth camp.

"It's a huge gift, especially to many at-risk kids who - without Volcano Adventure Camp - would otherwise never have the life-benefitting experience of camping in a national park," said John Koeberer, chairman of the Lassen Park Foundation (LPF), "but it's just one of many gifts Sierra Pacific has made to worthy causes in the North Valley."

Sierra Pacific Industries Community Relations Manager, Mark Lathrop said the donation fit the Sierra Pacific Foundation's long-standing commitment to support programs that benefit youth throughout the region and in the communities it serves.

"That companies like Sierra Pacific help build facilities like this for our youth, says to those kids and their parents, better than anything else any of us might do, that people really do care about them and their future," said Koeberer. "We've been fortunate throughout this long process to have the support of upstanding companies, foundations and individuals, to inspire our kids about nature and the outdoors."

Volcano Adventure Camp has been designed to accommodate youth and school groups and will open in summer, during the 100th anniversaries of Lassen Volcanic National Park and the National Park Service.

The camp will be available for use by all youth groups, though the LPF specifically funds grants, making weeklong camping trips accessible to groups of at-risk and underserved children whose family situations make it difficult to impossible for them to ever go camping.

“The National Park Service assigns park interpreters to conduct programs for these kids and we underwrite the costs for groups in need, including groceries, transportation and camping essentials,” said LPF Executive Director Jennifer Finnegan. “This year, we anticipate accommodating over 20 groups of at-risk kids through our youth camping program,” she continued.

The period to apply for one of these grants closes on Apr. 29. More information is found at lassenparkfoundation.org.