The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Perilous Plunge

  • First annual kids plunge

    First annual kids plunge

    By| Iridian Casarez

    The Discovery Museum held their First Annual Kids Plunge at Freshwater park.

    Unlike their annual Perilous Plunge, a fundraiser that’s held in the winter only for adults, this plunge was kid friendly. According to Redwood Discovery Museum Board President Lynn Langdon, young plungers needed to raise a minimum of $50, pass a swim test and be between the ages five to 17 to plunge into Freshwater pool.

    “The kids weren’t really involved in the regular adult plunge so we decided to give them their own plunge,” Langdon said. “I’m excited for this. The kids are taking ownership in helping the Discovery Museum.”

    Langdon said she represents the community’s interest in the museum. As Board President, Langdon is responsible for making sure the museum makes enough money to keep it open.

    Both of Langdon’s children participated in the plunge. Kids were encouraged to wear silly costumes, and one group of plungers dressed as the characters from Disney Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out”. Their team name was The Inside-Outers.

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    The Inside-Outers posting ready to jump into Freshwater swimming hole on Saturday, August 19. | Photo by Curran Daly

    6-year-old Erin Arnivaz dressed up as Sadness, one of the protagonists of the film. Arnivaz had attended the museum’s summer camp and said she was not afraid of plunging into the swimming hole.

    “I like being Sadness,” Arnivaz said. “I like making sad faces.”

    Skylar Elcock was also a part of the Inside-Outers and dressed up as Fear.

    “I’m afraid to go into the water cause I’m Fear,” Elcock said.

    According to Danielle Jacobson-Elcock, Elcock’s mother, everyone that was in the Inside-Outers plunge team are a part of the Dream Athletics cheer team. Jacobson-Elcock said that all the parents got together and decided on the costumes as a group. The Inside-Outers raised $275 all together.

    “I think it’s a great idea to teach the kids to fund raise at a young age,” Jacobson-Elcock said. “It’s awesome, I love it.”

    Lexi La Jeunesse, 10, is from San Jose, Califonia and has attended the Redwood Discovery Museum’s summer camp program since she was 6-years-old. La Jueness has family in Humboldt County. She raised $205 to be able to plunge into the swimming hole.

    “I’m excited to jump,” La Juenesse said. “Usually it’s the parents that get to jump now it’s my turn.”

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    Lexi La Jeunesse happily showing off her prizes for fund raising the most amount of money on Saturday, August 19. | Photo by Curran Daly

    Kala Minkley, executive director at the Redwood Discovery Museum, said she was very excited to be able to put together a Perilous Plunge fundraiser for the kids.

    “For years the kids have been asking to plunge at the Perilous Plunge and so we made it happen,” Minkley said

    Twelve participants were ready to jump into Freshwater Pool in Eureka for the Redwood Discovery Museum. According to Minkley the kids fund raised almost $1000 for the museum.

    “We hope for many years to come for this event,” Minkley said. “We want it to grow and grow.”

  • Plunging into the Humboldt Bay

    Plunging into the Humboldt Bay

    By Iridian Casarez

    Participants line up to plunge into the icy cold waters of the Humboldt Bay for the children’s Discovery Museum.

    The Discovery Museum in Eureka held its 16th annual Perilous Plunge fundraiser Saturday February 11.

    The Perilous Plunge is a fundraiser for the Discovery Museum where people dress up in costumes to jump into the Humboldt bay to raise money. The Discovery Museum is a science museum for kids. It is the only children’s museum in the area according to Kala Minkley the executive director of the Discovery Museum.

    The Perilous Plunge is the only big fundraiser the museum throws and covers 20 percent of their yearly budget said Minkley. Plungers needed to raise at least $150 to jump into the bay.

    Plunger Brenda Urueta was dressed as Prince. This was Urueta’s first time plunging.  She was with the Humboldt Area Foundation group that was plunging into the bay dressed as “the fallen stars of 2016”. The Humboldt Area Foundation is a non-profit community foundation that gives grants, scholarships and resource library to non-profit organizations.

    “I am doing the plunge because I decided I wanted to do something adventurous and at the same time help advance the mission of the Discovery Museum,” Ureta said. 

    The Marching Lumberjacks performing at the Perilous Plunge on Saturday Feb. 11 2017 in Eureka, California. Photo by Iridian Casarez

    Michele Stephens works for the Department of Health and Human Services and plunged into the bay with a group of her co-workers. The Department of Health and Human Services’ costume theme was beach inspired. This was Stephen’s second time plunging into the bay for the Discovery Museum fundraiser.

    “It’s a great fundraiser for the Discovery Museum and the museum is a great part of the community,” Stephens said. “The water was super super cold.”

    Jamie Corsetti from Corsetti Accounting Corporation raised over $2,000. This was Corsetti’s 10th year jumping into the Humboldt Bay for the Perilous Plunge fundraiser. “I do it to have fun,” Corsetti said. “I plunge to support the community and the Discovery Museum.