Circle V Ranch Camp celebrated “Space Week” in timely recognition of the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th anniversary with presentations by some NASA JPL engineers and volunteer educators on July 14. From left to right are Camp Director Ray Lopez; camp alumnus (1962-65) Tom Nolan, Operations Engineer with NASA JPL; and Kevin Criddle, Dena Deck, Laura Harp, Anat Barashy, Kalind Carpenter, Janelle Wellons, Ken Ostrowski and Camp Assistant Director Brandon Cryder.
Circle V Ranch Camp celebrates “Space Week”
More than 110 Circle V Ranch campers and 30 staff members participated in “Space Day” on July 14, with a highlight of Space Week-themed activities in timely recognition of the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th anniversary.
Located across from Cachuma Lake, Circle V (“Vee”) Ranch Camp reopened this month for the first time since the Whittier Fire on July 8, 2017, and offered four weeks of themed sessions for campers ages 7-17, featuring six days and five nights of traditional supervised summer fun.
“Circle V Ranch Camp provides new opportunities for these campers to see and sense things that they’ve never experienced before. The term “wondering wanderer” best describes me because my mom taught us kids to stop and notice the flowers, listen to the birds and to be aware of all that surrounds us. These early lessons have grown into a career of fascinating adventure,” said Tom Nolan, a camp alumnus who now works for NASA’s JPL Laboratory.
He and other NASA JPL engineers and volunteer educators led some of the week’s sessions.
“Space Day 2019 was simply amazing for everyone here. We are so grateful to welcome back Tom Nolan and his volunteer team of scientists who shared their experiences and told us we all are scientists as long as we are curious. It’s been such a blessing to have these incredible people gave so much of their time and talent to inspire us,” Camp Director Ray Lopez exclaimed.
Circle V Ranch Camp was founded by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles in 1945 and has been located on 30 acres in Los Padres National Forest since 1990.
In 2016, more than 1,000 children enjoyed activities including hiking, swimming in the pool, learning about nature, archery, arts and crafts, painting, photography, playing games of baseball, basketball, ping pong, foosball, soccer, miniature golf and of course, campfires, skits and songs.
Campers stay in cabins or traditional canvas tents. Three daily meals are served family-style in the dining lodge.
The camp reopened this summer for the first time since July 8, 2017, when the Whittier Wildfire forced the closure due to damage to the health lodge, craft cabin and water treatment facility which have since been repaired.
The remaining 2019 summer sessions are filled. During autumn, winter and spring, Circle V is available for rental to other nonprofit groups and organizations. Reservations for retreat groups are being accepted year-round.
For more information visit www.circlevranchcamp.org
