Community nonprofit says Whiskeytown Environmental School rebuild has raised $5.8 million, seeks public support to reach federal match

Whiskeytown Environmental School’s volunteer nonprofit told the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 that reconstruction work following the Carr Fire has raised more than $5.8 million and is proceeding with plans to make the campus fully accessible.

Melinda Kashuba, board president of WES Community, said the Carr Fire destroyed student housing and damaged campus infrastructure in 2018. “Nature changes children,” Kashuba told the board, adding that the group aims to rebuild cabins and teaching spaces so students can return for residential science programs.

Kashuba said WES has exceeded initial capital-campaign expectations. “We started this in 2021 … we could raise probably at most $3,300,000. To date, we’ve raised over $5,800,000,” she said. The redesign includes duplex and quadplex cabins with showers and heating and air conditioning, accessible routes and a remodeled Hatcher Hall for dining and instruction.

Kashuba said WES is the philanthropic partner for the National Park Service on the project and is pursuing a matching arrangement. If the local campaign reaches $7.5 million, the nonprofit expects to leverage additional federal funds to expand the total project toward roughly $15 million. “The faster that we raise the money, the faster we can bring kids back,” she said.

Supervisors asked about the fundraising timeline and how donors can participate. Kashuba said tickets to a major fundraising dinner and auction at the Shasta District Fairgrounds are available through wescommunity.org and that donors and grant funders have contributed through pledges and grants since 2021.

Why it matters: WES has served generations of Shasta County students for outdoor science education; the board heard that 90% of Shasta County students have attended a WES program and that rebuilding the campus would restore a widely used educational resource.

The board did not take any formal funding action; WES asked the county and the community to support fundraising and outreach. The nonprofit said it has completed engineering and site studies and will continue to consult with the Shasta County Office of Education and the National Park Service as the project proceeds.