About Us -

Who we are

The Lassen Association (LA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise based in Mineral, California. Since 1939, we have provided on-site resources that help visitors have a great experience when visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP) and inspire them to become stewards of this place. We passionately believe in the people-value of Lassen Volcanic. Each of our staff and board members are dedicated to ensuring that our public lands are places of education, recreation, and inspiration for everyone. To find out more about other nonprofits like us, please visit the Associaiton of Partners for Publc Lands website.

What we do

We help people have great experiences when visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park and aspire to cultivate a spirit of community stewardship of this special place for generations to come. We do this by operating on-site educational bookstores that provide visitors with high-quality books, toys, DVDs, and other items that help them appreciate the natural and historical significance of the area (see our online store for examples of what we sell). You can find us at such wonderful places as the Loomis Museum at Manzanita Lake and Kohm-Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at the southwest entrance. We then use our sales proceeds to fund additional on-site events and programs, publish park specific publications, print the visitor newspaper, and are currently designing a brand new field seminar program - an outdoor classroom filled with half day and full day experience geared towards enligtening and inspiring individuals, groups, and families on park themes.

Our History

You may not have heard of us until recently, but we've been around for a long time. We were founded in May 1939 and began by selling books, maps, and other educational items to visitors here at Lassen Volcanic - all in a very low profile manner. Gradually, over the years, we added more selection, upgraded our Loomis Museum sales outlet, joined the internet with our own on-line store and are currently working with LVNP to open the park's first ever visitor center including a state-of-the-art LA sales outlet which will be open year round. So if you have ever bought a map or trail guide at Lassen Volcanic during the last six decades, you've probably bought it from us! Thanks to our retail sales, we have been able to generously support educational funding for visitor programs.

Where We're Headed Now

After years of operation without a formal visitor center, LA is working with LVNP to bring a "platinum targeted" L.E.E.D. certified year-round facility to the southwest location of the park. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.) green building rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. The facility will welcome and introduce visitors from all corners of the world to the rich history and striking beauty of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen Association will open a new 250 square foot educational and interpretive sales outlet within the visitor center. Our expanded retail sales program will offer the means to embark upon dynamic programs and projects sorely needed to further the appreciation and recognition of the value of our national park lands.

Recent Activities

Lately, we're getting involved in even more exciting projects. One of our newest is the field seminar program. Beginning summer of 2008, LA will be offering professional instructor led courses throughout LVNP. You, your family, or your group can explore the park through the lens of a digital camera, taking postcard perfect memories home with you. Why not try a new hobby while on vacation and learn how to paint with watercolors in the setting of a national park? Or take a day long hike with your own private park ranger through less traveled areas and finding the most scenic spots of the park. Check out Field Courses here on our web site for program costs, times, and schedules.