Tag:Culver
Culver Academies Woodcraft Camp Cabin
We are currently working on a new cabin for the girls’ section of the Woodcraft Camp. We are duplicating the existing cabins as much as possible, using cedar for nearly everything that is exposed.
We had a false start where we got off square due to tree roots, but we regrouped and are back under construction with walls standing and our first rafters in the air.
Culver Academies have 70 cabins in the Woodcraft Camp as well as about a dozen or so other accessory buildings. The camp has been in its current location for almost 50 years. Prior to that it was part of the main campus. The Woodcraft Camp program is celebrating its centennial this year. I’m not sure what all will be included in the celebration, but I’m guessing they will do it up right.
From A Salute to the Woodcraft Camps by Robert B.D. Hartman
The cabins have changed very little over the years. The first one was built as a display and transported to the site for placement on concrete piers. The roofing material has changed over the years, going from cedar shakes to composite faux cedar shakes, to the current use of architectural shingles; and some of the hidden structure has been changed to treated lumber. Beyond those changes, great pains have been taken to match the authentic original designs.
As I’m writing this, more changes may be in the works though. We currently have a variance application at the State requesting a waiver on the new rules that would require this cabin to have a fire sprinkler system. Aside from the fact that this would be the only sprinkled cabin on the site, it would be extremely difficult and costly to extend adequate water lines to supply a sprinkler system.
The plan is to have this new cabin completed in time for the 2011 Woodcraft Camp starting in June. We’re pressed for time due to the wet weather we’ve been having, but we’re making good progress. Watch for more enteries here as we progress.
For those of you interested in additional information on the Culver Academies Woodcraft Camp, I would suggest you take a look at A Salute to the Woodcraft Camps by Robert B.D. Hartman. I have attached a copy here.
Boy Scout Trip
We received a solicitation from Boy Scout Troop 229 which is serving Culver now. They have 6 scouts from the Culver area in the troop of 24. They are planning a trip to Philadelphia (Independence Hall), New York (Statue of Liberty) and Boston to visit and learn about historic sites. The trip will include an overnight stay aboard the USS New Jersey which should be a treat.
I went through the scouting program, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, and it is generally a good program. This trip sounds like it should be a great learning experience for the scouts. Since I was unfamiliar with this activity before receiving this letter about it, I thought I would share it here.
Last year was the 100 year anniversary of Scouting in the United States. Something I learned when we completed the Boy Scout Cabin at Culver Woodcraft Camp last year. It’s a good program and hopefully these scouts will learn a lot and volunteer to pass it on to the next generation.
CMS Career Day 2011
Last Friday I spoke at Career Day for the Culver Middle School. This was a presentation to the seventh grade class. The class was broken into 4 groups and they made the rounds between several of us who had volunteered to speak. Last year I had to compete with Angela Ridenhour’s presentation on Photography. Apparently she was the favorite. This year one of my fellow presenters was a police officer from the K-9 unit with a police dog. What did W.C. Field’s say? “Never work with animals or children.” I’m guessing I was upstaged. <sigh>
In any case, I did a presentation on Landscape Architecture since it is National Landscape Architecture Month and I hold a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University. I made it somewhat a duel discussion on construction as well since I was introduced as working for Easterday Construction Co., Inc. I was able to draw on my experience from last year, so not much preparation was required. I learned last year that having at least a loose outline was important as by the third or fourth time it becomes difficult to remember what I had said to the current group vs. the preceding groups.
I discussed the profession, the degree requirement, licensing requirements and a general range of what the degree qualifies you to do. I also took them through an impromptu white board sketch of the considerations in developing a lot. I discussed solar heat gain, wind rows and topography considerations as well as the relationships with other homes on adjacent lots. I was also able to discuss the various things happening in Culver with the recently annexed land on the south side of Town and how I have participated in helping revise the Zoning Ordinance and help with guiding decisions on how the land may be used in the future.
It was an interesting experience. The first group was not particularly vocal, but the remaining groups had a mix of interesting and off-the-wall questions. Each group had a different area of interest which actually made it kind of fun. There’s no way I want to become a teacher, but it was somewhat gratifying to think I made a positive impression.
Apparently I actually did. An employee told me that he had a daughter in the class who came home talking about what I had said and actually discussed some of the points that I made. That was fairly impressive. Maybe the dog didn’t take top honors this year?
Anyway, this was a good way to give back to the community. As seventh graders they have a lot of time before they have to decide what they will do with their lives. Hopefully I influenced a few kids and gave them some career options that they hadn’t previously considered. If I did, it was worth a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon. Maybe next year (if asked to participate) I will bring along my dog!
Congratulations to Richard Ford
Richard E. Ford – Picture from Indiana Academy Biography
Richard Ford has been a client of Easterday Construction for the last decade and I am pleased that our business relationship has progressed to where he is counted as a family friend. We first worked on Richard’s home in Wasbash completing some storm repairs and from there we completed several projects at his Wabash home including the addition of an endless pool, a two story music room and the remodeling/reconstruction of two guest houses. We have completed several projects at his second home in Culver on Lake Maxinkuckee as well as his guest house here. We are also proud to have helped with the creation of the Dr. James Ford Historic Home in Wabash for which we won a Judges Special Award from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Indiana.
Richard has won many awards for his community involvement such as being twice awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest honor and named as a Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society, now Indiana Landmarks. This coming weekend he will be receiving another award from Indiana Landmarks, the Cook Cup. We want to congratulate Richard on this latest award. The State of Indiana, Cities of Wabash and Indianapolis, the Town of Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee have all benefited from his generous philanthropy. We are pleased to have participated with Richard in some of these endeavors. We wish him the best and hope to continue our friendship for many years.
