Page 33 - Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025

EDUCATION
Finding Success at Butte College:
W A Mom’s Perspective
hen it comes to choosing a university, sometimes the path
least expected turns out to be the best one. Natalie Gresh- am, a current Butte College student, struggled to achieve her goals at a different community college due to limited class access and a lack of support. She enrolled at Butte College after a friend suggest- ed attending and hasn’t looked back since.
Natalie has thrived in the close-knit campus environment, bene- fiting from smaller class sizes and accessible teachers and staff.
“The first day I came home from Butte I told my mom I loved it. I automatically noticed it was a better environment,” Natalie said. “The teachers were so welcoming. They knew my name, which was something I wasn’t used to.”
Angela, Natalie’s mom, is grateful for the positive impact Natalie’s Butte College experience has had.
“I have seen her self-confidence and determination flourish as she has achieved remarkable success in all her courses,” she said. “These experiences have not only prepared her academically, but have also boosted her self-assurance, making her feel ready and excited to transfer to a four-year college.”
Angela credits Butte College’s supportive culture and diverse resources as key factors in Natalie’s success. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) was especially valuable, providing tutoring in challeng- ing subjects such as calculus and trigonometry.
After watching her daughter find fulfillment at Butte College, Angela enthusiastically encourages students and parents to consider Butte College for a variety of career pathways.
“My favorite Butte College motto is ‘Start here, go anywhere,’ and it truly couldn’t be more accurate,” she said.
Natalie’s experience resonates with many students who have found that the college offers a strong foundation for those consider- ing transfer or trade options. On campus, there are a variety of aca- demic and financial resources available, including the Butte College Promise scholarship, which allows students to attend courses for free, after meeting certain criteria.
With so much support available, anyone can start their career journey at Butte College and find the path to success.
Find your program at
BUTTE COLLEGE
programs.butte.edu
PLACER COUNTY
Maidu Museum & Historic Site; Rose- ville. Field trips for schools, youth groups and homeschool groups. Includes a guid- ed tour of the museum’s Native American cultural exhibits, activities and a trail tour of the historic site. Programs meet Cali- fornia history and social science content standards for grades pre-K-6. A shorter program is offered for grades pre-K-2 and special needs groups. roseville.ca.us/ indianmuseum. 1970 Johnson Ranch Dr. (916)774-5934.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY
California State Capitol Museum & Build- ing Tour; Sacramento. Expose kids to where laws are born and history is made. Free guided school tours by reservation. Virtual tours and virtual interactive field trips also available. capitolmuseum.ca.gov. 1315 10th St. (916)324-0333.
California State Railroad Museum; Sacra- mento. Drill a hole in granite, drive a railroad spike, discover the gold rush through in- teractive melodrama or ride in a vintage rail- way car with your classmates. Homeschool programs too. californiarailroad.museum. 111 I St. (916) 323-9280.
Esquire IMAX Educational Films; Sacra- mento. Large format films accompanied by activity guides that support national educa- tion standards for science, geography, math and English. Films let groups encounter wild animals, swim to the bottom of the sea and more. Adventures in Wild California is espe- cially appropriate for grades 4-8. imax.com/ imax-esquire-oo-groups-field-trips. ako- vac@imax.com. (916)446-2333 ext. 201. Sacramento History Museum; Old Sac- ramento. Educational programs for field trips, all adhering to California Curriculum Standards. Programs include living history, Victorian-era mysteries, California Native American exhibits, Gold Rush experiences, underground tours and more. Virtual pro- grams available. sachistorymuseum.org. 101 I St. (916)808-6896.
SHASTA COUNTY
Judge Richard Behrens-Eaton House; Redding. The museum brings history to life with exhibitions about the region’s colorful past from the 1800s to the present. Discover life as it was in the Victorian and Gold Rush eras. eatonhousemuseum.org. 1520 West Street. (530)241-3454.
City of Anderson Water Pollution Control Plant; Anderson. Students of all ages can learn what happens to our sewage water
in a field trip that takes them through the steps of sewage wastewater treatment be- fore it is released into the Sacramento River. Students will view the microorganisms used in a natural biological process that treats the water. ci.anderson.ca.us/departments/pub- lic_works1/wastewater.php. 3701 Rupert Rd. (530)378-6626.
Coleman National Fish Hatchery; Ander- son. One of the largest Chinook salmon and steelhead hatcheries in the lower 48 states. See the hatchery building, rearing raceways, fish ladder, Battle Creek Trail, spawning operations (Oct-Feb) and more. Open daily for informative self-guided tours. fws.gov/ fish-hatchery/coleman. 24411 Coleman Fish Hatchery Rd. (530)365-8622.
Court House Museum; Old Shasta. Part
of Shasta State Historic Park. Bring your group to tour a former county courthouse restored to its 1861 appearance. Exhibits include 100 years of California artwork. See remains of brick buildings that were once the center of Gold Rush era activity. See historic roadways, cottages & cemeteries. Field trip guides for teachers online. Search Courthouse Museum on parks.ca.gov. 15312 CA-299 W. (6 miles west of Redding). (530)243-8194.
Lake Shasta Caverns; Lakehead. Take a boat ride across Shasta Lake, then a scenic bus ride to the cavern entrance. Enjoy a one-hour guided tour through the caverns. Other tour options. School groups can experience the Underground Classroom. lakeshastacaverns.com. 20359 Shasta Cav- erns Rd. (530)238-2341.
Redding Reptiles; Redding. Check out reptiles from around the world on display in the Reptile Exhibit Room, a sanctuary/home to 50+ reptiles that have been surrendered. Pets, supplies and feeders available. Store: Tue-Sat 11am-6pm. Exhibit Room: Wed-Sat 12-5:30pm. reddingreptiles.com. 74 Lake Blvd. (530)338-2446.
Schreder Planetarium; Redding. Edu- cational programs for school and youth groups in a 1,700-square-foot planetarium with a 10-meter projection dome. See the night sky projected in the dome and expe- rience other engaging programming that supports elementary and middle school field trips to align with newly developed curricula and Next Generation Science Standards. See Programs at shastacoe.org. Book field trips through the website. 1644 Magnolia Ave. (530)225-0243.
Shasta Dam; Shasta Lake. Shasta Dam is a curved gravity dam across the Sacramento River at Lake Shasta just north of Redding. It provides beautiful views of the lake and Mt. Shasta. At 602-ft. high, it is the eighth tallest dam in the United States. Free, guided tours year-round, each taking 2-3 hrs. usbr.gov/ mp/ncao/dam-tours.html. 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd. (530)247-8555.
Shasta Land Trust; Redding. Learn about our local ecosystems, wildlife and the natu- ral wonders of our biodiverse region. Events include family-friendly hikes, bike rides, movie screenings and more! All events support local land conservation efforts in protecting wildlife habitat, recreational lands and working agricultural farms and ranches. Visit Shastalandtrust.org to sign-up. 5170 Bechelli Ln. (530)241-7886.
Star Parties; Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Join members of the Shasta Astronomy Club seasonally to view the amazing sights in the sky. Telescopes
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