Round 1: Sugar Pine Christian Camp (Oakhurst CA, Nov 3rd- Dec 16th)

           So Round One Began! We started it off with a BANG! and some ice cream. Our Round One project was at Sugar Pine Christian Camp Just outside of Yosemite National Park. Our main objective was to clear the brush, fallen trees, and having limbs around the camp to make it safer in the chance of a forest fire. The first day we got there we were greated by a blanket of snow!

As well as THOUSANDS OF LADY BUGS! (Lady bugs are cool but there were so many it was kind of frightening.)

Durring out first week of work at the camp we helped them take down there tent cabins. which was basically just a normal cabin frame, a door, and a tarp over the top of it.

        After the tent cabins were all taken down and stored away we started working on the fallen brush around the normal cabins and around all the roads leading up into the camp.

Fuel Reduction - Movings sticks. Then disposing of them either in the means of burning.

                                    Or. By shoving them into a wood chipper :D

This is one of my team mates Sakara enjoying fuel reduction at its finest, and rocking the chainsaw chaps!

One thing that was stressed during this project was safety. They wanted us to wear out protective equipment like it was apart of us. We took this to heart. Even if the task didn't even need it. Like vacuuming. With a steal toed boots, hard hats, gloves, and ear plugs.

Along with all the fuel reduction the camp had some old run down trailers that they needed to dispose of. They wanted us to do so with CROW BARS. Needless to say. we all had a lot of fun.

Unfortunatly it wasn't until after the trailer was dismembered that our site supervisor "Sugar Bear" informed us that the trailer was made in the 60's...and most likely with asbestos. Oh well :D too late!

We spent a lot of our off time doing ISP's (Independent Service Projects) mostly at clothing drives...

But we found some cool clothes and met some cool people

We also took a trip to Fresno and helped the city organize there christmas parade! I looked Official! I had a Clip Bored!!!

As the project moved along we were all getting used to the routine of fuel reductions. However the bears in the area had another plan for us. One night a cleaver bear got into the dumpster outside of the kitchen, grabbed a trash bag, and proceeded to coat the area with it :D

We spent that day picking up the trash, and look! Steve made a trash kabob!

Steve is a man of many talents. One of them includes juggling!

                          

As the project was leaning towards a close some of the work tasks were changing. We spent a lot of time splitting wood. By the end of the project we had split a little over 6 chords of wood.

Chord of Wood - the amount of wood measured 4' X 4' X 8'

As well one of the last things we helped with at the camp was running there "Christmas on the Mountain" event. This gave us a chance to work with kids!

Of Corse we couldn't be so close to Yosemite with out visiting some Giant Sequoias! 

And El Capitan! ...With Aviators!

Project Reveal! We were given our info about out next project! We were told we were going to spend the next two months living and working at a homeless shelter called The Road Home. They needed extra help running the shelter during there busy winter season. We were all excited to finally get out of the forest but at the same time we all knew that this project was going to be a very challenging one.

We went back to Sacramento for our first transition and a quick trip home to see the fam! Ready for the next project, we all had some down time to prepare and get pumped! until next time! 

See ya in Salt Lake City!

The Green 6 Mascot. Screaming Elks.