Rotary Camp Work Day

The Arcadia Rotary Club, along with Boy Scout Troop #358, held a special day of “work, fun and fellowship” earlier this month at Camp Trask Scout Reservation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – by Anne Donofrio-Holter – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Located on the camp grounds, nestled in Monrovia Canyon, sits a full-size fort known as Fort Rotary, where Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Webelos work on crafts such as ropes, knots, leatherworks, basketry and wood carving. Other activities include metal works, first aid training, environmental science, soil conservation, wildlife/mammal/bird studies, astronomy and more.

“Several years ago Arcadia Rotary helped build and underwrite Fort Rotary for the San Gabriel Valley Boy Scout Council,” said Rotarian Jack McRae. “Arcadia Rotary continues to honor its commitment by maintaining the facility and the grounds on which it sits.”

Arcadia Rotary Club president Brad Miller said, “We are here to clean up the grounds and rehab aging parts of Fort Rotary as part of ongoing maintenance and to provide an avenue for community service for the Boy Scouts, Rotarians and others joining us here today.”

The approximately 85 volunteers, which also included Duarte Rotarians, Arcadia High School students and other community members, fanned out canvassing the grounds of the camp, which was dedicated Tallman H. Trask Scout Reservation in 1972, conducting general cleanup along with some overdue maintenance to the fort. After several hours of hard work and a well-deserved lunch, the volunteers were pleased with all they had accomplished.

“We are so grateful to Arcadia Rotary for maintaining this facility for our scout troop,” said one member of Troop 358. “It’s been fun today working up with club members for this cleanup.”

Miler said. “Our priority is to keep Fort Rotary usable for the Boy Scouts and others for camping and related activities. We want to thank everyone who joined us here today and did such a great job.”