NEWS

Captain’s Launch, a fully accessible floating pedal boat facility that allows wheelchair-bound campers to enjoy getting out on the water, was dedicated May 23 in a brief celebration ceremony at MedCamps of Louisiana at Camp Alabama in Choudrant.

In addition to the Captain’s Launch dedication, a new interior mural in the camp’s Recreation Hall and Pool House, created by the students of ART 427: Mural Painting, was officially revealed.

Captain’s Launch, the 11^th project to result from a partnership between Louisiana Tech’s ARCH 335 Design Build studio class, MedCamps, the University, and many Ruston-area supporters, is a floating paddle boat dock that enables even the most timid wheelchair-bound camper to roll onto a boat effortlessly, be securely strapped in, and enjoy the water.

Captain’s Launch was conceptualized, constructed, and completed over two quarters by Tech’s ARCH 335 class of Winter and Spring 2025.

“We’re thrilled to offer the Captain’s Launch,” said Brad Deal, Design Build coordinator and associate professor in Tech’s School of Design. “The students have worked incredibly hard, and I couldn’t be prouder. Their dedication and perseverance will leave a lasting impression and serve as a valuable resource for the community for years to come. It’s an excellent project, and we couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of MedCamps, Louisiana Tech, and the entire community that rallies behind us every year.”

Annually since the creation of Gibbs Pavilion in 2014, students in ARCH 335 have planned and constructed the projects for MedCamps from scratch. Completed additions or improvements to the camp include an archery range, a zipline, an art cabin, and an amphitheater. The studio creates a culture of camaraderie, accomplishment, and work ethic for Tech designers in their third year of architectural education.

“The tradition of the Design Build studio at Louisiana Tech University has few peers in the nation,” Dean of Tech’s College of Liberal Arts Karl Puljak said. “If there is a better learning experience for an undergraduate architecture student, I’d be hard-pressed to find one that couples unparalleled education with community outreach.”

MedCamps of Louisiana was founded in 1987 as a summer camp for children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The mission of MedCamps is to improve the health and wellness of people (primarily children) living with chronic illnesses and disabilities through recreational and educational camping experiences.

“We knew as a class that we wanted the boat launch to feel welcoming and make campers feel both secure and in control, especially for campers who have a hard time finding courage to get in a boat,” said Emily Deshotel, a third-year architecture student whose decision to come to Tech from her Ville Platte hometown was heavily influenced by the Design Build program.

“For many weeks we worked on finding the perfect concept for our project that eventually became Captain’s Launch, where all campers can become the captain of their own destiny,” she said. “We took inspiration from a verse in a poem by William Henley called ‘Invictus’ which states, ‘I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.’ The idea of feeling ‘in charge’ as soon as you approach the boat launch heavily influenced all of our design decisions.”

The mural painted in Spring 2024 on the fire station near the MedCamps entrance was ART 427’s first student-led project for the camp and was designed with the goal of creating a symbol of joy to welcome campers for times of connection and fun. Out of that grew ideas of how more art could add visual energy to the camp, and enthusiasm for the Winter 2025 project — a single wall mural in the Recreation Hall/Pool House — expanded into a four-wall project that was revealed at the Captain’s Launch ceremony.

“These murals aren’t just paint on walls — they’re expressions of belonging. They speak to the children before a word is said,” said Whitney Causey, associate professor of studio art in Tech’s School of Design. “This ongoing collaboration shows students that public art is more than decoration — it’s connection, visibility, and joy for communities who need it most.”