Camps 'N Codes

Take a moment, close your eyes, and paint a picture in your mind of your childhood summer camp. Can you see it? Little rustic cabins, a fire ring in the forest, a wooden dock with canoes tethered to it, and an overall sense of magic adrift in the air. Now let me ask, did you remember to include the fire suppression systems, accessibility features, and the correct number of plumbing fixtures? I didn’t think so. While these elements don’t contribute to the overall allure of camp, they are all crucial to the construction of camp structures. This post kick starts our ‘Camps ‘N Codes’ series about Building Codes and Regulations and how they affect summer camps.  After the break is an introduction to the series. Be sure to check back over the next few months as we debut our ‘Case Study’ posts where we dive into our previous projects and discuss how we have handled camp specific code issues in the past.

 

How Less can be so Much More: Tiny Houses and Summer Camp Cabins

14' x 14' Microhouse

“Better Living Through Simplicity” is a slogan I heard recently, and I thought - what a great way to describe summer camp! As it happens, it was not a tagline for camp. Rather, it is the slogan for the Small House Society – an organization founded in 2002 to “promote smaller housing alternatives which can be more affordable and ecological.” At the heart of the “small” or “tiny house” movement is, as the slogan suggests, the concept of simplifying life. As I read about this interesting take on modern culture, I found myself reminded of my earlier years… recalling a yearly event of my youth: Opening day at camp.

It always seemed like I had a lot to pack in my old camp trunk – and my dad always insisted that I’d over-packed. But year after year, that trunk, my Camp Pinnacle laundry bag and my bandana quilt comforter (homemade, of course!) would fit in the back of dad’s Volvo station wagon without even putting the seats down. We would arrive at camp early (so I could get a top bunk), unload my few items, and the adventures of the summer began. Talk about a simplification of life. For weeks, you live with the contents of your camp trunk spread out on 2 feet of shelf space and a couple of hooks above your bunk. Can you imagine living that simply as adults?

Members of the Tiny House movement can and do. Loosely defined, a house is a “tiny” house if it is less than 1,000 SF, though many people make due with houses as small as 80 SF. Can you imagine living on an 8 foot by 10 foot footprint? How do these folks do such a thing? Through figuring out the smartest way to use their space, spending a lot of time in the great outdoors; by using vertical storage and lofted beds, and by – frankly – getting rid of a lot of stuff they don’t need.

To be sure, this lifestyle takes commitment (and I’m sure it is not without frustrations), but tiny house dweller after tiny house dweller speaks to the freedom and empowerment they feel through challenging the social norms of housing-related debt and unnecessary material possessions. Once again, all of these things remind me so much of the purpose of camp, and how the simplicity of camper cabins support that purpose – the experience of nature, of simplicity, of carefree fun.

Turns out, tiny house dwellers draw that connection as well. As one blogger writes:

“When we were thinking about what kind of cabin we wanted, we found we were inspired by two things: the utilitarianism of houseboats, as well as summer camp buildings, with their exposed framing and unapologetic woodiness.”

(view their excellent 180 SF house on a tiny island in British Columbia here)

180 SF house in British Columbia

The aesthetic of “unapologetic woodiness” is found in many structures these days, not just little houses and cabins (read about WholeTrees in our post from December). Many people cite transparency of materials as the reason for exposed wood, embracing a “no frills” approach. I think most people would admit to feeling a certain comfort when surrounded by wood and trees – even if it’s just wood paneling in your grandfather’s den. As camp designers, we certainly are fond of incorporating organic elements of nature into our designs as often as possible. For people in urban settings, there are many tiny house designs that feature a more modern material selection, such as this concept plan that one of our architects completed for a 14x14 SF plot in Cleveland.

This simplicity of aesthetics, of living, and forcing yourself to work with what you have are lessons that can be learned both from tiny house living and summer camp. How could your life benefit from a little paring down? A little less clutter in your living space might translate into a little less clutter in your thoughts; simpler entertainment for your children might let their imaginations run free a little more. In this hectic modern world, it often feels that “time is money,” but wouldn’t it be nice if every now and again time got to be simply… time?

Drinking the Dew and Tree-cycling

What will be the next great cabin design of the future? We can only speculate how the cabin, the iconic symbol of resident camps, will continue to evolve in the future. I recently read an article that reminded me that sometimes the simplest inspirations give birth to the solutions of tomorrow.

In this article, Italian industrial designer Arturo Vittori proposed a new solution to providing potable water. Inspired by the wild fig tree, the warka, Vittori applies the principle of condensation to literally “pull clean drinking water out of thin air.” The “skin” of the structure is constructed of a nylon or polypropylene mesh that collects water droplets as they condense from cold night air. In areas such as Ethiopia, with a day-to-night temperature variation range of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Vittori’s design could produce up to 25 gallons of clean drinking water per day. From Vittori’s website:

Photo Credit: Warka Water

The design consists of 10 components, all of which can be constructed with basic hand tools. Materials include bamboo, mesh, polyester rope, and hemp wires. The top of the structure is equipped with rotating mirrors which deter birds by reflecting light. Next comes the structure which consists of a bamboo frame. Moving down the structure is the canopy. This references the inspiration of the warka tree, and provides shade to create a community gathering space. Ropes are used to ground the freestanding structure. The Warka Water 3.1 uses both fog harvesting and dew harvesting to collect water. The mesh captures water droplets from fog harvesting while the water collector captures water from dew harvesting. The water then moves through a funnel filtration system before it reaches the 260 gallon water tank. The water tank is raised from the ground to allow the supply system to use gravity to distribute the collected water. The Warka structures is built on a base of natural stone.

Vittori’s approach is surprisingly simple. “His solution, the WarkaWater tower, is as elegantly low-tech as a handwoven basket. Using only the basic principle of condensation, it could be the key to providing potable water to an entire continent,” writes Nicholas Derenzo in Hemisphere Magazine.

Photo credit: WholeTrees

Photo credit: Whole Trees

In the age of the “back to nature” movement, it seems a given that the future of cabin design will be inspired by nature. Clearly inspired by nature, are the structures constructed by WholeTrees, a Wisconsin-based company. WholeTrees specializes in using small-diameter round timber for structural elements in place of steel. This use of unmilled lumber in a new context offers multiple benefits. The entire tree is used in the building process, and one can certainly see how this idea and aesthetic would fit within the world of summer camp, bringing the natural beauty of the forest indoors.

Perhaps one day our cabins will be pulling water out of thin air, and structured around round timber from local forests. We will just have to wait and see what nature will inspire next.

Square Footage

At Typical Camper Cabin at Gwynn Valley, Brevard, NC

One design challenge posed to many camps is a question of numbers… and by numbers, I mean square footage. Kids today are growing up in homes that are bigger on average than ever.

According to the US Census Bureau, new homes completed in 2013 averaged 2,598 SF. With the current average U.S. family size of 2.55, this is just over 1,000 SF per family member. Let's compare this to 1950, when the average home was 983 SF and the average U.S. family size was 3.54, leaving 278 SF per person. Back in 2006, NPR's "All Things Considered" tackled this topic in “Behind the Ever Expanding American Dream.”:

"The big house represents the atomizing of the American family," says John Stilgoe, a professor of landscape history at Harvard University. "Each person not only has his or her own television — each person has his or her own bathroom. Some of these houses are literally designed with three playrooms for two children. This way, the family members rarely have to interact. And the notion of compromise is simply out one of the very many windows these houses sport.”

Now consider that the majority of Summer Camps across the country where built before 1960. Where does this leave camp facilities when compared to the expectations of modern campers and parents?

One aspect of camp where this is particularly evident is in the basic camper cabin. There is a growing desire for each new camper cabin to contain bathroom facilities. When you look at the average American home today, this is not surprising. Many kids have their own bathrooms attached to their rooms. How are they expected to walk outside to use the bathroom at camp? Take this private girls' camp in North Carolina for example:

"The bathrooms have every convenience of home (tiled floors, large showers, “power flush” toilets that never clog, double sinks, cast iron hooks for towels, shelves for shower buckets, and endless hot water from tankless water heaters that never run out of hot water). “ - Camp Greystone: Cabin Life

This certainly wasn’t always the case. According to Salomon’s book, Camp Site Development, published in 1959, as a “book intended as a guide to all concerned with the planning and development of Girl Scout camping facilities.” a single bath was only featured as an option for a “Men’s Cabin” for the rare occasion that a dad or boy would need to stay on site." Instead the book features several community shower house plans. This book goes on to outline all aspects of camp facilities. The cabin and shower house are separate entities. This was not only true for Girl Scouts, but for camp facilities across the country. In her book, A Manufactured Wilderness, Van Slyck notes, that the separation between sleeping rooms, and bathhouse facilities in the camping world pre-1960 was also a sanitation concern. Salomon echoes this saying that,

“the idea that campers can be kept clean by an occasional soap scrub in the swimming hole has been pretty well abandoned.” –Camp Site Development, 1959

Salomon goes on to comment that due to the high capital investment of installing showers in each unit, a central shower house was often the best solution. In the late 1950's, planning manuals for other camping organizations, such as the YMCA, echoed this conclusion, establishing the "best practice" for many years of camp design.

As designers, we are often asked what is the best practice regarding building cabins with or without bathhouses. Ultimately, this depends on your camp, your mission, and your program model. What ages are you serving? What are the challenges of unit living within each age group? How are you marketing your camp experience to potential campers? To potential parents? There are advantages to both designs, but with the right guidance, well designed facilities can make your camp the best it can be.



Adler, Margot. "Behind the Ever Expanding American Dream." Audio blog post. All Things Considered. NPR, 04 July 2006. Web. 21 Sept. 2014. .

Salomon, Julian Harris. Camp Site Development. New York: Girl Scouts of the United States of America, 1959. Print.

Van Slyck, Abigail. A Manufactured Wilderness: Summer Camps and the Shaping of American Youth, 1890-1960. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 2006. Print.

Amphitheaters- Hear All, See All

The Epidaurus Amphitheater in Greece still has near

 perfect acoustics because of the limestone seats which

filter low background noises and enhances higher-

frequency noises from the stage.

The beautiful design concept of amphitheaters has been around for centuries. Meant to be a gathering place of spectators for special events, these venues are an obvious necessity for campsites of all kinds. Large or small, intricately built or simply made- they help bring people together for entertainment, worship, reflection, music and more.

Historically, outdoor amphitheaters were (usually) circular or oval arena, such as Rome’s Colosseum. Outdoor theaters in antiquity tended to be more semi-round. Gladiator fights, chariot races, athletics, and live theatrics were among some of the events held at these arenas. Some able to accommodate over 50,000 spectators, ancient amphitheaters were elaborately adorned and often made of precious materials such as marble and limestone. Regardless of material, all of these freestanding structures contained a central showground with tiers of concentric seating and were built for optimal viewing and sound amplification. 

Today's amphitheaters still mimic the notable characteristics of their historic counterparts. And while some still appear in circular shapes, many contemporary amphitheaters often take on a more semi-circular form. A hilly campsite acts as a perfect, natural amphitheater as seating can be cut or built into steep valleys. Breathtaking views are the perfect backdrop to any presentation, so be aware of your surroundings and pick a picturesque background scene for your amphitheater's location. 

Asking basic questions about your amphitheater needs will help determine what will work best for your camp. What type of activities will be taking place in the arena? Will you need electrical outlets? What time of day will it mostly be utilized? Will you need to install lighting? Do you need a large stage or a small podium? How many people are you looking to seat? Do you need a covered stage? Is the area easily accessible? 

Below are several great examples of different types of modern-day amphitheaters- some of which may inspire your very own!

Camp Barney Medintz 

North Fork Ranch

Camp Okizu

Camp Ramah

B'Nai B'Rith Camp Retreat Center

Chapel Island at Camp Jewell YMCA

The Council Ring at Camp Jewell YMCA

Camp Lee

Forest Home Victory Circle Outdoor Amphitheater

Meadows Inspiration Point at Hoblitzelle Camp and Conference Center

Ray Camp; Joan Kroc Corps Community Center

The Design Challenge: Family Camp

It's been a great summer. Campers made lasting friendships, launched from the blob over a thousand times, sang at the top of their lungs in the dining hall and are now back home safely -- no doubt wishing they were still at camp. But you aren't quite done… now it's time for family camp!

In a survey of camps nationwide conducted by the ACA, 40 percent of respondents offered non-camp services such as retreat centers, facility rentals, family camp programs, or outdoor/environmental education programs (Malinowski). While the summer sessions are most likely your camp's top priority, offering family camp and facility rental can help maximize the usage of your facilities year-round. As described in an article by Sarah Agate, M.S, C.F.L.E. and Dorothy Schmalz, Ph.D. in Camp Magazine's 2010 March/April issue, there are many attractive reasons to offer family camp programs.

"Camp providers are seeing family programs not only as a way to increase revenue to their camps, but also as a way to make a difference and help families build stronger relationships with one another and experience the benefits of camp together" (Agate).

However, when it comes to implementing these programs, it can be difficult to create multi-functional spaces that can accommodate a variety of program types. For example, cabins in traditional resident camps are often designed for 10-12 youth campers and 1-3 twenty-year-old staff, not for parents and kids. So what do you do? You can't exactly have double beds replace camp bunks… or can you?

When faced with this challenge many camps have found great design solutions. In our experience we found several camps offering cabins that can flex between the needs of youth camp and family camp. During summer camp they use traditional bunk beds, but when it’s time for family camp, one set of bunk beds per unit are exchanged for a double bed. These cabins are designed with bed storage built between units. The interior spaces can also be partitioned off to create a smaller living space for family camp and a larger open space for youth camps.

For more about Camp Design at Domokur Architects, visit www.domokur.com.


Agate, Sarah, M.S, C.F.L.E., and Dorothy Schmalz, Ph.D. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Issues Camp Providers Face When Providing Family Camp Programs."Camping Magazine Mar./April 2010. online.

Malinowski, Ph.D., "The Worlds of Profits -- Highlights from ACA's Camp Business Operations Report: 2006." Camping Magazine Sep./Oct. 2006. online.

EcoDomes: Cabins of the Future?

EcoCamp Patagonia

As the camp market continues to upgrade facilities to have more essential luxuries, the basic cabin still greatly resembles what it always has. A boxy, 4 walled, peaked roof with bunk beds and a quaint front porch is all one needs to stay in touch with nature, religion, or whatever else has brought them to camp. However, as architecture continues to push the limits of design and keep environmental impact low, it may be time to step even further out of the box.

EcoCamp Patagonia is located in Chile and has won multiple sustainability awards for its design. First, solar panels and a micro-hydro turbine create all of the camp’s energy.  Additionally, the domes are specifically designed to maximize heat and light energy through skylights and are made of renewable materials. Thirdly, the domes are connected by raised walkways so there is least disruption to the terrain. They also have composting devices to help with waste management and exercise high-quality recycling rules that start by bringing as little waste into the property and wilderness as possible. EcoCamp also house Community Domes at the center of camp. They act as meeting places, dining rooms, libraries, activity spaces, and places to relax and connect with nature. 

Solar panels among the domes
and Patagonia Mountains.

Raised wooden walkways 
connect the property. 

These Geodesic Domes are built in such a way that if they needed to be packed up and moved, they wouldn’t leave any footprint behind in nature. They are meant to blend in with their surroundings, staying rather small and low in height. These intentions derive from the Kaweskars, a nomadic group of Patagonians who lived in this land in the 15^th century. They lived a life of respect for the land and moved from place to place leaving no trace of their camp and nature as it was before they arrived.

Though hotel life is certainly different than camp life, we can take many of the sustainable practices done at EcoCamp Patagonia and apply them to camp design. Incorporating skylights and ample windows to help with natural lighting and heating is a simple concept that would be great for camps in high-sun areas. Raised walkways are not only least disruptive to the land and wildlife but also provide greater ADA accessibility. Green sources of energy such as water, sun and wind are ample on camp sites and would greatly reduce fossil fuel based power if put into action. Simply raising campers’ awareness of their impact on the Earth is a huge step in the right direction.

The somewhat 'futuristic' look of these Eco-Domes may not be for everybody or every camp. However, they do help catapult greater sustainable ideas into the forefront of camp design. How can we incorporate these values into the traditional cabin? Can we look to our natives for earth-friendly practices and implement them into living in the wilderness? If we were to pick up and leave, what type of footprint would we leave behind? 

For more information, visit EcoCamp.com.

Sun Tubes, Solar Pipes and Skylights . . . Oh My!!

With so many products available and numerous manufacturers that can help, they all have one thing in common, adding natural daylight to any space on any project.  For anyone who has experienced these products firsthand, I’m sure you will agree 100% that the light produced by such a small opening is greater than anyone can really imagine, especially in spaces with no windows.  From sun up to sun down the product is letting in natural sunlight.  While all uses of these products are successful, the focus of this blog will be on the Sun Tubes.

Sun tubes are used for transporting or distributing natural light.  Unlike skylights that are placed directly on the roofs surface emitting light straight into the space, sun tubes use a tubing system that can deliver light over 50’ and can include 90 degree angles within the tubing.  Most sun tubes are applied to the roof’s surface and then a flexible or metal tubing system is put in place in order to channel the light into the appropriate space.  Exhaust fans, dimming controls and diffusers are just a few features that most products offer as add-ons.  From commercial warehouses, to residential spaces and camp facilities, these products can be used one at a time or several at once.  In some areas, you might be able to claim a federal tax credit and various state and local incentives (www.dsireusa.org/).  Sun tubes can also be used towards achieving LEED points on any project (www.solatube.com/commercial/daylighting/solatube-leed/index.php). 


How can sun tubes be used at camp? 

• Troop Houses
• Shower Houses
• Dining Halls
• Cabins
• Health Centers
• Or any structure with a roof!!   

What are the benefits of using sun tubes?

• Cost-Effective, reducing the cost in energy consumption
• Day lighting any space in nearly any climate
• Minimal Roof Structure Impact
• Leak-Proof Design
• Endless possibilities with a highly flexible, modular system

A brand-name solar tube costs around $700, including installation, assuming the structures roof is a standard composite shingle roof.  Various add-on’s similar to those mentioned above will increase the price of each kit.  However, a sun tube lights your space with the natural light of the sun 365 days out of the year, therefore allowing you to avoid using as much artificial light.

Does your camp use sun tubes?  If so, share your experience.

The Advantages of Green Roofs

A green roof or "living roof" is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegitation. These roofs serve multiple purposes such as reducing storm water run off, serving as added insulation and creating a habitat for wildlife.

As the green roof reduces the storm water run off it also lessens the amount of chemicals and pollution that is found in the rain water. This is very useful if you use cisterns or catch basins for water, since it will be eliminating harmful toxins from the water so it can be used in more ways.
Green roofs retain about 50 percent of rainfall water and they help to cut down the amount of rainfall runoff when there are heavy storms.

 A great link to learn more about green roofs is http://www.liveroof.com/. This site is useful because it helps in understanding all of the unique uses of green roofs!

There are two types of green roofs: extensive and intensive. The most popularly used type of green roof is the extensive type. Extensive roofs have less numbers of layers, are lighter, less expensive and very low maintenance. These types of green roofs can be retrofitted onto existing roofs to meet LEED certification standards. These roofs can be sloped or flat depending on design standards.

Intensive green roofs are high profile and look like real roof gardens because a larger variety of plants can be used since the number of roofing layers is increased. Waterfalls, gazebos and ponds can be added and these roofs can be used as gathering spaces. Intensive green roofs are a great way to promote people intermingling with nature. Since these roofs are more intensive and have more material they are relatively flat and also have a higher degree of maintenance that is required.

There are many advantages to having green roofs such as reduced energy costs, storm water management and easier maintenance. Not to mention that green roofs are more pleasing to the eye than tar and shingles. Green roofs can also assist in ensuring a camp will achieve LEED certification. There are also government tax advantages to your organization if you use green roofing.