Diamond of a camp

A camp out at Angels Stadium is the second most fun thing to do on a baseball field. The event for fathers and their sons is also a way to raise money for cancer research.The third annual Angels Campout is this weekend, and already more than 800 fathers and sons from the Newport Beach area have pledged to participate.

The event, a large camp out to be held at Angels Stadium Nov. 18 and 19, is organized by Indian Guide leaders and Corona del Mar residents Steve Quackenbush and Gary Stark and raises money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Quackenbush and Stark have invited all the local YMCA Indian Guide tribes to come out for an evening of baseball, movies, food and camping.

“We turn the ballpark into a playground and the kids have a ball, but at the same time they’re educated,” Quackenbush said. “I think they get the message -- that’s what we’re trying to do anyhow.”

A representative from the foundation will present a video and explain to the campers why it’s important they raise money for such a worthy cause.

Stark said the event raised more than $50,000 last year and the year before, and this year’s goal is $80,000. Funds are raised through pledges, a silent auction, and entry fees.

Quackenbush became affiliated with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation about 10 years ago when his son Marshall, now 11, was battling a type of cancer that affects the central nervous system. Around the same time, he became friends with former Angels player and baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew, whose daughter Michelle was fighting leukemia. Unfortunately, Michelle lost her battle, but Carew always encouraged Quackenbush to use his name in any way he needed to help raise money and awareness for the foundation.

So when Quackenbush was brainstorming ideas for Indian Guide fundraising events several years ago, he came up with the idea for the Angels Campout. He contacted Carew, who was more than happy to help him set it up and also attends the event every year.

“We were looking for a charity that we could involve our children in,” Stark said, adding that the Angels Campout lends itself to an Indian Guides outing.

Quackenbush said as the event grows every year -- from about 550 the first year to more than 800 this year -- he and Stark continually work on improving it. This year, in addition to baseball, they will have bounce houses and a rock climbing wall.

“We love it,” Quackenbush said of the tremendous amount of work it takes to organize such a large event. “Gary and I get really into it.”

He added that he would like to see every ballpark in the country host an event similar to this one, and he has proposed the idea to executives from Major League Baseball.

For more information on the Angels Campout, call Quackenbush at (949) 433-0011.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.

20051116i73khhkf(LA)20051116iq0vl8knDAILY PILOT(LA)Top, Steve Quackenbush, left, and Gary Stark, both of Corona del Mar, are working on the father-son camp out at Angel Stadium. Above, more than 600 fathers and sons from Newport Beach camped out in the outfield at Angel Stadium at last year’s fundraiser.