When it comes time to cut the ribbon on the new playground at Sequoia Heights Baptist Church, Camron Moebius might be too old to enjoy the slides, swings and pull-up bar.

Instead, the 15-year-old Lathrop High sophomore will savor the lessons he’s learned in taking on a project of this magnitude.

“I’ve learned that big things like this don’t come easy,” Moebius said with a sense of relief in his voice.

The hard work is behind him now. The playground is nearly complete, Moebius says, needing only a 6-inch layer of bark spread through the play area, a few touch-ups and some bolt tightening.

He hopes to cut the ribbon no later than March 1, introducing a state-of-the-art play structure to the children of Sequoia Heights Baptist just in time for the spring season.

“It’s a huge blessing for our church. It’s going to be years and years of fun for the kids to play on,” said Pastor Dan Mahaffie, adding that organizations such as the Boys Scouts and Give Every Child a Chance also use church facilities.

“The work that he’s put into it, to find it and get all the details to move it and get it up, it’s been one incredible step after the next.”

The playground has three slides and several climbing apparatuses, among other features. It fills a void left behind by a dilapidated wooden structure that was deemed unsafe and had to be demolished.

“I’m itching to get it done. I can’t wait to see it. I can’t wait to see all the kids playing on it. They’re really going to like it,” said Moebius, a member of Boy Scout Troop 423. He made the purchase and installation of a new play structure his Eagle Scout project.

“There were a lot of people who doubted us, but I’m pretty sure they’d be proud to see it up in action.”

Moebius doesn’t begrudge the naysayers. Even he had his doubts.

The project began in March with a two-dimensional drawing, high hopes and an even loftier price tag. The original design was produced by Walnut Creeks’ California Playgrounds, which set the terms for Moebius’ fund-raising effort.

His dream would cost $30,000.

“Have I been impressed with Camron? Yes, very, very much,” said California Playground’s Marie Deinzer in an interview with The Bulletin in March. “That’s why I think he will do it.”

Unfortunately, he’d have to do it alone. Though his family made fund-raising a full-time commitment, Moebius’ efforts eventually stalled and the partnership with California Playgrounds fizzled.

Undeterred, Moebius turned to Craigslist for a cheaper alternative, stumbling upon a San Jose area church looking to sell its playground. The church recently shut down its school operation, Moebius said, making the playground expendable.

He and his father purchased the equipment, along with a swing set and pull-up bar, for $2,000 and transported it in a rented U-Haul truck.

“It’s been exciting to see him in charge of something like that,” Mahaffie said. “It’s a big undertaking to tear down and move a structure like that. ... He’s been pretty impressive.”

A project that once looked like it was off-line now heads down the homestretch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in sight.

“People didn’t want to back this because it was such a big project,” Moebius said. “They weren’t sure I’d be able to do it, (but) I really wanted to see it through, make sure everything is awesome and working right.”



To contact Managing Editor James Burns, e-mail jburns@mantecabulletin.com.