Inmate creates tank playhouse
One inmate’s passion for military tanks and his skill in construction led to a donation of a tank playhouse to Lassen Family Services.
Inmate White, who built the playhouse, is assigned to Intermountain Camp and his primary job is a grade eligible inmate firefighter. His background in construction has allowed him to spend his down time at the camp working on hobby projects made of wood. His passion for military tanks led to this year’s largest contribution to Lassen Family Services “Victims Against Crime” Hobby Craft Sale. White handcrafted a military tank playhouse for kids of all ages. The process took more than three months, from simply building walls to the detailing of the working hatch and cannon; the tank is hand-crafted in great detail giving it a realistic appearance. Even though stationary, the tank’s capacity allows for at least three youths to sit, pretend to steer and even extend beyond the open hatch. Kids can let their imagination soar with this amazing playhouse.
This is not the first time White has donated his time to build creative toys for charities for children. Earlier in the year, CCC took part in assisting the Early Head Start Program, which is a non-profit organization for young children to get an early start to their education and young lives. White and other inmate volunteers from Intermountain Camp constructed a wooden, handcrafted fire station and two wooden fire truck toys for them.
Every year Intermountain Camp Commander Lieutenant J. Micone and his staff are proud to be involved in the various donations produced in the camp. The inmates donate hundreds of hours and hobby craft items to multiple charities from Make-A-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots and Victims Against Crime.
The playhouse was shown off during the Saturday, Nov. 11 Lassen County Veterans Day Parade in Susanville for all to see.
The California Correctional Center is a unique institution located in Susanville. The primary mission of CCC is to receive, house and train minimum custody inmates for placement into one of the institution’s 18 Northern California Conservation Camps.
Working collaboratively with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, these camps are strategically located throughout the North State to provide fire suppression hand crews, as well as an organized labor force for public conservation projects and other emergency response needs of the state. Services provided through the conservation camp program historically amount to many millions of dollars in value to the public. Work projects associated with conservation camps support municipal, county, state and federal government agencies, which include schools, parks, cemeteries and public recreation areas.
The secondary mission of CCC is to provide meaningful work, training and education programs for inmates who do not meet the criteria for assignment to a conservation camp. These alternative assignments include academic and vocational trade programs, facility maintenance jobs, food service positions and other facility support assignments.
Intermountain Camp, located in Bieber, has a wood/hobby shop where inmates are able to create dollhouses, hope chests, toy boxes and toys for children’s charities. In addition, inmate crews have helped the local community by diligently working for the Pit Resource Conservation District in restoring wildlife habitat in Ash Valley and at Juniper Lake by reducing juniper growth.
GREAT JOB! I have always praised our local inmates and crew that work hard, donate and assist the community all year round- I truly believe that some people can be rehabilitated