Amador County – The Pine Grove California Youth Authority (CYA) Camp is being targeted for closure as a way to help solve the state budget crisis, but many camp staff and supporters have vowed not to go down without a fight. For 65 years, the camp has offered a way out for troubled youth by mandating continuous education combined with specialized programs and community service, not to mention training to assist in fire fighting across California. In an open letter to the “citizens of Amador County,” Pine Grove CYA Advisory Council member Laura Imperial said the good deeds and assistance from these youth throughout the county “save this county hundreds of thousands of tax dollars.” Imperial said the camp is a “shining star” because the youth who leave there experience a low rate of recidivism. “With that closure comes the loss, not only of the opportunity for youth offenders to learn a trade, and finish high school, but the chance to give back to the community in the many hours of service they work,” said Mary Vogt, another Citizens Advisory Council member. She said she has “never ceased to be amazed at the thousands of hours of community service the wards have performed.” The state is still considering whether to close the Pine Grove camp or a camp located in Ventura, California. If the Pine Grove camp is chosen, fire protection services would continue under Cal Fire using only adult prisoners, and no community service would be performed. Currently, the youth work 8 hours a day, five days a week, then go to school for 4 hours in the evening. Supporters are encouraging people to attend the camp’s 65th anniversary open house on Friday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The CYA camp is located on Aqueduct Road off of Pine Grove-Volcano Road in Pine Grove. Information will be available there for people who wish to write letters of support. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
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Amador County – The Pine Grove California Youth Authority (CYA) Camp is being targeted for closure as a way to help solve the state budget crisis, but many camp staff and supporters have vowed not to go down without a fight. For 65 years, the camp has offered a way out for troubled youth by mandating continuous education combined with specialized programs and community service, not to mention training to assist in fire fighting across California. In an open letter to the “citizens of Amador County,” Pine Grove CYA Advisory Council member Laura Imperial said the good deeds and assistance from these youth throughout the county “save this county hundreds of thousands of tax dollars.” Imperial said the camp is a “shining star” because the youth who leave there experience a low rate of recidivism. “With that closure comes the loss, not only of the opportunity for youth offenders to learn a trade, and finish high school, but the chance to give back to the community in the many hours of service they work,” said Mary Vogt, another Citizens Advisory Council member. She said she has “never ceased to be amazed at the thousands of hours of community service the wards have performed.” The state is still considering whether to close the Pine Grove camp or a camp located in Ventura, California. If the Pine Grove camp is chosen, fire protection services would continue under Cal Fire using only adult prisoners, and no community service would be performed. Currently, the youth work 8 hours a day, five days a week, then go to school for 4 hours in the evening. Supporters are encouraging people to attend the camp’s 65th anniversary open house on Friday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The CYA camp is located on Aqueduct Road off of Pine Grove-Volcano Road in Pine Grove. Information will be available there for people who wish to write letters of support. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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