Sugar Pine Conservation Camp #9

Sugar Pine Conservation Camp opened June 24, 1988. CDCR is responsible for the security, supervision, care, and discipline of the incarcerated camp participants. CAL FIRE maintains the camp, supervises work of the hand crews and is responsible for their custody while assigned to daily CAL FIRE work projects. CDCR staff may accompany the hand crews while assigned to emergencies to assist in their care and security.

Participants volunteer for the Conservation Camp Program. No one is involuntarily assigned to a conservation camp.

When not fighting fires, incarcerated firefighters perform conservation and community service projects. CAL FIRE determines conservation projects.

During each calendar year, Sugar Pine Conservation Camp, through conservation and work projects, provides the local communities, State Agencies, and Federal Agencies with tens of thousands of work hours.

Sugar Pine Camp has a CAL FIRE Engraving Shop staffed with camp volunteers. The engraving Shop produces signs, plaques, nameplates for various agencies.

The CAL FIRE Cabinet Shop is also staffed with camp inmates and produces everything from beautiful oak cabinets to one-of-a-kind birdhouses. Some of the projects that are completed by the camp participants are donated to charity programs such as Victims of Crime and the Women’s Refuge.

Just as in every CDCR prison, every conservation camp offers rehabilitative and educational services, including substance abuse programs, religious programs, and GED and college courses. Inmates can participate in hobby crafts programs, music appreciation, pre-release programs, and other leisure time activities during their off-work hours. There are also spiritual services and recovery programs provided by community volunteers. One of the highlights of the year is the Annual Community Appreciation Car “Show & Shine”, sponsored by the local community.

Other rehabilitative programs provided at Sugar Pine include:

• Alcoholics/Narcotic Anonymous meeting on a weekly basis.
• Church Services Bi-weekly.
• Group Bible Study
• Purpose Driven Life Program
• Pre-Release Program
• DMV- California I.D. and Driver’s license program
• Hobby Program / Victims of Crime/Women’s Refuge Donations
• Annual Community Christmas Program

For stories featuring current and former Conservation (Fire) Camp Program participants, read Inside CDCR.

Visiting can be a critical part of an incarcerated person’s rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Scheduling Visits at Conservation (Fire) Camps page.