Imagine attending summer camp and not being able to play in the camp's swimming pool. This scenario could become reality next year for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Circle V Ranch Camp near Santa Barbara if its aging pool is not retrofitted. The cost? A quarter of a million dollars.

Although Circle V has received high marks for its pool activities in its yearly satisfaction surveys, it needs to be upgraded to improve safety and program effectiveness. The pool has been a camp favorite since the late 1920s.

The Society has until fall of 2008 to upgrade the pool or next year's campers will be without the coolest place to escape to on a hot summer day.

"When you think of camp, one of the things you visualize is the swimming pool and how refreshing it is on those 100-plus degree heat days. Camp and a refreshing dip into the swimming pool just go together," says Ray Lopez, director of Circle V Ranch. "Many inner-city children don't have access to a swimming pool, let alone the various activities that camp offers. We strive to offer all there is through our camp so that each boy and girl can enjoy the basics in life and grow as individuals."

Of the approximately 1,200 children who attend the Society's summer camp each July and August, 98 percent come via partial or fill camperships. Recent studies indicate that 25% of young people in Los AngelesCounty, 19% in Santa BarbaraCounty and another 21% in VenturaCounty live below the poverty level. For many boys and girls, they have never seen the wilderness or been away from home.

The pool is structurally retained by a deteriorating rock wall and cracked concrete deck. Since its construction in 1926, the pool has received only minor upgrades through the passing years and shifting weather conditions. Consequently, it is in critical need of retrofitting and the highest priority site for being brought up to code. As a result, the Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services has determined that the following upgrades need to be addressed:

• * Construct a new 26'x76' rectangular commercial gunite swimming pool, 3 ½' to 8' deep to meet local building and health department codes;
• * Refurbish the rock wall;
• * New broom-finished, non-slip concrete decking;
• * New pipes and fittings, pool filters and pumps, and pool lights;
• * Install handicap lift, signage, safety devices, pool steps and rails to meet ADA standards; and
• * Install self latching devices on the pool's gate.

Lopez has consulted with architects, contractors and other service providers to gather all the pertinent information needed to implement this construction successfully. The pool retrofit is of particular importance, as it will allow the Camp's staff to teach the campers cooperation, teamwork and self- esteem skillsthrough various non-competitive pool activities.

"Being a non-profit organization presents certain challenges, and coming up with the necessary funds to tackle repairs such as this is one of them," Lopez says. "Our goal is to simply provide the basics to these children so that they can have fun in a setting that allows them to dream big."

Many campers are returnees, as they gravitate to the positive impact that Circle V has provided in their lives. Among other things, Circle V's program helps teach children responsibility and mentoring from role models that empower these young people in school and assist them in forming positive relationships with parents, teachers and peers.

For more information on how you, your corporation or organization can assist with the Circle V Ranch pool retrofit, please call 323-276-6084 or visit www.svdpla.org. All financial gifts are tax-deductible as the law allows.

-30-