Amazing things happen when Pathfinders from 18 clubs throughout the Upper Columbia Conference converge on a small town. In this case the small town was Goldendale, Wash., and their purpose for being there was community service in town and working on projects at the new PATCH family center.
The group included 72 teen Pathfinders, 16 junior Pathfinders and 34 adult leaders. One of the biggest projects was collecting food for the food bank. One day the group passed out bags to every home in the community and two days later they collected over 2,000 pounds of food. They cleaned yards, swept city streets and gave out cookies for merchants. People in the town were surprised and excited by the many ways Pathfinders helped.
Pathfinders and leaders also worked on PATCH's developing family center, with some building gazebos in scenic locations. Others cleaned the woodlands by piling brush and burning it while others built fences. The most arduous task was rebuilding a 100-year-old trail around the 70-foot waterfall which led to the historic generator on the Little Klickitat River.
Pathfinders were unstoppable as they worked through sleet, hail, rain and cold. The week-long project allowed them to experience every type of weather except heat. But there were no complaints and no injuries more serious than a smashed thumb. Thank you, Pathfinders, for a job well done.
Pathfinders from College Place, Omak and Hermiston help clear rocks at the Goldendale site. (Tom Sanford)
Pathfinders from around the Upper Columbia Conference watch as Rob Lamberton from Brewster (Wash.) demonstrates proper ground preparation. (Tom Sanford)
Jonathan Heinrich, from the Waiilatpu Pathfinder Club in College Place, Wash., helps repair a fence on the PATCH Goldendale property. (Tom Sanford)
Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinders help in different ways, including building gazebos. (Tom Sanford)
