NEWS

Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design, together with MedCamps of Louisiana, has partnered together to break ground on the “Hero’s Launch” – a fully-accessible canoe launch as an exciting activity for the campers that will dramatically improve canoeing and paddle boating at MedCamps.
For several years, students in Louisiana Tech’s Architecture 335 class have partnered with various organizations in Lincoln Parish to design and build structures ranging from homes for Habitat for Humanity to park pavilions around Ruston. The design build program, now in its third year of partnership with MedCamps, will design and construct the new amenity.
According to the design team’s Facebook site, the “Hero’s Launch” design is “based on the notion of the hero’s journey. The camper’s journey begins on the ‘known’ side of the camp that they are the most familiar with and takes them to the ‘unknown’ side, where they can explore the unfamiliar nature of being on the water. After their adventure, they return to the ‘known’ side having gained new knowledge and confidence.  The canoe launch is the beacon that calls the campers to begin their adventure, and where they return as fearless heroes.”
This year’s Student Design and Construction Team includes the following students, listed by their hometowns:

• Alexandria: Timothy Mathews
• Bossier City: Daniel Dumas
• Boothville: Kierilyn Smith
• Ruston: Michael Davis, Jed Walpole
• Shreveport: Chase Johnson
• Springfield: David Hoover
• St. Francisville: Rosa Schellinger
• Weston: Ethan Robison
• West Monroe: Emily Greene, Ashton Russell
• Zachary: Delaney Baker
• Columbus, Georgia: Hunter Bradshaw
• Detroit, Michigan: Daniel Campbell
• Lindale, Texas: Lane Walters
• White Oak, Texas: Sam Crossland
• Sanaa, Yemen: Sulaiman Yousef
• Chengdu, China: Molang Chang

MedCamps of Louisiana is a non-profit organization that provides a series of one week, fun filled camps each summer for children in Louisiana facing the challenges of a variety of physical and mental disabilities.  These camps are offered completely free of charge and provide campers with an opportunity to participate in traditional camping activities such as canoeing, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, and much more in a modified setting to meet the needs of every camper.
Each camping session is held at Camp Alabama in Sibley, which is a property of the Presbytery of the Pines.  The canoe launch will accommodate all boating activities for the campers who attend MedCamps of Louisiana and guests of the Presbytery of the Pines.
Written by Judith Roberts – jroberts@latech.edu