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On September 17, 114 employees from the United Postal Service
(UPS) headed to camp. Horseback riding, archery, and camping
were not on the agenda however. Instead these volunteers participated
in the United Way Day of Caring, a project that gives businesses
an opportunity to do hands on work for United Way agencies.
The UPS group spent the day doing maintenance and construction
work at the three Girl Scout camps that comprise the Treelake
complex – Camps Silver Springs, Agnes Arnold, and Misty
Meadows. While the camp activities weren’t traditional,
a good time was had by all.
At Camp Silver Springs, workers spread woodchips
on the ropes course and finished a footbridge. Volunteers
at Camp Agnes Arnold concluded a three-year project –
the building of a bridge which connects the north and south
sides of Shadow Lake. This bridge completes the nature trail
at the camp so that visitors may now walk all the way around
the lake. In addition, workers installed benches along the
nature trail, finished a third footbridge and trimmed underbrush.
At Camp Misty Meadows, volunteers made repairs to Forest Trail,
one of the trails used for horseback riding.
The importance of all their hard work is undeniable.
“One hundred and fourteen people worked for four hours,”
says Bob Spaeth, Director of Facilities. “That’s
456 man-hours, or 11.5 weeks of volunteer labor that would
otherwise be contracted out or required as overtime.”
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC) has been involved
with United Way Day of Caring since the program’s inception.
About 40 volunteers from Deloitte Touche are scheduled to
work at Camp Robinwood on October 8, and there will also be
a Day of Caring at Camp Casa Mare in the near future.
Volunteers provide a great service to GSSJC,
but they also get something in return. “People like
to spend the day outside and they like to accomplish something,”
notes Spaeth. “The program is designed so that a quantifiable
goal will be reached. There is a great sense of achievement.”
  
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