About Placerville

🇺🇸 PTPI El Dorado County | Placerville, California, USA

📍 Placerville, California (El Dorado County)
📧 Chapter Contact:

• Janet Sambucetti – President | 📩 jsambucetti29@gmail.com | 📞 +1 530 306 1948

• Myrna Hanses – Founder | 📩 mshanses00@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: edcpeopletopeople.org

About the Chapter

Founded in 1975, PTPI El Dorado County has been a beacon of international friendship, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment. Anchored in the historic Sierra foothills, the chapter’s core is its cherished Sister City relationship with Warabi, Japan, now nearing 50 years.

Guided by the visionary Myrna Hanses and led today by Janet Sambucetti, the chapter embodies the PTPI mission of Peace through Understanding through homestays, youth summits, and vibrant community programming.

Sister City: Warabi, Japan 🇯🇵

💫 Celebrating 50 Years Together in 2025!

• Hosting Warabi Delegation: April 25 – May 3, 2025
  🎉 Celebration Event: May 2 | Placerville Town Hall | 5:30–7:30 PM

• U.S. Visit to Warabi: October 31 – November 7, 2025
  ✈️ Just cover airfare – all other costs hosted by Warabi!

Youth Summit & Cultural Exchange

Since 2003, the chapter has empowered youth through alternating visits with Warabi. Students stay with local families, experience everyday life, and return with lifelong friendships and global awareness.

🌏 Next Youth Summit in Japan: Summer 2026

• 15–20 students will travel

• Scholarships available for airfare support

• All other expenses hosted by Warabi

Honoring History: The Wakamatsu Colony & Okei-san

The chapter proudly honors the legacy of Okei-san, part of the first Japanese colony in the U.S., the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony, established in 1869 just outside Placerville. Okei is buried on a hillside near Gold Trail School, a sacred site connecting Japan and El Dorado County for over 150 years.

📍 Why Visit Placerville & El Dorado County?

Placerville, known as “Old Hangtown,” is a historic Gold Rush town rich with charm, heritage, and natural beauty. Visitors will find:

• 🏛️ Historic Main Street – with 19th-century architecture, antique shops, cafes, and the Bell Tower, a central community landmark.

• 🥾 Gold Bug Park & Mine – A preserved gold mine where visitors can pan for gold and explore mining tunnels.

• 🌲 Apple Hill – A scenic region of orchards, wineries, and pumpkin patches, especially vibrant in fall.

• 🏞️ American River – Ideal for whitewater rafting, hiking, and peaceful riverside picnics.

• 🧭 Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (Coloma) – Where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush.

Placerville is also a gateway to Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, and the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills, offering a perfect mix of history, hospitality, and outdoor adventure.

Join the Journey

Whether you’re a student dreaming of cultural exchange or a community member seeking to deepen global connections, PTPI El Dorado County welcomes you.

✨ PTPI El Dorado – Celebrating 50 Years of Building Bridges Between Cultures and Generations.