Camp WAMP 2007

 

Diablo has been helping for two years now as a club event. To get all of the kids plus one counselor for each kid to camp, it takes about 16 rigs for people and at least two trucks for equipment. Xterra club’s Northern and Southern California chapters also helped this year with several club rigs. This year, Diablo wanted to do more than just provide transportation. They looked for businesses to help pay expenses the kids’ families incur. When they contacted Brent Goegebuer at 4 Wheel Parts he said yes to sponsoring a kid and went to see how 4WP could help get more kids to this great experience in the future.

Most of the meadows along the trail were full of flowers in bloom.

This year, the kids loaded on a bus for the first stage of their adventure at Pheobe Hearst School in Sacramento and were introduced to their camp counselors and partners for the week. Then their adventure started with a three hour trip to the staging area where they were carried off the bus and had lunch. While they were eating, the volunteers loaded all the camping equipment and wheel chairs on the 4X’s for the next part of their adventure that brought smiles to their faces... wheeling over the trail in off-road rigs.

For most of us off-roaders, it wasn’t the hardest trail we’ve encountered, but for these kids, it was a great adventure. Just seeing the smiles on their faces and the enjoyment they were having was reward enough for all of the volunteer club members.

After wheeling 12 dusty miles into camp it was time for the group photo and settling in. Without a doubt they were excited about being in camp and were looking forward to their week of activities including swimming in the lake, learning to row boats, camping, and playing games. Most of all, it includes learning how to be outdoors and away from their normal support group! As for the clubs, it was time to hit the trail back to the pavement and let the kids start their week of fun.

The next weekend another group of clubs bring in the second group of campers and take out this first group. On the third weekend another club goes to provide transportation back out and the camp is shut down until next year’s two week event.

Without a doubt, what Steve Wampler has created with Camp WAMP is a great experience for the kids, and a success as a complete program.  All you have to do to understand that is just look at the smiles on these kid’s faces. That alone makes it all worthwhile! WAMP 2007 was a great success.  Hope to see you there next year.

Go to www.campwamp.org for more information.

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