YMCA Camp Marston

It is clear by now that blogging is not for me, considering how I can never keep up with it. Heck, I couldn't even handle my Facebook so I deleted that. I am still going to try my best to continue this blog though!

I have been in Julian, CA which is about one hour east of San Diego. My team and I have been here for four weeks now. The time is going so fast, it is crazy! My team is working at YMCA Camp Marston located about ten miles outside of Julian. Julian is a small town of roughly 1,000 people, and the town is well known for their pie (the pie we have had so far has been amazing). 

Our work here so far has been doing different construction projects. When we first arrived, we started making signs to identify the hiking trails throughout the camp. We have made 60 signs which included a lot of cutting, measuring, routering, painting, and sanding. After making the signs, it was time to hit the trails and post them. It is tiring caring all the equipment we needed to post the signs up the trails, but I enjoyed this task a lot. Being out on hiking trails has been one of my favorite things about AmeriCorps.

Lauren and Ryan diggin' up them holes!

We had to heat treat our cabin for bed bugs...

Building the fence

Our other big project has been making a stone wall and wooden fence around the new sports court that was recently put in the camp. It is a really nice court compared to their old one. It makes me happy that I could help finish this sports court that campers will use for many years to come.

Jessi and Sarah have been doing a side project building a new tree house. They started from the base and already have so much of it completed! It should be done before we leave in a few weeks. I am excited to see how it turns out.

 

Jessi and Sarah's masterpiece so far!

Elena and Ryan about to climb the rock wall 

On Wednesday we were given the opportunity to participate in camp activities and classes. It was nice to get a break from our typical manual labor work and to see how the school year program operates. Apparently in California, schools will fund sixth grade classes to go to an Outdoor Education Camp for a week. I had a hard time believing this at first because there is nothing like this back in Illinois. It is a great way to connect and educate kids about nature, the environment, and camping skills. Ryan and I attended the survival skills class and got to build a shelter out of branches. Pretty cool!

Not only has our project been incredible, but so have the people! The camp counselors who work here also live here. It is nice to have other people to hang out with other than my team (not saying I don't love them!). They are all so fun to hang out with and hilarious. A few of us have gone out with them to the local brewery and a couple different bars. It has been fun going out, but I have enjoyed the nature even more. Our first week here most of us went to the Anza-Borrego Desert. I had no idea that we were going to see such amazing views that day. Such big mountains, so many big rocks and plants, and a whole lotta desert. Last weekend I went hiking with Cactus, Omaha, and Yeti to Cuyamaca Peak which is about 15 miles from camp. It took us five hours total to hike to the top and back. I was pretty exhausted after that, but the view was worth it. So beautiful! I had no idea Southern California was so breath taking. We live in the mountains at camp, and are only a hour drive to the ocean and the desert.  

Cactus inside a tree!

Me loving life in the Anza-Borrego Desert

We only have a few weeks left here in San Diego county, so I am focusing on enjoying every moment here while I can. I love this place, I love the people, and I am going to be sort of sad once it is all over. Ultimately I will just be happy for this amazing project 