The Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center initiated the HOME (Honor Our Mountain Environment) community stewardship program in 1997 in response to a proposal for day-use fees for visitors on Mount Shasta to fund rising maintenance costs. The program recruited stewardship volunteers from the community to assist the US Forest Service with maintenance and restoration activities and served as ‘meadow interpreters’ to help protect the sensitive Panther Meadows area. 

We are pleased to announce that we have recently kickstarted the HOME Program, and it has a whole new look! Our program focuses on educating outdoor recreational enthusiasts, especially tourists, on the best practices of being a good steward of the environment, assisting the Forest Service in trail maintenance and Wilderness monitoring, and keeping an eye on the health of the local forests and watersheds!

Additionally, we have made great efforts to rekindle our partnership with the United States Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest over the last year, and as a result 3 of our 4 projects are in collaboration and partnership with the Forest Service. It is beyond wonderful to be on common ground with them yet again!  

Projects under the HOME Program include the Wilderness Solitude Monitoring, Panther Meadows Trail Maintenance, Trailhead Hosts and Forest & Watershed Watch – Protecting Biodiversity Projects. 

AND, we need your help! We are seeking volunteers to assist with these projects. If you feel inspired to do so please fill out our volunteer application https://mountshastaecology.org/get-involved/volunteer/ or call the Ecology Center at 530-926-5655 for more information.