Autum in the wilderness

Did you ever think that the summer social experience might also

include a great weekend camping trip?

Growing up, I heard many tales of family adventures in the

California Redwood forests. My father and his parents would actually

spend the entire summer on caravan camping excursions. A small canvas

village was erected in the wilderness with all the accouterments of

home.

That was in the early part of the century. Today, we have news of

The Big Boys Weekender, a camping excursion set for early fall at Big

Bear Lake on a property run by the YMCA Camp.

Corona del Mar residents NormaPaul Fruchbom opened their coastal

residence to some 200 local guests for a preview party of the Big

Camping Weekender to come. It’s all about good old-fashioned “male

bonding,” a little male escapism, and perhaps most importantly,

raising funds for local charities that will be the beneficiaries of

the camping fees. The Big Boys Weekender will support the Orange

County YMCA, Orangewood Children’s Home, the United Way and an

organization called Learning For Life.

Paul Fruchbom, board member of the charitable organization

sponsoring the excursion and host of the pre-event party, went all

out for the event, erecting a 26-foot Alpine rock climbing tower,

producing an archery demonstration and inviting the Orange County

Sheriff’s Department to show off their new high-tech Hummer. Guests

managed to enjoy some extensive wine tasting to go along with the

super-old-fashioned backyard barbecue that made for perfect summer

function on the Orange Riviera.

Hostess Norma Fruchbom decorated her magnificent home with a

Catalina Island view using traditional red and white checked

tablecloths set with centerpieces overflowing with yellow and white

daisies.

Her food stations were out of this world. If they serve food like

this on the camping trip, none of the big boys will want to come

home. Four different food stations prepared rotisserie grilled

chicken, ribs glazed in hoisin ginger, barbecue beef sandwiches,

beans, homemade potato salad and coleslaw, and there was a dessert

station with lots and lots of cobbler.

Some high-profile gentlemen in the community are joining forces

for this camping weekender. Bob Campbell, Bob Howard, Peter Shea,

John Parker, Carlos Leija and Allen Boerner will be among the more

than 250 expected to show up on a Friday at Big Bear Lake for a

weekend of poker and pool tournaments, trap shooting, fly fishing,

kayaking and just about every other testosterone-infused activity

known to man.

Also participating will be Robert Grant, Mike Meyer, Phil McNamee,

Michael Suydam, Dave Blankenhorn and John Hamilton.

For more information or to sign up, please call Lana Chandler at

(949) 857-0022.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.