News Release

Lassen Volcanic National Park receives grant from the National Park Foundation to support Volcano Adventure Camp program

Date: April 17, 2024

Lassen Volcanic National Park Receives Grant from the National Park Foundation to Support Volcano Adventure Camp Program

MINERAL, Calif. — Lassen Volcanic National Park has received a grant from the National Park Foundation’s ParkVentures program to provide a critical boost to Lassen Park Foundation's youth camping program.

The grant will continue to support non-profit youth groups that serve at-risk or underserved children by awarding scholarships to offset camping costs.

Lassen Park Foundation, in close collaboration with Lassen Volcanic National Park, built a new youth camping facility called Volcano Adventure Camp in 2016 inside the park boundaries.

The facility is only for use by youth groups, and it introduces new campers to the outdoors in a group setting. Educational excursions provide opportunities for young campers to learn more about Lassen’s rich natural and cultural history, while ranger-led environmental education activities emphasize teamwork and cooperation.

“I have worked with young people professionally for 25 years and I believe this experience was one of the most therapeutic and team building occurrences I have been a part of,” said David Walker, a youth case manager at Hill Country Community Clinic in Redding.

The National Park Foundation’s ParkVentures program awards grants to equity-focused outdoor leaders and organizations for projects and activities that promote access, eliminate barriers, and offer positive, memorable experiences to individuals and communities that have historically been excluded from national parks and outdoor recreation. The program’s ultimate goal is to help people create and strengthen life-long relationships with national parks.

Since 2016, the foundation’s youth camping program has financially supported 4,127 grant recipients.

Despite the effects of COVID-19 and a higher cost of living in the area, the program is still going strong and recovering from a dip in enrollment. With this grant, the foundation and the park will aim to boost the program back to its full capacity.

Priority will be given to youth groups serving underserved or at-risk youth. These organizations, which often include first-time campers, may use funds to purchase sleeping bags, backpacks, and flashlights; pay car rental and fuel costs; purchase food; and offset costs of other camping-related items.

For more information about adventure camp reservations and grants, visit Lassen Park Foundation’s website: Volcano Adventure Camp | Lassen Park. Foundation. Find out more about supporting Lassen Volcanic National Park and initiatives like this at Home | Lassen Park Foundation.

For additional information about Lassen Volcanic National Park, please visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitter at www.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

 Lassen Park Foundation provides philanthropic support to Lassen Volcanic National Park and invites all, especially youth, to experience and preserve the natural and cultural resources of this special place. The Lassen Park Foundation is an official non-profit partner of Lassen Volcanic National Park.