Chico State Ecotherapy Program

03/31/2026

Thanks to the generous support of the , we planted more than 70 trees within the footprint of the 2021 Dixie Fire alongside the incredible 5th and 6th grade classes from Greenville Elementary.

Over the past school year, our program partnered with these students to deepen their connection to nature and to their local public lands, the Plumas National Forest. Together, we explored local ecosystems, practiced mindfulness and emotional regulation, created eco art, and shared openly about our thoughts, feelings, and gratitude, all while building a deeper understanding of the importance of caring for and stewarding our public lands.

This project was a powerful full circle moment. It gave us the opportunity to give back to the landscapes that give so much to us and to support their recovery after catastrophic wildfire, which in turn helps us heal.

Our public lands are truly a gift💚🌲

02/12/2026

𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑒
Check out these highlight from The Good Fire Festival held in November at PRPD's Noble Park in Paradise! This one-day gathering brought together fire experts, Indigenous cultural practitioners, community organizations, and local residents to explore how 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 can restore ecological and community health and support wildfire trauma healing. The event featured live fire demonstrations, grazing with goats, art, poetry, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities.

The Good Fire Festival was funded by Neighbor-to-Neighbor and the California Fire Foundation, and hosted in partnership with the Butte County Fire Safe Council, Butte County Resource Conservation District’s Prescribed Burn Association, the Paradise Recreation and Parks District, and BCCER’s Ecotherapy Program.

We were also joined by other community organizations including Camp Fire Restoration Project, Regenerating Paradise, CAL FIRE – Fire Department Paradise, Terra Fuego, and Butte Environmental Council. As well as local vendors Green Paradise Café and NikNek Lemonade

Keep an eye out for future Good Fire Festivals!

𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭: Chico State Media Productions

02/05/2026

Missed the Good Fire Festival or our other events? Join us for this free offering, Good Fire Workshops
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 10am–2pm
📍 Noble Park, Paradise (6712 Pentz Rd).

⚠️ Spaces are limited! Register here: tinyurl.com/goodfire2-28-26

A free, hands-on afternoon exploring beneficial fire as a tool for stewardship, learning, and healing:
🔥 Indigenous Cultural Fire — He-Lo Ramirez (BCCER)
How California Indians have used fire since time immemorial to care for ecosystems and communities.
🔥 Prescribed Fire in Practice — David Mitchell (Butte County RCD)
Fire behavior, safety, and prescribed burning techniques.
🔥 Pyrotherapy (Fire Therapy) — Blake Ellis, ASW (BCCER)
Featured in Atmos, this workshop uses storytelling and nature-based practices to help reimagine our relationship with fire and address wildfire trauma.

🌮 We’ll wrap up with tamales and refreshments over the fire.

11/13/2025

Everyone deserves a healthy relationship with fire! Please join us this Saturday, November 15th for the Good Fire Festival. We still have a few spots open for morning workshops, so please sign up here: bit.ly/GoodFire25

12-4, community gathering is open to all! Sign up here: bit.ly/N2NGoodFire25
While live fire demos will be dependent on weather conditions, we will have fires with ‘s’mores, goats grazing, CAL Fire Engine, Green Paradise Cafe food truck, Good Fire zine making with poems & pyrosketchology, amazing community organizations tabling with resources to share, and more!

11/12/2025

Did you know our innovative approach to transform wildfire survivors relationship with beneficial fire, Pyrotherapy aka Fire Therapy, was featured in ?? Want to experience pyrotherapy? Join us at the Good Fire Fest this Saturday, November 15th 8:30am-12pm!

Register here: bit.ly/GoodFire25

https://atmos.earth/ecological-wisdom/healing-the-wests-relationship-with-fire-through-pyrotherapy/

05/12/2025

Paradise Unified students and families, please join us for a FREE Forest Therapy walk at Paradise Lake this Saturday, May 17th, from 10 am - 11:30 am! Sign up to reserve your spot here: bit.ly/Forest51725

Paradise Unified School District PUSD Health & Wellness Resource Center Paradise Recreation and Park District

04/09/2025

The National Academy of Medicine is hosting its second Climate and Health Summit on Tuesday, April 22, 9 AM-5:30 PM ET! This event will bring together leading experts to offer insights into innovative and exemplar initiatives across the nation addressing the critical intersection of climate and health, including the pillars of the NAM Climate Grand Challenge.

Our program manager, Blake Ellis, will present on behalf of the Chico State Ecotherapy Program and is honored to represent Butte County. We hope you'll join our discussion, “The Stories We Tell: Critical Insights for Advancing Community-Based Climate & Health Efforts.”

Register to join us virtually to explore actionable solutions, engage in key discussions, and connect with leaders driving change. https://bit.ly/4gqLKdM

03/14/2025

This past winter, I had the honor of presenting for the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network as part of their learning series on fire practitioner mental health and well-being. I’m deeply humbled to share the story of our community and reflect on the last four years of offering Nature and Forest Therapy to wildfire-impacted communities and fire practitioners. It's been a rewarding journey of healing and connection. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve my community in this way.

Thank you Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network for the opportunity to share our story with your network of fire practitioners. If you'd like to learn more, check out our blog post!

Author shares insights about how forest therapy can support the mental health of wildfire survivors and their communities.

02/20/2025

Join us for Day 1: Community Pyrotherapy at the Good Fire Weekend on Saturday, March 1st at the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP)!

This day of education, healing, and connection to nature and community seeks to unite neighbors to repair our relationship with beneficial fire through prescribed pile burns, Indigenous cultural fire education, and nature therapy. Whether you’ve been impacted by wildfire, you’re looking to use fire as a management tool, or you’re seeking to build community while deepening your connection to nature—this experience is for you!

*Swipe to hear past Community Pyrotherapy attendees’ experiences!!

REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/goodfireday1

This event is in partnership with the Camp Fire Restoration Project, Chico State Ecotherapy Program, the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, the Butte PBA, the Butte Environmental Council, the Biochar Coalition, Neighbor-to-Neighbor, and California Volunteers.

02/19/2025

We are so honored to be apart of the upcoming Good Fire Weekend! We hope you join us for a wonderful weekend of Good Fire on March 1st and 2nd. Day 1 will take place on Mechoopda land at the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve, and Day 2 will be held at Lake Concow Campground.

Day 1 will feature “Community Pyrotherapy” with the Chico State Ecotherapy Program, Mechoopda Indian Tribe, Butte Prescribed Burn Association, and the Butte Environmental Council, on Day 1!

Day 2 will feature - “Good Fire Workshop” and resource share with Ali Meders-Knight & friends, Zeke Lunder of The Lookout, BEC, the Biochar Coalition, Butte Fire Safety Council, the California Indian Basketweavers’ Association, and much much more!

Throughout the weekend, attendees will enjoy positive, social, therapeutic, and educational experiences focused on the importance of beneficial fire ❤️‍🔥

Please register for Day 1 here: bit.ly/goodfireday1
Please register for Day 2 here: bit.ly/goodfireday2

This event is in partnership with Neighbor-to-Neighbor, California Volunteers.