March/April 2014 | 15
T
he coolest treehouse in Austin, Texas,
sits within a grove of strong and healthy
live oak trees, thanks to Davey's care.
For more than 10 years, Davey's Austin
R/C crewmembers have provided tree care
and maintenance for Candlelight Ranch, a local
camp facility that shares nature's ability to heal
with children experiencing a wide range of
conditions. Davey continues to prune and
fertilize live oak trees affected by oak wilt
disease every year, in addition to maintaining
trees that exist in other areas of the property.
District Manager Dan Hunsicker is happy
with his crewmembers' labor so far. "It's the
difference you make in people's lives that keeps
us working for Candlelight Ranch," he says.
In addition to the physical labor its crew-
members provide, Davey has also co-sponsored
Dress by Candlelight, the organization's major
annual fundraiser, for the last three years. Dur-
ing that time, the success of the fashion show
fundraiser has increased, providing Candlelight
Ranch with partial funding to construct a new
water feature on the property for the benefit
of kids who visit the camp in summer.
Because drought conditions have accelerated
the need to keep kids cool in summer, when
most Candlelight programs occur, staff members
and the Board of Directors have been
considering the addition of a water feature
to the facility. The catch? They have to create
and provide their own water source.
Since Candlelight Ranch can no longer
depend on Lake Travis as a water resource,
the facility raised money to install a rainwater
collection system in 2012.
"We wanted to build a unique water feature
that would be educational, interactive and use
minimal amounts of water," Candlelight Ranch
co-founder Don Barr explains. To support
sustainable practices, the facility will reuse
ChillVille's water supply for irrigation; eventu-
ally, the water will flow into a water garden
that will demonstrate how rainwater nourishes
surrounding plants and trees.
Not only will ChillVille provide an educa-
tional tool but also a fun place for kids to
relax and interact with one another. "Most
importantly, it will allow kids to splash and
cool down in a natural shaded area during
hot Texas summer days," Barr explains.
The wide range of children who visit
Candlelight Ranch will surely enjoy its new
ChillVille feature, set to open this summer.
But to Barr, this opportunity represents his
appreciation for ongoing supporters, like
Davey. As he says, "Davey is part of our
support base, which provides us with stability
but also keeps us propelling forward."
Children participate in the low
ropes course at Candlelight Ranch.
Live oak trees surround a fully accessible
tree house at Candlelight Ranch.
Kids Splash Worries Away
A child takes a ride on the zip line course
at Candlelight Ranch in Austin, Texas.
