SCANNING GOLDNuggets of History for

by K K ROBERTS

photography by CHARLENE TAYLOR / CHARM PHOTOGRAPHY

Denizens of Northern California are no doubt aware of the rich history of Sacramento, and more specifically Placerville, as ground zero during the 19th century Gold Rush. Paying tribute to this storied legacy, Miners on Main in downtown Placerville is the brainchild of Leadership El Dorado Class 14. A Gold Rush-themed scavenger hunt, Miners features medallions strategically hidden at various locations on Main Street that showcase some of the more notorious and legendary miners from that era.

Sponsored by the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, the leadership class is a yearlong program that invites local business and community members, along with elected officials to study leadership and civic responsibility, culminating in the creation of a class project to help serve the community. “Our class actually lasted two years (meeting once a month),” says Gordon Helm, alumni and project leader of Class 14. “ e pandemic really affected our timeline.”

According to its mission statement, Leadership El Dorado “intends to send a diverse group of highly skilled leaders back into the community—better skilled, further motivated, with a stronger vision—to lead those around them toward an improved region and healthier community.”

“ is program was inspired by a similar program I saw in Greenville, North Carolina,” says Helm.

“Following the shutdown of the textile industry, Greenville needed to revitalize downtown and came up with Mice on Main, a popular scavenger hunt for bronze mice based on the children’s book “Goodnight Moon,” in an effort to bring people in and entice them to spend time in the area.” Taking a cue from that endeavor, Leadership Class 14 developed the Miners on Main project that is specific to local history.

A previous leadership project centered on fundraising for Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Union Mine High School to fi nance the construction of a hog barn where students can raise their animals, thus helping the then newly introduced husbandry educational program. Another class spearheaded the construction of the Healing Garden at Marshall Hospital, which provides a peaceful retreat for patients and visitors seeking refuge from medical treatments.

Geared to attract both locals and tourists, the Placerville scavenger medallion hunt also features a scannable QR code that leads to web pages with more detailed information on the respective miners. Shop owners also have handouts for those not technologically inclined, and both mediums offer clues as to the location of the next plaque.

The California Gold Rush was sparked by the discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 and was arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century.”

—History.com

“We want to entertain and educate people, and appeal to the next generation with the hope that they’ll appreciate our area and be less likely to move away,” Helm says. An additional benefit is the increased retail income for merchants on Main Street, with the scavenger hunt route extending from Sacramento Street to Clay Street.

Adaptability is a key feature of this project. “We can change or swap miners,” Helm notes. “We could also change the QR codes for a one-time special event.” is offers flexibility for future iterations.

According to Helm, “Surprising things build a positive relationship between the community and the downtown area.” is project targets that objective. Miners on Main debuted in November 2022 after months of planning. e list of miners was approved by the El Dorado Historical Society and includes some notable figures like John Studebaker, who made wheelbarrows for the miners and, with his brothers founded the Studebaker automotive company, and Charles E. Boles, also known as Black Bart (a miner turned notorious stagecoach robber/poet). Influencing the choice of selected miners, the Chamber of Commerce website states, “ ese Miners all had an impact on Placerville and El Dorado County during the Gold Rush.”

“It’s more of a summer experience,” says Helm. “It’s a little early to gauge the measure of its success. I really don’t expect it to take off until the weather warms back up again. “ e popularity of Mice on Main has generated a children’s book, a game and other merchandise. Asked if there are any plans in the works to expand on Miners in a similar fashion, Helm responds, “ e leadership class has had discussions about this, among other things (like having actors portray each of the miners and have a video clip on the web page that the QR codes direct participants to), but we decided it was too much to take on in this initial phase. It is something that I think the chamber could spearhead, and it has been discussed.”

If the creative inspiration of Mice on Main is any indicator, the future of Miners on Main may just be a street paved in gold.

A Place of Joy and Play

An All-Inclusive Playground

by DR. ED MANANSALA

Equity i s a lens widely used in education that offers opportunities to all, even beyond the walls of a classroom. A great example of this is the goal to transition the playground at Jackson Elementary School into an all-inclusive environment. e current playground already has wheelchair-accessible entrances; however, the bark prohibits individuals who use mobility devices to access it. With upgraded landscaping and equipment, the playground at Jackson has the potential to provide a wealth of opportunities to children and families of differing abilities. Additionally, the Jackson Elementary School campus is always open. Once school concludes for the day, residents will be able to take advantage of the updated playground.

“ e vision of this project is to bring the community together to support an all-inclusive playground on behalf of all children, so they can socially interact and therefore reduce boundaries between children of varying abilities,” explains Michele Williamson, principal of Jackson Elementary School. Jim Shoemake, superintendent of Rescue Union School District, is pleased to bring an all-abilities playground to Jackson. “Our schools, fields, and playgrounds serve as a hub for bringing people together. Creating a new space that allows our students and community members with disabilities to have fun, further their development, and feel a true sense of belonging is exciting,” he says.

Williamson, along with many local community members and educators, are proud proponents of this project for the opportunities it presents. “Inclusive playgrounds are intentionally designed to promote awareness and acceptance by allowing interaction between students of all abilities. Inclusive spaces have the potential to bring communities together by celebrating diversity and encouraging inclusion and belonging,” says Tamara Clay, executive director of Special Services at the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE).

e El Dorado Hills Community Services District (EDHCSD) is a project partner, and Kevin Loewen, general manager at EDHCSD, explains, “By investing in universally designed playgrounds, we are all advancing the right of people who are not typically developing to play freely. ese inclusive play environments provide a safe, welcoming atmosphere for kids of all ages and abilities to come together, have fun, build genuine relationships, encourage meaningful play, and foster a sense of belonging.” e playground site is in place, and next steps include design finalization and the gathering of funds. At EDCOE , we are proud to support this project, and we look forward to its completion. Together, as a community, we can support this important resource that offers developmental opportunities to all.