Lassen Park Foundation offers youth camping grants

The grants fund two- to seven-day camping trips to the Crags Group Campsite in the park. Costs covered include transportation, food, and equipment cost or rental. The campsite can accommodate up to 18 youths and seven adults.

"We hope to reach more kids who might never have the opportunity to sleep under the stars in a National Park," said Jane Ziad, the foundation's executive director.

Remi Vista Inc. of Redding won a youth camping program grant for the 2007 season.

Residential-based treatment director Jerod Beldon said he and the other staff and youths in the organization's group home program had a wonderful time on their three-day trip.

"We hiked (up) Mount Lassen on a full moon," Beldon said. "We all had headlamps."

The trip also was an opportunity to do teambuilding and cooperative skills training exercises with the kids, Beldon said.

More than 60 children and adults camped at Lassen last summer, due to the grant program.

The nonprofit Lassen Park Foundation is authorized by the National Park Service and works with the U.S. Forest Service. It was founded in 1984 to support projects in the region including the park and Lassen National Forest. It focuses on youth programs, educational activities, trail restoration, wildlife research and cultural resource development.

The foundation has awarded grants for the past six years to organizations including Youth for Change from Paradise, Lassen College Americorps Foster Youth Program from Susanville, Shasta Family YMCA PlusONE Mentors Program from Redding and Children First Foster Family Agency from Red Bluff.

According to the foundation's Web site, the highlight of Youth for Change's trip was climbing to the top of Lassen Peak. All 15 youth from their party made it to the top. They also visited Subway Caves and Bumpass Hall, heard talks from a ranger, swam at Summit Lake and enjoyed guitar-playing around the campfire.

Grants are available to nonprofit youth organizations and schools in Shasta, Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, and Tehama counties. Grant recipients must show proof of insurance and are responsible for organizing trips and supervising kids. The foundation will coordinate with park personnel to assist the groups in planning trips.

The deadline for applications is May 1. For more information, contact Diane Hart at 892-8270 or iane@lassenparkfoundation.org">Diane@lassenparkfoundation.org.