To commemorate Rotary International’s (RI's) 100-year anniversary in 2005, RI encouraged clubs to create a lasting Centennial project in their community. Cameron Park Rotarian Bob Blum, owner of Ace Hardware, chaired the Centennial project committee. He and his Rotarian wife, Cathy Blum, were the club’s inspiration and guiding force for creating the Rotary Club of Cameron Park Community Observatory as the club’s centennial project that would be free for the public to enjoy.
Rotarian Bob Edwards, a retired educator and real estate broker, found the perfect site for the observatory adjacent to the EDCOE (El Dorado County Office of Education) campus and Folsom Lake College-El Dorado Center. He sought and negotiated a deal with several landowners of a parcel known at that time as Veerkamp Park to donate to EDCOE for the expressed purpose of building a park or a similar-type venue benefiting the community. Bob then negotiated a memorandum of understanding for EDCOE so that the Rotary Club of Cameron Park Community Observatory and Sherwood Demonstration Garden could be constructed on the site. Subsequently, he brokered a deal for EDCOE to purchase another parcel that became the site for the transportation facility, as well as a parking area for the observatory.
Rotarians raised approximately $88,000 in funds, and solicitated grants, donation of funds and materials to supplement the $155,000 needed to undertake this major project. Rotarian Doug Bisbee served as project manager. PDG Bob Dorr, also a member of the Board of Supervisors, functioned as the liaison with the County for obtaining building permits.
Murray & Downs Architects designed the observatory, which was patterned after the Kiwanis Chico Community Observatory in Bidwell Park, with a few enhancements. Doug Veerkamp Engineering did the grading for the foundation and constructed the asphalt driveway from the parking lot to the observatory. Stigall Homes built the observatory, which was painted by a Rotary work party. Bailey and Associate Structural Engineers constructed the retractable metal roofing.
Members Bill Ettlich and Doug Bisbee made the electrical and lighting designs for the facility and constructed the entire electrical system including the underground main electrical feeder from the college campus to the building. (Rotarian Gary Reynolds used his backhoe to trench the ditch for the underground main electrical feeder.)
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The original observatory, comprised of a nine hundred square foot domed building with a retractable roof to house two powerful 14” reflecting telescopes, was completed in 2006. Aerojet Rocketdyne donated one of the telescopes, valued at $10,000.
The Rotary Club of Cameron Park gifted the observatory to EDCOE, which owns the property site. EDCOE installed a restroom and storage room and is responsible for the landscape- maintenance. The college provides security, utilities, and visitor parking.
Since its opening, Rotarians and docents continue to expand the viewing experiences for guests.
In 2011, Art Cort saved the Rotary club thousands of dollars by designing an outdoor bowl-like amphitheater for stargazing also modeled after the one at Bidwell Park in Chico. The “three wise men” – Art Cort, Bill Gallant and Bob Edwards organized work parties. Art, a retired civil engineer and the last charter member of the club, supervised its construction. Art affectionally became known as, “The #2 Shovel Man,” which was the type of shovel used in the project. He earned this nickname due to his propensity for hard labor over mechanized work.
Built by Rotarians and docents with two tiers of slanted concrete benches for night viewing, the sky theater included a pit area in the center for a docent to use a laser pointer identifying stars for guests. The amphitheater was named “The G. Arthur Cort Sky Theater” to recognize Art’s vast contributions.
In 2011, club president Anne Eckert was presented with an International Service Project Award at the District Conference on behalf of the club for the observatory building and amphitheater projects; only a handful of similar awards were given out worldwide.
In 2018, an additional tier was installed with increased safety railings, which doubled the 50-100 seating capacity.
Art went on to plan the weather and solar stations. Placerville Rotary helped contribute to the solar station, and Luke Miller, spouse of Cameron Park Rotarian Deb Miller, constructed it with the assistance of Rotarians and docents.
Art also designed the base, which was constructed by Rotarians, for a 12’ fiberglass dome building. Once the base was completed, docents took over the construction of the building to house a remote solar imagery telescope. This building is named “Grahbek-Lockhart” Image Center to honor the substantial contributions by the two docents. Unlike the Community Observatory, the Imaging Observatory is not open to the public; its main purpose is to provide high school and college students an opportunity to conduct academic astronomy research.
The planning and construction of the Observatory had a high- member participation rate totaling nearly 10,000 hours, otherwise the club would not have been able to afford the project. Ongoing grants from Rotary district 5190 helped fund projects, and Boy Scouts working on Eagle Scout projects enhanced the site. Former EDCOE Superintendent of Schools Vicki Barber and Folsom Lake College - El Dorado Center Dean Dale van Dam were highly active in supporting and facilitating the Community Observatory.
Current Operation:
In October of 2018, the Observatory reached its 100,000-vistor mark. Today, it is the second most visited attraction in El Dorado County and serves as a notable example of a local community partnership.
Operation of the observatory is overseen by a governing board of representatives from the Rotary Club, EDCOE, Folsom Lake College and lead docents. Rotarians Joe Ryan and Laurie Edwards currently represent Rotary on the board. The board meets on a regular basis to provide oversight and guidance regarding observatory operation.
The docents are an independent group sanctioned by the observatory partners, who are trained to operate the telescopes and provide astronomical information to the visiting public. The docents are an incredibly talented and dedicated group of volunteers helping guests enjoy a quality educational experience.
One of the former high school docents, Elizabeth Gabler, went on to earn an advanced degree in astrophysics. In 2020, she was named as one of The Mar’s Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Recipients. She has since worked with companies that collaborate with NASA, SpaceX and the US Department of Defense.
The equipment housed by the observatory has continued to be enhanced by community donations of both equipment and funds. Recognizing the value of the observatory as a resource to the community, individuals including docents, local companies, and local service clubs have donated equipment such as a “sky camera,” additional telescopes, a solar telescope, and a video monitor to enhance visitors’ observatory experience.
The primary purpose of the observatory is astronomical education. As such, the observatory is reserved for use by K-12 and college classes Monday through Thursday evenings. The observatory is also open to the public without cost or reservation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, as well as the first Saturday morning of each month for safe solar viewing.
In addition to weeknight visits by strictly educational groups, numerous entities, including local boy and girl scout troops, other service clubs, professional associations and fraternal organizations have visited the observatory since 2006.
Please access the Community Observatory website for more information: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiSuPzbovL5AhV0KH0KHZLRCzkQFnoECAcQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.communityobservatory.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1MfG3G8eReVZKfxCsjs4SU
Prepared by Laurie Edwards – Rotary Record Keeper/Researcher
September 1, 2022