Camp Rota Kiwan Camp Rota Kiwan

Master Site Plan Master Site Plan UpdateUpdate

Significant Historical Events for Rota Kiwan •1921 Initial 10-acre site on Bass Lake founded

•1926 Fruitbelt Area Council formed

•1935 First eight cabins erected

•1938/1940 “Hill” and “Dickerson Woods” parcels were added

•1944 Camp roads added by County

•1952 Jackson and Littler parcels were added

•1953 Gildea Farm was acquired

•1961 Loving and Hammond parcels were acquired

•1968 Fath parcel was obtained

•1973 Three area Councils merged into Southwest Michigan Council

•1979 Fath and Hammon parcels were sold

•1984 Property exchange with Todd bringing the camp to its current size of 197 acres

•1987 Started construction of the new Cub camp

•2005 RK Strategic Plan was published

RK Master Site Planning Overview

•New camp master site planning initiative called for in the new RK Strategic Plan

•Three day-long site planning meetings were held this past November and December at camp

•Professional leadership of the planning process was provided by OCBA, Bosch Architectural, Prein and Newhof, Lamar Construction and Midwest Realty Group

•Approximately 20 individuals joined us for these planning meetings for input – participants ranged from existing scouts, to adult leaders, to program instructors, Board members, donors, and others

•Our goal is to provide a physical site concept of camp for the next 50+ years, developed from a programming perspective, while considerate of our existing infrastructure, ideally serving up to 450 participants per summer camp session

•The final plan will be published for our general memberships’ review and comment for completing

Initial Planning Discussions

•Divided Cub and Boy Scout camps vs. single-purpose camp concept.

•Internal traffic routing and related issues.

•Primary camp access.

•Primary area uses.

•Existing infrastructure.

•Contiguous land uses & possibility to expand.

•Security issues.

Secondary Camp Layout

Considering the possibility for limited common elements like a shared dining hall and welcome center, but keeping the existing Boy and Cub Scout camps separate.

Short discussion on use of 8th Street property for the relocation of the Scout Service Center.

Camp Programming Discussion

Based upon the perceived merits of a single-purpose camp concept, the following conceptual programming map was completed.

•Shared improvements like main dining hall, new welcome center, shared waterfronts, new sports fields, improved gun and archery range, etc.

•New entry feature with proposed land acquisition.

•New “staff village” housing concept.

•Demolition of several older cabins, with some being replaced.

Our Final Vision . . . The RK Master Site Plan

Designed for single-use operation with all program areas and lodging updated or replaced and the acquisition or perpetual easement of an additional 150+/- acres east of camp.

This design will accommodate 450 campers weekly through each summer camp session.

Total project cost including connection to municipal water and sewer is currently estimated at $12,000,000 before any donations of time or materials or the cost of a new on-site Scout Office.

7 – New chapel at former Cedars site.

8 – Former dining hall renovated as program center.

9 – Former admin bldg renovated for T-1 program.

11 – Replacement of Oaks cabin.

13 – Addition of new “all sports fields”.

14 – New seating added to fire bowl.

15 – Waterfront renovated as new boat livery.

16 – Eagle pavilion renovated.

17 – New main dining hall structure.

18 – New staff village cabins.

19 – New “Welcome Center”.

20 – New shared entry, signage and paved roadway.

21 – Reconfigured home site with new garage.

22 – New parking for 150 vehicles.

23 – New “Adirondack” shelters for programming.

24 – Replacement of Spruce cabin.

25 – Expansion of former cub waterfront as new swimming and training area.

Exploded View

Bird’s-Eye Perspective

Conceptual of new dining hall right center, with the new staff village just left center and the new “Welcome Center” left front. Note the new sports fields in the immediate foreground.

New Camp Entry Concept

•New shared entry access with Al Sabo Trailhead.

•Improved road and entry signage, landscaping and paved and lighted entry and parking.

•New ‘Welcome Center’ at entry for improved property management and internal security.

•Improved parking, vehicle staging and landscaping. Statue moved to front turn about.

New “Welcome Center” Concept This new facility would include business offices, a health center, conference room and “Campmaster” quarters.

Dining Hall Concept

Initial dining hall concept to seat 300 inside and another 150 under roof outside. Full commercial kitchen, scoutmaster lounge, health area, trading post, and full walk-out basement.

Post and beam construction with open ceiling and large walk-in fireplace. Ample skylights and outdoor BBQ.

New “Dining Hall” Interior Concept

Adirondack Shelter Concept

Initial concept of the program shelters to be built into the upper south ridge overlooking Baas Lake. These may also be used for off-season troop camping.

New Cabin Proto-Type

To be used to replace Oaks, Tamaracks and Spruce cabins, as well as for developing the new “Staff Village” cabins.

Interior Plan

Common Building Materials & Colors(to be used throughout camp for all new construction and renovation work)

•Stone or rock base wall with cap.

•Log veneer exterior or similar design material.

•Standing-seam steel roofing on 10’x12’ pitch.

•Additional skylight and roof overhangs where possible.

•Natural stain, brown paint, green anodized metal roofing and brown anodized metal window and door trim.

Additional Areas Being Developed . . .

•Redevelopment and expansion of the former gun range with black powder, shot gun, expanded .22 cal rifle range and buckskin sports

•Renovation of former Dining Halls as year-round program centers

•Development of a new ecological stations on Scouters Pond

•Development of a new themed fishing camp

•Redevelopment of the Boy Scout waterfront as a boat livery

•Improvements to the roads and infrastructure

•Addition of a new climbing tower, high copes course and wilderness camping area

•Fire bowl improvements

•Addition of a new all-sports activity field and equipment building

•And other areas

Next Steps . . .1. Complete formal RK Site Master Plan by mid-March

and post on our web site (http://bsa.midwestrealty.com) for comment by our general membership. Continue District meetings.

2. RK Steering Committee to conduct final meeting in April to review comments and evaluate possible final changes to the Plan prior to completing.

3. RK Site Master Plan would then be finalized and republished for the RK Steering Committee to recommend adoption of the final Plan to the Council Board for approval, which is estimated to be completed by June.

Questions or Comments? Call Rick DeKam at 269-207-5430

(or post to our web site)