Edhat Staff
Source: Circle V Ranch Camp
Circle V (Vee) Ranch Camp alumni and current staff members as well as family and friends participated in the inaugural Hike4Kids event at the camp on Saturday, May 20, 2017. This first-ever “friendraiser” raised almost $13,000 to date to help send kids to Circle V Ranch Camp this summer. Over 180 people so far have given funds and donations are still welcome at https://app.mobilecause.com/
According to event co-chairs Vicky Lopez and Jasmine Anguiano, more than 55 participants of all ages hiked two, four or eight miles starting at the “Circle V blue rock” along the Tequepis Trail in the Los Padres National Forest with scenic views of nearby mountains and Cachuma Lake, totaling more than 200 miles as a group. Participants in Hike4Kids enjoyed sack lunches, a barbeque dinner, movie under the stars and the opportunity for those who wished to camp overnight while enjoying a reunion and fellowship. Jasmine Anguiano is a former counselor who served 10 summers at Circle V and sparked the effort to have a reunion with former staff known as “wranglers.” She and Vicky Lopez, also a former counselor and current health services director joined together to make Hike4Kids not only a reunion but also a “friendraiser” to address the important need to help raise money to send kids to camp. Over 95% of children who attend Circle V need financial assistance to do so.
In summer 2016, the camp hosted more than 1,000 children for this time-honored experience. The Circle V Ranch Camp fee for six days/ five nights including lodging, all meals, activities, recreation and supervised fun is $450 per child; and “camperships” (scholarship funds made by individuals and groups’ donations such as from Hike4Kids) are available for qualified campers. For complete information on fees and camperships, visit www.circlevranchcamp.org/
Ray Lopez, Camp Director stated, “On behalf of everyone here at Circle V, we are beyond grateful for the efforts of so many who came together and worked so hard to raise funds at Hike4Kids. This summer marks 72 years of welcoming campers from throughout Southern California to Circle V. Funds raised at Hike4Kids help assure that no child is turned away. I started as a counselor at Circle V in1993 and have been Camp Director since 2008. What a blessing to be able to help make this first-ever alumni friendrasier a reality!”
Founded by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles Council in 1945, Circle V Ranch Camp & Retreat Center has been located on 30 acres in the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley near Cachuma Lake since 1990 at 2550 Highway 154. During autumn, winter and spring, Circle V facilities are available for rental to other non-profit groups and organizations. Circle V applications and scholarship requests are now being accepted for 2017 summer camp season. Each of the eight sessions is six days and five nights of traditional, supervised activities for boys and girls ages 7 to 13; and for ages 14-17, a Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) program is available.
