Police, Pack Leaders and Firefighters

23. October 2007 by DSJC.

We had been anticipating the day for many weeks—Friday, October 19, 2007.  It was the day Orange County, California’s, Outdoor Education Center installed its Schmid Family Pedestrian Bridge.  The plans involved several Eagle Scouts, including Mike Harrison, partner at Trico Realty, Inc.; Mike’s son, Chet; and grandson, Adam Wyatt.  The scouts symbolically helped with the placement of the bridge, and they took the inaugural walk across it.  Little Adam cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Adam, his uncle and grandfather participated in this milestone event along with Dave and Bob Prizio, all of whom achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  Dave Prizio and his wife, Kathy, of Prizio Construction in Costa Mesa, committed $50,000 in service that covered the bridge abutments for the placement.  The Schmid Family of Santa Ana, donated $250,000 to purchase the bridge; that’s why it’s the Schmid Family Pedestrian Bridge.  It was installed via a 500-ton crane that placed it into its new permanent location. 

These activities make for great images, the kinds of images that we all love to see, read and hear about in our daily papers on the morning news.

Orange County’s KDOC-TV agreed that these would be great images and that it is a good story.  They sent a reporter to document the event.  And, I must hand it to the reporter.  He braved a hot morning and passed through dozens of police officers in training (lights flashing and mock arrests being made at various locations along the only road leading to the Outdoor Education Center site), and drove his car up a steep dirt hill (past a sign that read, “No Cars”) to capture it all. 

Adam, a 4th grader and Webelo Scout from Pack 301, ended the day by saying into KDOC’s camera, “I just want to thank all the people who made this possible.” 

“Bravo!” I said.  I could hardly wait to see the coverage on Monday morning (today).

But the story didn’t run.

Late Sunday evening, someone allegedly lit a fire in Santiago Canyon (ironically, not far from the Outdoor Education Center), and the gusting Santa Ana winds whipped that fire up and quickly spread it toward and into Irvine.  It was one of many fires to erupt here in Southern California on Sunday.  Of course, and rightfully, the fires dominated the news.  Governor Schwarzenegger declared the entire area a disaster area.  Firefighters fought into and through the night to keep people and homes safe.  “Bravo!” I say (to the bravery of our firefighters).

I may be disappointed at not seeing Adam’s and the Outdoor Education

So, in case I’ve peaked your interest, here’s my report on the event as I imagine it might have been reported.  Enjoy.

Webelo Leads the Pack 

Orange, Calif. — Adam Wyatt of Costa Mesa, a 4th grader and Webelo Scout from Pack 301, played an important role last Friday, October 19, when he assisted in the placement of the Schmid Family Pedestrian Bridge at the Outdoor Education Center in Orange (adjacent to Irvine Regional Park).    The son and grandson of Eagle Scouts (his grandfather is Mike Harrison, a volunteer at the Outdoor Education Center), Adam participated in this milestone event along with his uncle, Chet Harrison, and Dave and Bob Prizio, all of whom achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.   

Dave and Kathy Prizio of Prizio Construction in Costa Mesa, committed $50,000 in service that covered the bridge abutments for the placement.  The Schmid Family of Santa Ana, donated $250,000 to purchase the bridge.   The bridge was installed via a 500-ton crane that placed it into its new permanent location.   

Key features of the bridge include:

•  It weighs 61,600 pounds and measures eight feet wide by 130 feet long,
• It was custom cut from self-weathering steel, and then welded by hand, 
• It has Douglas Fir wood plank decking, 
• It was designed for easy installation and low maintenance. 

Christine Kirk, director of the Outdoor Education Center, was there to oversee the installation.  She accompanied Adam across the bridge in an inaugural walk that marked this important construction milestone for the center. Wyatt got to run the 500 ton crane after they set the bridge in place. He also cut the ceremonial ribbon and was first across the bridge accompanied by two teenage girls from the Boy Scouts Venture program.   

When asked if there was anything he would like to say about the day’s event, Wyatt said, “I just want to thank all the people who made this possible.” 

About the Outdoor Education Center 

The Outdoor Education Center is currently under construction as a one-of-a-kind outdoor learning facility with three unique camps—Astronomy Camp, Ranch Camp and Mining Camp—designed to provide local youth the opportunity to learn about the Southern California natural environment through first-hand wilderness experiences above the ground, at ground level and below the ground. Tucked into the hills above Irvine Regional Park, the Outdoor Education Center will open in spring 2008 to provide schools and youth organizations a local and more affordable venue for both overnight outdoor education and day trips at an up-to-date facility featuring many unique programming elements. For more information please see www.outdooreducationcenter.org.

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