Get in on the action when 5,000 ducks race down the Washougal River at noon Sunday, July 26, 2015 to raise money for Rotary service projects and scholarships.
Now in its 21st year, the event promises the thrill of a race, the pure fun of sports entertainment and the reward of knowing the proceeds will support Rotary projects, both locally and internationally.
Held every summer during the Camas Days festival, Ducky Derby is Camas-Washougal Rotary’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds support college scholarships to Camas and Washougal high school seniors along with many other Rotary projects.
The race begins on the Third Avenue Bridge in Camas, WA when a front-loader donated by Nutter Corporation tips its bucket and unloads nearly 5,000 plastic ducks into the water below. From there the current takes over and the ducks dash to the finish line. The fastest ducks down the river will win prizes for those who’ve adopted them.
The grand prize is a one week condo stay in Hawaii, donated by Riverview Bank. 2nd place wins a gold bracelet worth $600, donated by Michael Nutter Jeweler. Many other prizes will be awarded, no less than 50 in all, but the real winners are the kids and adults who benefit from Rotary service projects supported by the Derby!
The public is invited to watch the event from the Third Avenue Bridge over the Washougal River or from along the banks of the river below. Ducks can be adopted for $5 each by purchasing a Ducky Derby ticket. Tickets are available from any local Rotarian or the Rotary Booth at Camas Days July 24-25 or the Lacamas Lake Half Marathon Sunday morning, July 26, 2015.
Major Ducky Derby sponsors are Waste Connections Inc., Riverview Community Bank, Michael Nutter Jewelry, Youngevity, Orchard Hills Golf & Country Club, The Columbian and Security Signs.
Ducky Derby raises funds through both sponsorships and ticket sales, which help support Rotary initiatives including:
- Young Women & Men in Action: Rotarians and other passionate, dedicated volunteers are the core of this 8‐week program, which provides mentoring for local 5th grade students. The adults and children spend Wednesday afternoons together focusing on life skills, relationship skills, self‐esteem building and fun.
- Backpack Project: At the start of every school year, hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies are given to underprivileged students in Camas and Washougal.
- A Gift of Words—Dictionaries for 3rd Graders: To promote literacy during a key year for language development and vocabulary improvement, 3rd graders in Camas and Washougal schools receive a personal dictionary courtesy of the Camas‐Washougal Rotary.
- Santa’s Posse: For several years, the club has been a major sponsor of Santa’s Posse to ensure financially stressed families are able to provide holiday gifts to their children. In many cases, the gift from Santa’s Posse is the only one under the tree.
- SHARE House: Volunteer and financial support is given to this outreach program for the poor and homeless in our communities.
- Meals on Wheels: The club takes responsibility for a delivery route each week bringing nutritious meals to seniors and disabled people in our community.
- Walk & Knock: The club provides major volunteer time for this annual food bank drive.
- Polio Eradication: CW Rotary supports Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio in every corner of the world. Since the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979 polio cases have been reduced by 99 percent worldwide.
- Scholarships: Each year, $9,000 goes directly to support local area high school student scholarships for higher learning.
For more information, visit CW Ducky Derby online.
