Photo by Jewel Hardy - Local people along with Rep. Jim Walsh took part in a rally on Friday, March 11 to raise awareness that the Naselle Youth Camp should stay open. This group wants the state to continue to fund the camp.
On Friday, March 11 several people held a rally at the entrance to the Naselle Youth Camp. This camp relies on state funding to stay open, but the funding was written out of the budget by a small budget subcommittee. Both the House and Senate voted in favor of Representative Walsh's amendment which was put forth a few days before the subcommittee meeting. Governor Inslee is scheduled to make a decision by April 2 on the supplemental budget.
"The budget committee did not consider the economic damage they were doing to the Naselle area and school district," stated in a notice put out by the Naselle-Grays River Valley Education Association. "State workers, teachers, classified workers and nurses will all start getting reduction of force letters as soon as April, because of this short sighted plan. This closure lacks a study on JRA Institutions and the impact of sending all youth to maximum security facilities like Green Hill. ... Naselle Youth Camp is the best place for minimum- medium-security residents."
Closing the Naselle Youth Camp and School will cost nearly 100 jobs in the Naselle area.
What can be done:
- Call the governor's office at 360-902-4111.
- Call other community leaders and ask for help.
- Write a letter to the editor.
- Sign a petition at https://www.change.org/save-naselle-youth-camp-now.
- Put up a car sign.
- Join the Facebook group called "Don't close the Naselle Youth Camp."
- Use social media by stating your concerns of closing the Naselle Youth Camp.