Nearly 200 children and adults gathered to celebrate Camp El-O-Win’s 200’ footbridge installed in early July. Campers, past camp staff, friends, family, donors, and volunteers assembled to reconnect with friends, enjoy a fabulous buffet lunch and walk around camp, reliving old memories and making new ones.
The sunny-sky perfect day set the stage for a day ten years in the making. Since its creation in 2004, the Friends of Camp El-O-Win have had the vision of one day rebuilding the bridge, enabling access to El-O-Win’s entire 58 acres and again offering a resident camp program to the girls of the Central Valley.
During the Dedication Ceremony, heart-felt thoughts about this camp’s impact on their lives were shared by current campers Adriana and Sabrina Pantoja and past campers/staff Karrolyne Fogel and Tracy Emmersen.
It is because of Camp El-O-Win’s wonderful donors and volunteers that the new Bridge stands today. This day celebrated their involvement in Camp El-O-Win and the lives of girls. For their perseverance, commitment and determination, individuals in the following groups were recognized: Friends of Camp El-O-Win Board; Friends of Camp El-O-Win’s core volunteers; companies who helped design, survey, inspect, build, construct and install the bridge.
Special appreciation was given to volunteer project engineer, Chris Linneman, for two years of enthusiasm, energy and expertise and unrelenting service to this project.
The Camp El-O-Win Bridge was then dedicated to the girls – the past, present and future campers of this beautiful camp. Everyone enjoyed an original song, written by Penny Buller and performed by members of American Heritage Troop 223.
The ceremony was followed by the First Annual Dinkey Duck Race. The 501 ducks were slightly challenged because of the low water level in the creek, but cheering fans motivated those little yellow quackers to persevere to the finish line. Thank you to everyone who purchased ducks and Congratulations to the Winners:
- First place: A week at El-O-Win’s Resident Camp 2015. Winner – Scott Seals
- Second Place: $100. Winner – Jamie Crowley
- Third Place: 2014 Year of the Bridge Camp T-shirt. Winner – Tara Hawthorne
The day concluded with celebration cake in Grimmet Hall. It was an amazing day and we are grateful for every person who had a hand in making the Bridge and the day happen! Please join us next summer for the second annual Dinkey Duck Race!
Friends of Camp El-O-Win Board: Erin Baber-Sherwood, Margy Becker, Marc Bradford, Gayle Duffy, Tara Hawthorne, Cindy Huselid, Sandy Jacob, Jane Martin, Colleen Martinez, Nancy Ramos and Marion Vosburg.
Friends of Camp El-O-Win’s core volunteers: Karen Alfson, Liz Lee, Lee and Pat Nave, Ken and Sheila Otteson, Larry and Joy Pimentel, Gail Rogers, Stacey Ruble, Dave and Melinda Van Bossuyt and Laurel Vosburg.
In-Kind Contributors:
- Chris Linneman – project engineer
- Carey Dutcher, Dutcher & Associates Consulting – structural engineer
- Charles McElvany & crew, McElvany, Inc. of Los Banos – bridge installation
- Joshua Bowman, Bowman Concrete Pumping – concrete pumping
- Chase Miller, Bedrock Engineering, Inc. – survey work
- Jeff Seay & Doug Drynan, biologists, H. T. Harvey & Associates
Paid Contractors:
- Agee Construction, Clovis – Bob, Bill, Manuel & crew – footings
- Excel Bridge Manufacturing, Santa Fe Springs – bridge
- Outback Materials, Auberry – concrete
- Moore Twining Associates, Inc. – concrete strength testing
- Technicon Engineering Services – Steve Plauson – soil testing
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife – Kyle Stoner
- Bedrock Engineering – survey reports
- H. T. Harvey & Associates – reports