FAQs

• What is the total planned occupancy?

  Occupancy	Current	Proposed
  Camper Beds	144	428
  Campsite Occupancy	70	100
  Staff, Guests, & Volunteer Beds	96	196
  Retreat Center Beds	0	120

  *Proposed Occupancy is projected over phases of growth, and does not indicate total number of occupants at one given time.
  Kidder Creek’s programs and facilities are designed to operate several small programs that are scheduled on a rotation. Many of our programs take campers out of our facility to experience wilderness and river adventures.

• What is your plan to minimize noise?

  We have and will continue to minimize noise from our programs by:

  • Protecting portions of our property adjacent to our neighbors to create “buffer zones”
  • Moving certain activities to where sound can be directed toward wooded areas
  • Continuing to keep campers in small groups that will not require loud sound amplification
  • Enforcing quiet hours beginning at 10:00pm
• What impact will this have on South Kidder Creek Road?

  During the summer of 2015 an independent company, “Traffic Works,” performed a Traffic Impact Study to assess the potential traffic impacts on South Kidder Creek Road, including the intersection at Highway 3. The study determined that the projected traffic increase will be “less than significant”, based on the Highway Capacity Manual published by the Transportation Research Board in 2010. No mitigation measures were recommended; however, we recognize the impact that more traffic will have on our neighbors. Even though the road can handle the increase, we are implementing practices to reduce our impact.

  These practices include:

  • Pre-arrival communication with our staff and campers emphasizing slow speeds on the road
  • Greeting campers when turning onto the road and asking them to drive slowly
  • Assigning staff to stand at strategic points with speed signs to remind them to drive slowly
  • Including road driving policies in our summer staff handbook and verbally reminding them to slow down

  Ideas for the future:

  • Encourage campers to carpool when possible in order to decrease the number of individual cars
  • Add a local pick up and drop off location to our current schedule
  • Develop a shuttle system that transports campers down the road from the intersection at Highway 3
  • Continue the conversation with our neighbors about traffic impacts
• How will you provide secondary emergency access to and from the camp?

  Our secondary emergency access to the camp has been, and will continue to be, to exit through the Taylor Divide to Patterson Creek Road and out to Highway 3.

  This route will continue to be for emergency ingress and egress only.

  A portion of this road will be built to allow for our growth. The road will be improved to meet Cal Fire standards. Kidder Creek has the necessary easements from neighbors for this emergency ingress and egress.

• How will you fill the new pond?

  Our pond utilizes water from the Barker Ditch. The pond is designed with an outflow returning water to the Barker Ditch for use by the water right holders downstream of camp property. Kidder Creek has met with shared water right owners to discuss this activity and has gained approval from all of the water right owners. The new pond will be lined to minimize water loss. Water loss from evaporation will be made up by water capture in the lined pond during the rainy season.

• Where will your drinking water come from?

  We will continue to use our existing well to pump water into storage containers. Tests have demonstrated that it can handle a portion of our growth. We recognize that in the future we will need to drill another well, and increase the volume of storage.

• What kind of environmental impact will this have on the land and resources?

  We have had early consultations with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Army corps of Engineers, and multiple visits and studies from state and local biologists to help us plan for the future and minimize the impact on natural resources.

  Key Observations:

  • These studies concluded that our planned development would have no impact on endangered species.
  • We will continue to preserve the natural environment as much as possible and design structures to enhance the natural landscape.
  • We will work with county, state and federal agencies to insure our compliance with all current regulations.
• How will you minimize your impact on public lands?

  We currently utilize the Klamath, Shasta Trinity and Rogue Siskiyou National Forests on the River, in Day Use areas and in the Wilderness. We operate within the limitations of our permit from the US Forest Service. We have a great working relationship with the Forest Service and have consistently worked within the guidelines that are set up for us. Kidder Creek annually pays a percentage of our revenue to the National Forest as required in our use permit.

  We minimize our impact by:

  • Complying with Forest Service regulations, such as group size limits
  • Teaching “Leave No Trace” principles before heading into wilderness and national forest areas
  • Committing to limit our use of facilities at one location, and rather spreading out use to minimize impact.
• Will you be changing the way you run camp?

  From the very first week of camp in 1976, Kidder Creek has been a place where kids are known by name and treated as individuals. When we look to the future, we want to preserve the character of Kidder Creek and the special place where it is held in the heart of our community.
  
  We will continue to be a resource to our community and county, we will always serve the kids in our “backyard” and we will invite others to join us for a life-changing experience in this beautiful valley.

• What are the details of the merger of Mount Hermon and Kidder Creek Camp?

  The two boards decided to merge in 2006 for the benefit of both camps. There was no money exchanged and "Kidder Creek Orchard Camp" still exists as an independent 501C3 Non profit.

• How much money does MH make off of Kidder Creek Camp?

  Mount Hermon makes no money off of Kidder Creek. In fact, Mount Hermon subsidizes the Kidder Creek operations every year because camper fees do not cover the cost to operate camp.

• Does Kidder Creek Camp pay taxes?

  Yes, Kidder Creek pays many of the same taxes that our neighbors pay, however as non-profit organization we do not pay property taxes. Beyond paying taxes Kidder Creek gives back to the community by providing scholarships for Siskiyou County residents to attend camp.

• Does the Kidder Creek Camp project fit with the Scott Valley Area Plan?

  The purpose of the Environmental Impact Report process is to answer this and other questions. We encourage everyone to read the full report.