INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS RESUME AT WHISKEYTOWN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Date: July 28, 2008
Contact: Clinton Kane, 530-242-3451

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS RESUME AT WHISKEYTOWN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Free ranger-guided programs at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area have resumed after fires and smoky conditions caused the cancelation of many activities in the park. “We are hopeful that the clear skies will continue so visitors can get back into their normal routine, which includes visiting the park with family and friends,” stated Whiskeytown Superintendent Jim Milestone.

Kayak tours are offered daily at 10am and 6pm with an additional 1pm program on the weekends.  Reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance by calling [phone]. In addition to the daily kayak tours on Whiskeytown Lake, other programs offered include evening programs and Junior Ranger programs at the Oak Bottom Amphitheater.  Another program being offered is the “Walk in Time” tour of the historic Camden House and the surrounding area, followed by a gold panning expedition where visitors can keep all of the gold that they find! Water safety demonstrations will also be conducted at Brandy Creek Beach on weekends.

One of the highlights for the ranger-guided activities is the special moonlight tour which starts on Monday, August 11 and continue each evening through Friday August 15. Reservations can be made for these tours by calling the kayak reservation line at [phone] from 9am to 12 noon Monday through Saturday.  “The moonlight kayak tours are definitely one of the more memorable moments one can experience here at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and we are pleased that we can resume of this and the other interpretive programs for the public to enjoy,” stated Whiskeytown Superintendent Jim Milestone.  “It is a very unique time to be on the lake because your surroundings change as the night sky takes over and the only light around you is that of the moon, making everything from the landscape to the water very surreal,” concluded Milestone.

The Visitor Center has extended hours during the summer and is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm through Labor Day. Located 8 miles west of Redding at the intersection of Highway 299 and Kennedy Memorial Drive, the Visitor Center offers exhibits on the history and development of the Whiskeytown area as well as information on interpretive programs, camping, and other local information.  Annual ($25), weekly ($10), or daily ($5) entrance passes are required for all visits to Whiskeytown, including ranger-led programs.  Passes may be purchased at the Visitor Center or at pay stations located throughout the park.

SUMMER RANGER-GUIDED ACTIVITIES

Summer programs will continue through the Labor Day weekend.  Kayak tours will continue on a limited basis through September.  All programs are subject to change; please call the Visitor Center at 246-1225 for the most current information.  Although participants must have a valid park entrance pass to participate, there is no additional fee for attending any of the park programs.

Kayak Tours

Daily tours. Reservations required [phone]

Hop on a kayak built for two and explore some of the quiet coves around Whiskeytown Lake while you learn more about the park. For kayak reservations and information please call [phone] Monday through Saturday from 9am to 12noon. Reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance. Special accommodations can be made for groups of 15 or more participants. All participants must know how to swim and are required to wear a life vest.  The park will provide tandem kayaks, life vests and all other gear for up to twenty participants.  Visitors with their own kayaks are welcome to accompany the tour group but must call to sign up for a specific tour.  The kayak program is not available for children younger than six years old. Each six to twelve year old child must be accompanied by an adult who will serve as their kayak partner.  Groups of children over twelve must be accompanied by at least one responsible adult.  Leaves from Brandy Creek Beach

Junior Ranger Kayak

Sundays 6 - 8pm Reservations required [phone]

Kids can bring an adult with them and join a ranger on tandem kayaks to discover and learn about the natural wonders of Whiskeytown Lake.  Children must be 6 years of age or older and accompanied by their parent or an adult guardian. Leaves from Brandy Creek. Register up to two weeks in advance by calling [phone].

Evening Programs

Fridays and Saturdays 9 - 10 pm (8:30 – 9:30 pm beginning August 9^th)

Spend the evening with a ranger and learn more about Whiskeytown NRA through talks, a slide show, or other activity.  Various topics include history, wildlife, and current issues related to protecting the park’s natural and cultural resources.  Meet at the Oak Bottom Amphitheater.

Walk In Time (Includes Gold panning!)

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 6 pm - Sunset

Discover how pioneers/prospectors Charles Camden and Levi Tower reshaped the landscape that created a home for their family and an “oasis” for the many travelers during and after the California Gold Rush. After a tour of the 1852 home built by Charles Camden enjoy a leisurely stroll through the historic district ending with a chance to find your own treasure of gold. Optional: pack and enjoy a healthy picnic with your family prior to the program.  The ranger will start the program at the picnic tables across the footbridge along Clear Creek in the Tower House Historic District.

Junior Ranger

Saturdays 10 - 11am

Kids 7 to 12 years of age can make new friends during a special nature activity that explores the various marvels of Whiskeytown.  Meet at the Oak Bottom Amphitheater.

Junior Firefighter

Saturdays 11 - 12noon

See how firefighters manage fire to promote forest health and protect lives and property.  Learn about the important role that wildfire plays in our national parks during this hands-on activity.  Meet at the Oak Bottom Amphitheater.

Water Safety Demonstration

Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Check with lifeguards on duty.

Saving someone from drowning, while keeping you at a safe distance, depends on quick thinking, common sense, and the ability to use nearby objects.  Join a National Park Service ranger and lifeguards for this enlightening water-safety demonstration at Brandy Creek Beach.

For more information contact the Visitor Center at [phone] or visit the park’s website and get a webcam view of the lake at www.nps.gov/whis.