Grow Back Stronger
About WES Community
About WES Community
Founded in 2011, Whiskeytown Environmental School Community (WES Community) is a nonprofit organization 501 (c)(3) that supports the outdoor education and science mission of Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES). As a result of the 2018 Carr Fire and temporary school closing, WES Community now serves as the official philanthropic fundraising partner for the National Park Service at Whiskeytown for the rebuild of Whiskeytown Environmental School.
WES – Whiskeytown Environmental School
Since 1970, WES has been a public, outdoor education school serving K-6 students in 5-day overnight programs, 1-day programs, and week-long summer day camps. Using Next Generation Science (NGSS) Standards, WES provides an immersive science experience for students. Additionally, the WES experience helps students acquire a sense of place and a concern for the stewardship of our outdoor places.
After temporary closure because of the Carr Fire, WES reopened in 2021 for daytime K-8 programming only. Please contact the Shasta County Office of Education to attend a field trip.
For further information on current programming at WES, visit the Shasta County Office of Education website.
Our Team
WES Community is comprised of local volunteers with the unified goal of supporting the outdoor education and science mission of Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES).
Melinda Kashuba
Ph.D., President
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Melinda’s three children enjoyed the benefits of the WES Camp Experience as sixth grade students. She served as a volunteer counselor for a week during one of her children’s stays. Impressed by the excellent curriculum, she has returned to demonstrate global positioning system (GPS) technology to students and the public during open house events at the camp. Prior to her retirement from Shasta College, she taught Geography for 15 years and earned the Hayward Award for teaching excellence from the California Community Colleges. Melinda has a background in environmental planning and resources management. She also owns her own historical research and writing business in Shasta County.
Cassie Simons
Vice President
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Cassie has been with the board since 2019. She is currently a 7/8 science teacher and soccer coach at Buckeye School of the Arts in Redding. She served as Environmental Education Coordinator at Whiskeytown Environmental School for 11 years. She also worked for the Forest Service as a Botanist and served in the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project working in fisheries biology, environmental education, and conservation projects. She also has led teenage backpacking trips in Lassen National Park. She has a BA in Environmental Studies from Michigan State University and a teaching credential from UC Davis in Biological and Earth Science. Her current passions are hiking, astronomy, and playing pickleball.
Kathy Hill
Treasurer
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Kathy has been active on the WES Community Board since 2011, as a founding member. She has experience guiding students as a Naturalist for both the WES Day field trip program, serving grades K through 4, and the WES Residential program serving grades 5 and 6. Kathy is enthusiastic about science, curiosity and community. In addition to her passion for hiking through the hills, she also enjoys painting landscapes.
Kathy holds a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Humboldt State University and is a certified California Naturalist by the University of California.
Francesca Huntsman
Secretary
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Francesca joined the board in 2011 and again in 2020 She has a varied background working with people, both as a teacher and vocational rehabilitation counselor. Her “retirement-fun” jobs have been working seasonally with the National Park Service and 10 years as a naturalist at Whiskeytown Environmental School. She’s an outdoors enthusiast and exposed her students to field trips at Lassen Volcanic National Park and Whiskeytown NRA. She accompanied her 5th grade students to WES for 10 years. Seeing the positive impacts on her students at WES, she is passionate about environmental education for future generations. Her children are adults and continue the family tradition of hiking and camping. Francesca has a teaching credential and holds a degree in Anthropology. She has traveled extensively throughout the world.
Ellen Petrick
Board Member
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Ellen retired from a career with the National Park Service during which she managed interpretive operations and youth programs at Yellowstone, Curecanti, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. She also worked for state wildlife agencies, nonprofits, and in formal education (primary, secondary, and university).
Her strengths are teaching, leadership, mentoring, evaluation, and partnerships. She connects people to special places, ecologies, primary source documents, artifacts and the many deeper meanings these things embody, while also connecting people to each other – all ages and walks of life.
Ellen has a BS in Biology from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, an MA in Environmental Education from Montclair State Universtiy in Upper Montclair, New Jeresey, and a teaching credential from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
Nathan Fairchild
Science Coordinator SCOE
SCOE Liaison
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Nathan Fairchild began his career as an interpretive park ranger and wild animal trainer/educator, then moved into environmental education before becoming a classroom teacher in 1994. He has worked in public, private, and charter schools, teaching mostly science to middle school students. He has been the Director of Science Programs at the Shasta County Office of Education since 2014, providing science support to teachers, directing Whiskeytown Environmental School and Schreder Planetarium, and acting as the liaison with charter schools.
Tyler Compton
Interpretive Ranger WNRA
WNRA Liaison
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Tyler Compton joined WES Community as NPS liaison in 2020. He grew up around Seattle, WA and visited many National Park sites across the American west, sparking a passion for the outdoors. He earned a BA in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation from Humboldt State University. Tyler worked 5 years as a naturalist at YMCA outdoor schools and then began his career with the NPS in 2014. In 2019, Tyler joined the WNRA staff as an Interpretive Ranger.
Because of Tyler’s work in environmental and outdoor education he has repeatedly seen the direct impact it can have on kids. The experiences and knowledge kids receive at camps like WES allow students to explore and grow in a new setting. Children open up in front of their peers and teachers, giving everyone a better picture of who that young person is. Connecting students directly to the outdoors and ecosystems found in their community helps build an appreciation and understanding for the environment. This is why we are working to rebuild WES and continue the legacy of learning. All children should have the opportunity to experience residential outdoor education.
Tammy Reynolds
Friends of Whiskeytown, Inc.
Friends of Whiskeytown Liaison
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Tammy Reynolds joined WES Community as the FOW Inc. liaison (Friends of Whiskeytown, Inc.) in 2019. She currently serves on the board of FOW Inc. and has volunteered at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area's Ranger-led Kayak/SUP Tours since 2017.
After moving to Redding in 1991, she and her husband volunteered at both Turtle Bay Exploration Park and Kids Kingdom. They also produced Shasta Highlands Renaissance and Celtic Faire at Anderson River Park raising over $500,000 for many local charities over a period of 7 years.
Tammy has an A.A. in Business and Accounting from Shasta Community College. Her two daughters grew up in Redding and attended WES in grade school. She has enjoyed Whiskeytown Lake with her family for the past thirty-three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
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WES Community is a non-profit organization founded in 2011. It supports the educational and scientific mission of Whiskeytown Environmental School (WES). Following the 2018 Carr Fire, WES Community became the official fundraising partner for the National Park Service at Whiskeytown, focusing on the rebuild and enhancement of WES.
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In 2018, WES suffered extensive damage due to the Carr Fire, leading to the temporary closure of the school. Since then, the school has reopened with limited daytime programming, and efforts are underway to rebuild and expand its facilities.
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You can support the rebuild effort by making a financial gift, participating in fundraising events, or volunteering. Your generous gifts go towards rebuilding student cabins and teacher housing, as well as enhancing educational facilities. Learn more about getting involved →
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Before the Carr Fire, WES offered week-long programs, day-long field trips, and summer day camps. Currently, only day-long K-8 field trips are offered. Plans are to bring back full-time programming, including overnight stays with comprehensive educational experiences, and summer camps.
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Yes, WES Community is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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WES Community promotes immersive outdoor learning experiences that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The focus is on hands-on science and fostering a love for the environment among students.
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Yes, volunteers are always welcome. There are various opportunities to help, from assisting in fundraising events to contributing to the rebuilding efforts. Learn more about volunteering with WES Community →
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WES Community is collaborating with the National Park Service, the Shasta County Office of Education, and other local organizations and businesses in the rebuilding efforts. Our partners are instrumental in supporting our mission and goals.
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Gifts are used for several purposes, including the construction of new student cabins, rebuilding the amphitheater and paying for technical surveys to move the construction project forward. Transparency in fund usage is a priority for us.
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For the latest updates, please visit our News & Events. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on our progress and upcoming events.