Every camp has the same immovable deadline: opening day. A new bunkhouse, dining hall or gym that is “almost done” in June is not done. Here is how to plan a camp project so it is finished, inspected and ready for the summer.
Plan backwards from opening day
Start with the date the campers arrive and work backwards. Leave time at the end for final inspections, cleaning and setting up furniture. Before that, finishes. Before that, the building itself. Before that, approvals and ordering materials. Laid out this way, most camps find they need to start planning much earlier than they expected.
Start right after the summer ends
The best time to plan next summer’s project is the week after this summer ends, while everyone remembers what worked and what did not. Walk the camp with your contractor, decide what you are building and talk through scope and budget early.
Approvals take time
Camp buildings usually need approval from the town and county building departments, and sometimes other agencies. Ask your contractor what the project needs and who handles it, and build that time into the schedule.
Winter is part of the plan
Upstate winters slow work down and can stop some of it completely. A good schedule does the outdoor work, like foundations and framing, when the weather allows, and saves interior work for the coldest months where possible.
Buildings that sit empty all winter also need to be built for it: snow loads on the roof, freeze-thaw cycles, and plumbing that can be drained or protected.
Think about how the camp uses the building
- Bunkhouses: durable finishes, good ventilation, enough bathrooms and showers for busy mornings.
- Dining halls and kitchens: room for the whole camp at once, and a kitchen laid out for meat, dairy and anything else your mashgiach requires.
- Gyms and pool houses: surfaces and finishes that handle heavy use and wet feet.
- Gazebos, pavilions and camp shuls: built for weather, with shade and good drainage.
One contact, from start to finish
Camp projects are often managed from a distance, by owners and directors who are not on site every day. One contact who coordinates the trades and keeps you updated makes all the difference.
Planning a camp project in the Catskills, Ulster County, Orange County or the Poconos? Talk to ELC Construction or call 845-709-4547.
Please note: our blog posts are general tips to help you plan. They are not professional, engineering, legal or halachic advice, and should not be relied on for any specific decision. For halachic questions, ask your rav. For your own project, talk to us or your design team.