Just outside of Atlanta is the Calvin Center, a summer camp and retreat destination that has been a place of healing, growth and connection since the 1960s. Known for its inclusive programs — ranging from therapeutic horseback riding for veterans to summer camps for individuals with moderate to severe special needs — Calvin Center is more than a camp. It’s a community.
Recently, the Calvin Center made a significant improvement for the safety of their campers.
A mission-driven partnership
To enhance safety and connectivity across the 536-acre property, Calvin Center partnered with Groundhog Drilling and Vermeer to install a new underground fiberoptic line. The goal? Run a conduit line from the camp’s communication hub to the pool area — crossing under a lake in the process. This line is essential for camper safety, as an emergency phone is necessary at the Calvin Center pool.
“This is a big day for us,” said John Westlund, executive director at the Calvin Center. “By going direct and being able to do this all underground is just going to make a huge difference for us. Safer for our campers, but also protects that line for the long term.”
Precise drilling powered by Vermeer
The Groundhog Drilling team brought their expertise — and their passion — to the project. Using the D24 horizontal directional drill, they tackled the lake crossing with confidence.
Despite challenges like shifting currents, the Groundhog Directional Boring team relied on real-time data and precision control to stay on course. “We made sure before we went into the water we had everything straight and lined up how we wanted it. The current pushed us around a lot which made it hard,” explained Joshua Tuthill, locator for Groundhog Directional Boring. “We monitored our numbers and got to the other side and picked it up from there.”
Technology that delivers
The D24 impressed the crew with its speed, mobility and intuitive controls.
“I love the setup time, the mobility was better, and the breakout and rod loading systems were just as fast as any other drill I’ve ran,” Wheeler said.
With advanced onboard diagnostics and automation features, the D24 also made it easier to train new operators and troubleshoot in the field, helping save time and reduce downtime. “I could probably do the auto thing (automated rod exchange system) all day. It didn’t miss a beat. You could put a new operator on there, show em’ the buttons and go to town.”
Wheeler added how beneficial the advanced onboard diagnostics is for Groundhog Drilling: “Having the capability to diagnose something with that technology, I love it. I mean, it’ll save us a lot of time in the field, a lot of time off the phone. It cuts that error gap out that we need.”
Making a lasting impact for the community
For Groundhog Drilling, this project was more than installing fiber optics. It was about giving back.
“We love helping people out. We’ve been doing it for years, and this is going to the right cause,” said Wheeler.
“We chose Vermeer because we like their equipment and customer service. Anytime we need help, we give ’em a call and they just help us through whatever the problem is and make it right,” Tuthill explained. “I personally like the fact that it seems to be a godly organization. I can connect personally on the level with that. It’s good to help out our community. I think around the country, people need to do it more.”
When the job was completed, Westlund expressed deep gratitude. “You don’t have the laughter of the kids at the pool without people in the community coming around to support a place like Calvin Center. Our gratitude to Vermeer, our gratitude for Groundhog, and the difference that it’s going to make for this community and for Calvin Center for years to come.”
If you want to learn more about the D24 or other Vermeer utility equipment, get in touch with your local Vermeer dealer.
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