We also have some exciting new partnerships. I recently had the opportunity to visit our 2008 Summer Day Camp on the Young Family Ranch, a historic farmstead in Weaverville. This beautiful setting vibrates with the energy of children having fun under the guidance of counselors, AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards members and volunteer activity leaders. The location was made possible by our partnership with the Young Family Ranch, Inc. and builds on the groundwork by Gail Goodyear, who researched the history of the Ranch and provided creative strategies for using the ranch to benefit the community. It also builds on work done by Meg and Jim Wilson while they were overseeing the ranch. A key partner at the Young Family Ranch is the University of California Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program. Tamila Medinnus (Adult Programs) and Ingra Smith (Youth Programs) now have their offices at the ranch house. Just think of all of the possibilities that combining their expertise and the ranch’s vegetable gardens, berries, grapes and fruit trees will provide us in the way of workshops and training opportunities.

The District also is helping Hodge Management provide programs to campground visitors this summer. Steve and Jeanne Hodge have been managing U.S. Forest Service campgrounds along Trinity and Lewiston Lakes for over 20 years. The District is assisting with public education by offering weekly campfire programs at Tannery and Hayward Flat Campgrounds. We kicked off the camping season June 21 with a “Children in Forest Day” at Tannery Campground. Nothing inspires me more than the wide-eyed expression on a child’s face when they discover something new in nature.