by Jessie Diermier
LL&TT Education Coordinator
Where can kids dig into their imaginations and get hands-on with nature in Lassen County? Why, at Nature Camp, naturally. Both fantastic summer sessions, occurring July 21st through August 1st, enjoyed wading, hiking, water, rock, plant and bird studies as well as music lessons! The annual day camp offers Lassen County’s 8 to 12 year olds adventures exploring their home’s natural and cultural heritage.
Thanks to the City of Susanville’s generous donation of their bus, nearly 40 children were able to participate.
This year we learned about the Susan River Watershed with creek investigations at Hobo Camp, viewed Almanor’s grebe population through scopes with the guidance of Plumas Audubon Society interns Emily Mickus and Madelyn Ore, and had the unique opportunity to observe a song bird banding with Tiffany Russell of the National Resource Conservation Service and professionals Lauren Morgan-Outhisack and Jeff Moker, both with Point Blue Conservation Science’s Sierra Nevada Program.
Camp included a trip to the Subway Caves and wading in Hat Creek, a hike and botany lesson on the Susan River Trail, a visit to the Lassen Historical Society Museum and music in the meadow at Susanville Ranch Park.
Special thanks to the Bureau of Land Management and Stan Bales for wilderness survival lessons, the Plumas Audubon Society and David Arsenault, to Modoc National Forest and Dan Munger for the geological Q & A session at the Lava Tubes, Susanville Youth Orchestra’s conductor Carol Fontana for teaching a recorder lesson in the meadow, how solar energy works with Lassen Municipal Utility District’s solar display, retired botanist Sue Noggles and her able assistant, Lindsay Noggles, shared our region’s native plants, Ben Cunningham and Lassen County Ambassadress Cheyenne Osborn were our Youth Leaders, and last but not least, Janiska Nordstrom demonstrated basic first aid, which the children practiced on one another!
Fun was had by all through the support of a grant from Lassen Municipal Utility District.
