A local nonprofit is restoring Camp Okeehee, a county-owned property along the Kern River near downtown Bakersfield, after years of abandonment. The White Wolf Wellness Foundation began work with the county in 2021 and has since restored utilities and opened the site for community use, the nonprofit said.

White Wolf Wellness Foundation representatives described securing the property, restoring electricity, getting water flowing and starting irrigation. A representative said, "We secured the property. We got electricity back. We got water flowing. We're irrigating." The foundation said volunteers, college interns, fundraising events and community support have been central to the project.

The property, which the nonprofit described as having river views along its full length and multiple reservable camping spots, once hosted youth activities. Foundation spokespeople emphasized environmental education as central to the mission: "If we wanna keep our natural ecosystems alive, we need to educate people about them. And the best way to do that is just to get in nature," a White Wolf Wellness representative said.

The restoration has included habitat observations notable to volunteers; one representative noted beaver activity on the Kern River as an indicator of river health. The transcript quotes: "We have beaver out here. There are beaver in the Kern River, and they are master builders. And having beaver in the river shows that the river is healthy."

White Wolf Wellness said the project depends on community donations, volunteers and interns. The foundation encouraged residents interested in membership, volunteering or events to consult whitewolfwellness.org or okihi.org and its social media channels for schedules and reservation information.

The transcript did not include a formal county action to transfer management or a county vote; the account describes a nonprofit's rehabilitation activities in collaboration with county authorities beginning in 2021.