Go Jump In The Lake

For many camps, the age-old question for water programming has always been a question between lakes and pools… In 1957, the answer seemed clear:

“A good natural waterfront area is superior to any man-made substitute, so that it is worthwhile to spend time searching for one in the areas where they exist.” - Julian Salomon, Camp Site Development, 1957

In the early years of camping, lakes were considered essential. With time, the unimproved waterfront area gave way to carefully designed waterfronts, with docks and designated swimming areas. Has this shift been beneficial? According to the American Red Cross, 54% of Americans can’t swim well enough to save their own lives. Paradoxically, having a lake at camp becomes a huge liability and safety concern. I say paradoxically, because what better place to be comfortable in water and to learn how to swim than surrounded by your summer camp pals?

Faced with the question of how to continue instilling a connection to nature in their campers, many camps are attempting to blend the natural environment with the built environment. Many camps across the country simply have both a pool and a lake that they use for different activities. However, Herzog & de Meuron’s Ecological Swimming Pool stands as an elegant and innovative solution. Designed for a small city in Switzerland, the new pool uses filtering plants to clean the water. In fact, the pool looks much more like a small pond. The Swiss firm writes:

“the changed perspectives brought by the intervening years prompted the idea of abandoning the conventional pool concept, with its mechanical and chemical water treatment systems, in favor of a pool closer to a natural condition with biological filtration.”

There are no chemicals needed for this pool. Gravel, sand, soil, and vegetation effectively model the natural terrestrial water purification process. The irregular edge creates a variety of swimming conditions including: a gradual entry beach, staircases, and dock for jumping. “naturbad riehen,” or “natural swimming pool,"was completed in June 2014.

photo by helen schneider, courtesy of naturbad riehen

Perhaps, this is the future of camp design… a beautiful marriage of the built and the natural environment; Which, is in fact, what great camp design strives to create.