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Beam Project
We believe that by making and collaborating, kids acquire the strength, confidence and knowledge that they can do and accomplish anything they want to. This begins with our collaboration as a camp on a single, extremely large endeavor: The Beam Project. The Project is the centerpiece of the Beam session. It’s an ongoing demonstration that a good plan, perseverance and a skillful crew can bring the biggest schemes to life. It serves as inspiration for the campers to formulate their own plots, plans and projects.
Every summer we do and build something never done or built before. Beam commissions a different distinguished artist, architect or general big thinker as Project Master to conceive each summer’s Project. They design it, Beam Campers and Staff work together to make it happen.
Each day at camp from 9am to 12pm, teams of campers, called Waves, rotate through the various activity areas of the Project’s production. At summer’s end we invite all Beam Parents and Family to join us at camp for a celebration the Project’s completion.
(Excerpted from Christine and Manuel’s Original Project Proposal.) Our concept is especially designed for the particular location of the Beam Camp within a deep forest and close to beautiful lakes. While trying to combine these two major elements – water and earth – our initial idea behind “float with the flowers” was derived from nature. Inspired by the water lily and it’s rather dusty sister the rose of Jericho our approach suggests a self built toy that transforms from a “land use” towards a floating “water occupancy”. Like the rose of Jericho the structure opens once it is pulled into the lake.
For the 2008 summer they will be Collaborating with Beam Camp to create “Jungletopia” an interactive sculpture, tree hideout, and music making shanty palace. A large part of the “Jungletopia” structure will be built out of recycled materials including a 30′ “A-frame” style chapel that once sat at the current site. An abandoned barn from the outlying Parker Mtn. site is also being used for materials and scavenging.
(Excerpted from Caitlin Berrigan’s website.) Viral capsids were magnified and fashioned into geodesic greenhouses to grow therapeutic herbs for each virus. The Beam Summer Camp commissioned this collaborative project for which I designed domes based on the protein structures of four viruses. Many viruses organize their proteins according to geodesic patterns. Among these are the hepatitis C virus, HIV, the rhinovirus (cold-flu) and the herpes virus. Over the course of the project, the counselors and 60 campers interpreted and constructed these sculptural shelters after my designs. They learned building and creative crafts, cared for plants, discovered viruses and microbes, and explored the territories of their own bodies as fodder for art-making. They also contributed the fantastical “Beam” virus, representing their own infectious qualities. The Viral Domes became their shelters, playspaces and activity centers while still inspiring a sense of *Eeew!*
In 2006, Project Masters Steve Gerberich and Nathaniel Lieb took us on a ride exploring mechanical motion. Campers designed and fabricated the Beam Fleet, seven all wood vehicles that were equal parts kinetic sculptures, simple machines and rolling canvases. The Project culminated in a procession by campers and their families that turned the soccer field into Parade Grounds.
In 2005, Project Master Fabian Jabro conceived of the giant Nexus Canopy. Campers and staff constructed the 45’ x 36’ structure of wood and movable canvas walls. Once built, they transformed the Canopy into shape-shifting mazes, movie theater, art gallery and, for the final evening of camp, banquet space and theater.