Boss73 told me about an organization that transports wheelchair bound kids to a camp. I have been in contact with them and below is the information they sent me. I am not 100% sure I am going to be able to make the run, but I wanted to put a feeler out to see if anyone else in interested.
Here is the information I was given. If Boss73 reads this, maybe he can chime in as well.
Interested Drivers
1. OPG
2. PotatoMutato
3. DHeigher
4. EstySalinas
5. Mrs Bozly
6. Bigfish
7. Marauder713
8. PBn'Fj and guest
9. Boss73
We may still need help on Saturday, August 8. I haven't heard back from the person that is recruiting the locals yet.
Can you email back with a couple of bits of information?
1. How many extra passengers can you carry?
2. Can you carry gear, too?
3. Type of vehicle?
4. Will you be driving through Sacramento Saturday afternoon?
5. Do you know of others interested?
I have copied the email I sent early this year to recruit volunteers to give you details of what we do.
Thank you for your interest.
Transportation coordinator
Camp WAMP
Dear 4x4 group leaders,
Its time to round up the rigs and haul some kids to camp.
This is an opportunity to offer your time, talent, and rigs to help put smiles on the faces of those less fortunate than us - some disabled kids. Camp WAMP (rhymes with stomp) is looking for a bunch of 4x4ers that would be willing to transport kids and their wheelchairs and gear plus counselors and their gear on an hour and a half trek to or from camp in the High Sierras. The campsite is a bit remote so you need a capable 4x4 with a little clearance and 4low, a KIA Sportage made it 2 years ago. Most of the trail is easy with probably just two challenging spots.
The dates for the treks are as follows:
July 25, Saturday at 12 noon bus stop at Plumas-Eureka State Park- inbound.
August 1, Saturday at 10 am at Hawley Lake - outbound.
August 2, Sunday at 12 noon bus stop at Plumas-Eureka State Park- inbound.
August 9, Saturday at 10 am at Hawley Lake - outbound.
If you would like to participate, please have space available in your rig for at least 1 camper and 1 counselor and some gear. We would like to make sure that everyone that participates has a great time, so we are asking for a little cooperation and a little information beforehand so we can plan. If you really want a camper in your rig, just say so and we will try our hardest to make it happen, especially for the first-timers. If you have been one of very valued transporters in the past, maybe you can reach back in your memory banks to remember the special feeling from those huge smiles to make sure a newbie has the same experience.
Now for the tough part, group leaders you are an awesome part of this program. We need space for 42 campers and counselors and their stuff on the opening inbound trip, July 25 and the closing outbound trip, August 8. All of the people and gear go in or come out on those days. The in between days, August 1 and 2 are a little lighter since some of the counselors will stay in camp over the weekend.
I know it seems like a lot to ask for a commitment for a volunteer outing, but these kids need us and our rigs to get them to and from camp. The payoff is huge. These kids get such a big kick out of being like regular kids on an off-road adventure. The smiles you put on their faces will stay with you forever.
So, leaders and any 4x4 enthusiasts out there, please circulate this information to get the word out to come and help some kids that really need our help.
The first inbound trip is pretty full with Diablo 4 Wheelers, Hills Angels, and the Northern Cal Club Xterra groups. For individuals that email me to signup, please be flexible and patient as I need to fill in large groups first then add you where needed.
David Hollister, hopefully, will help recruit drivers for the last day, August 8. I am hoping that several locals will participate helping take the kids out of camp. But we still need some folks from down in the valley or beyond just in case the bus is overloaded with gear like last year - thank you Josh and his FJ - can't believe I am giving credit to an FJ driver.
To recap our needs:
July 25 - 32 vehicles
Aug. 1 & 2 - 25 vehicles each day
Aug. 8 - 32 vehicles
We will need a list of the vehicles, color, opened or closed, number of passengers, room for gear.
Oh, if you don't hear from me until after April 15, just be patient, I am in the middle of tax season. After that, I can contact all respondents more promptly.
And by the way, their website has changed to:
www.wamplerkids.org.