For lucky middle schoolers in Georgia, an innovative week-long camp uses role playing, field trips, and design exercises to prepare students for further education and careers in architecture, landscape architecture, and planning.
"Created through a collaboration between the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center (GEHC) and the University of Georgia's College of Environment & Design (CED), the 'Designing Our World' camp offers a one-week program for students ages 11 to 13," writes Carol Myers Flaute, the camp's creator. "Over the course of a week, the children take field trips, practice using design tools and techniques, and discuss issues related to planning and design. In addition, they have the opportunity to meet and interview design professionals, including some CED faculty."
Flaute goes on to describe the structure of the camp, a field trip to an architecturally diverse town, and suggestions for starting a similar program.
"In its first three years, 'Designing Our World' has given more than 40 middle school students a taste of what it is like to work in environmental planning and design fields."
FULL STORY: Designing Our World: Introducing Children to Planning
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
