Thank you for choosing the Willow Springs Group Campground!
We’re thrilled to host you and want your group to have an unforgettable and meaningful experience in the beautiful Sierra Foothills, home to the Yuba River and the Tahoe National Forest.
Our commitment to this land runs deep. We’ve taken many steps to be as environmentally conscious as possible—removing invasive plant species, creating habitat for native wildlife, installing solar panels and an EV charging station, and planting a Permaculture Education garden fertilized with compost and bio-char made right here on site.
Being environmentally conscious is everyone’s responsibility, and so we ask all guests to join us in protecting this area by helping reduce waste—especially trash.
Instead of throwing food scraps in the garbage, please use the compost buckets we provide. Composting helps nourish our garden and cuts down on methane gas, a major contributor to climate change. Did you know food waste in landfills generates up to 50% of methane emissions. Learn more about that here.
A Word About Trash
We’ll be honest: one of the most discouraging challenges we face is the sheer volume of trash produced in a single weekend—especially from paper plates, plastic utensils, and single-use water bottles. For a group of 30 people, eating 3 meals a day for a weekend equates to over 300 paper plates, plus cups, cutlery, and bottles—all of which go straight into the landfill. It’s a problem many campgrounds and parks struggle with (read about it here). It’s not just an environmental issue; it’s a safety one, too. Trash attracts raccoons, stray dogs, and even bears. Managing the volume is also labor-intensive and costly.
Help Us Keep Willow Springs Clean & Green
We invite you to make your stay more sustainable by adopting these simple practices:
- Bring re-fillable water bottles.
Our deep well water is delicious and safe—there’s no need to bring single-use plastic bottles. - Use the dishes provided.
Both the lodge and the campground are stocked with real plates, cups, and silverware. The lodge has a commercial dishwasher, and the campground features an outdoor washing station for easy cleanup. This washing station was designed so it’s easy and convenient for everyone to quickly wash their own plates, providing an opportunity for kids to participate and take responsibility too, and no one person is left to wash dishes.
We deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Small changes by every group make a big impact—on the land, the wildlife, and the future of this special place.
Want to learn more about reducing waste and composting?
- Composting Basics – EPA
- Why Reducing Waste Matters – National Park Service
- How Single-Use Plastics Affect Nature – WWF
Let’s leave the Sierra better than we found it