There are Scouting projects, and then there are Scouting legacies. The new steel bridge spanning the creek by Handicraft at Camp Geronimo falls firmly into the latter category—a 40-foot testament to what a troop can accomplish when vision, engineering expertise, and countless volunteer hours come together.
The Brainchild
The idea for a permanent steel bridge began with two men who saw a problem and refused to accept, “That’s just how it’s always been done.” Dr. Mike Kiedrowski, Committee Chair of Troop 828, and Mark Holgate, Charter Organization Representative (COR) of Troop 828, envisioned a durable crossing that could withstand flash floods, heavy foot traffic, and the ever-changing conditions at Camp Geronimo for generations of Scouts to come. With the support of Scoutmaster Mark Price, they connected with Camp Ranger Ramon Martinez to bring the vision to life.
What started as a conversation became a blueprint, and what started as a blueprint became a multi-weekend construction effort that ultimately put steel across the creek.
From Footings to Finished Span
Building a 40-foot steel bridge isn’t a one-and-done project—it’s a campaign. Over the course of several weekends, the project moved methodically through every phase:
- Footings — the unglamorous but essential foundation work that would anchor tons of steel securely on both banks of the creek.
- Metalwork — fabricating and fitting the structural components that would support the span.
- Welding — joining every piece with precision, knowing that the integrity of every weld mattered.
- Testing — verifying that the finished structure could reliably support Scouts, staff, and equipment crossing for years to come.
When Troop 828 arrived for Week 2 of camp, the bridge was significantly closer to reality, with volunteers continuing to return weekend after weekend to keep the project moving forward.
Thank You to the Builders
A project of this scale doesn’t happen without skilled craftsmanship and a willingness to show up, weekend after weekend. Troop 828 extends its deepest thanks to:
- Ramon Martinez and Brady Vorachek, whose skill and dedication were instrumental in bringing the bridge from concept to completed structure.
- Troop 3126, for lending their time, energy, and manpower to the effort, especially Scoutmaster Miranda Hagan and Assistant Scoutmasters Scott Collins and Jake Mabe.
- Committee members Brady Munn and Edgar Rodriguez, along with Assistant Scoutmaster Matt New, for their tireless dedication during camp week.
- All the volunteers who showed up to dig, weld, lift, and test—this bridge stands because of you.
A Lasting Crossing
Forty feet of steel now span the creek by Handicraft—solid, permanent, and built to last. It’s a crossing that Scouts will walk across without a second thought, never knowing the weekends of planning, excavation, fabrication, welding, and testing that made it possible. That’s the nature of good infrastructure, and it’s the nature of great Scouting projects: the people who benefit most from the work rarely see the work itself. But Troop 828 knows, and Troop 828 is grateful.
Thank you to Dr. Mike Kiedrowski, Mark Holgate, Ramon Martinez, Brady Vorachek, Troop 3126, and every volunteer who helped span the creek at Camp Geronimo.
View more on our Facebook page!
