Beam Camp

This innovative maker summer camp focuses on teaching artistic engineering. Campers work on original projects that are chosen by the directors from a pool of international artist and architects who submit proposals to Beam Camp each year. These large-scale projects are done in portions by smaller groups called Waves. In these groups we learn the different skills needed to complete each project, which have included painting, woodworking, sculpture, building, circuitry, and more.

In the last week of each session, each of the project Waves are led by two Fellows,

who are campers over the age of 14. As a Fellow, I met with my co-leader every morning to plan the materials needed, determine roles for our team members, and the steps necessary to complete each challenge. During the beginning of the work period,

we reviewed what we had planned with our team, and made sure everyone understood the goal and were comfortable with their role and involvement. During the work process,

we Fellows supervised the younger campers and ensured everyone stayed involved, focused, and happy with their roles, as well as maintained a level of quality

control, safety, and project progress.

I was a Beam Camper for six years, from 2011 - 2017 (6th grade - 11th grade). For the summers of 2016 and 2017 I served as a Fellow, leading project Waves, and serving as a teacher for the younger campers.

Project 2017.2:
Salvage Station No. 8

PROJECT MASTERS: SHING YIN KHOR

An immersive experiential installation envisioning a sci-fi abandoned space salvage station. It incorporates storytelling and fabrication skills, including scenic carpentry and painting, interactive electronics, prop building, molding and casting, and more.

Project 2016.1: Universal Play Machine

PROJECT MASTERS: MOBILE STUDIO ARCHITECTS/CHEE-KIT LAI & WILL ATKINS

The universal play machine is a bespoke and adaptable kinetic sculpture that is also a device for learning - not only in the process of its creation but also in how it can be interacted with when complete. Essentially an oversized flip-book, the system scales up the split-flap display technology first used in airports and train-stations across the world. Exaggerating the analogue nature of the technology, the universal play machine has the capacity to rotate through a sequence of images, sketches, numbers or letters - all created by the campers and even powered by the campers themselves!

MY ROLE: I served as a Wave Leader and Fellow for this project. As a project leader, I managed a team of campers on aspects of the construction, and was responsible for teaching both the work flow, and the skills needed for different aspects of the building process. The other Fellows and I worked on the project for extended hours each day, and had meetings to discuss what was working, and what wasn't, after the younger campers were done for the day.

Project 2016.2: Pipe Tree

PROJECT MASTERS: FLORIAN GWINNER

The Pipe Tree is a fully functioning, human-operated, pipe organ that takes its place among pine and maple trees in the Beam Camp forest overlooking Little Willey Pond.

MY ROLE: I served as a Wave Leader and Fellow for this project. As a project leader, I managed a team of campers on aspects of the construction, and was responsible for teaching both the work flow, and the skills needed for different aspects of the building process. This was my favorite project of all my years at Beam. I loved the aesthetics of this design, and that it worked so well to make music. I also enjoyed the fabrication of the wooden pipes and leather bellows. This was a great challenge, and a very rewarding project.

Project 2015.1: C.O.R.A.L.

PROJECT MASTERS: FLOATING POINT

C.O.R.A.L., combines sculpture, sci-fi imagination, construction, and electronics. C.O.R.A.L. connects the human heart and voice with Little Willey Pond through Arduino technology and underwater circuitry. Campers built an on-shore Control Station that controls a network of resin-molded coral sculptures embedded with LEDs.

MY ROLE: I was a camper this year; as I was older, I technically had more responsibilities to help the younger kids. I most enjoyed making the circuits that powered the lights, and I worked extra hours on the "bunker" that we built as a control center to power the project.

Project 2015.2:

Daisy Daisy

PROJECT MASTERS: WAYWARD (Thomas Kendal, lead)

Designed by London-based landscape architects Wayward, Daisy Daisy combines construction, mechanics and water dynamics. Daisy Daisy is a mobile, 16’ high, 50’ long, water-slide. In use, six pedal-powered treadle pumps will draw from Little Willey Pond to create water pyrotechnics that accompany this gravity-driven adventure.

MY ROLE: I learned how to build tall structures on this project, and enjoyed being part of the painting team.

Project 2014.1: Forest Phantasmagoria

PROJECT MASTERS: NIKO VAN STICHEL & LUT VANDEBOS

In a time when experience has gone digital, we created an immersive mechanical light machine in the tradition of the magic lantern. Campers and staff built a 30-foot vertical kaleidoscope with three entrances that welcome viewers to submerge themselves in a bath of light and reflection. The sleek design and playful light belies its 16-ton concrete foundation and structure of steel and cedar that make Forest Phantasmagoria a zone between dream and reality.

MY ROLE: I was a camper this year; as I was older, I technically had more responsibilities to help the younger kids. The kaleidoscope was constructed by stacking portions of wood onto metal rods, I liked watching the progress of the project as we built the shell, the outer layer.

Project 2014.2: Creatura

PROJECT MASTERS: MARK TORRENS & FEDERICO FORESTIERO

Creatura is a 20-foot floating vessel shaped with an animal form and powered by human invention and movement. The skeleton is made of wooden, metallic, and woven materials. The mechanisms combine the principles of Leonardo da Vinci with a human-hamster wheel, and recycled bike frames. It glides on lake’s surface evoking our own self-built Creature of Little Willey.

MY ROLE: As a camper, I was part of a Wave. I enjoyed making this project, as there were vastly different parts that had to be built to work together to make the Creatura move properly on the water.

Project 2013.1: Swingtones

PROJECT MASTERS: SUPERMASS STUDIO (TAEWOOK CHA) / SAGE & COOMBE (CHRISTO LOGAN, SARA MURADO, JULIA TATE)

An interactive audible and visual installation designed by landscape architects Supermass Studio and Sage and Coombe Architects. Campers constructed a collection of distinctive wooden swings and metal chimes installed throughout the forest. As the swings oscillate at various speeds and amplitudes, the hanging chimes respond proportionally in sound and motion—the farther the swing, the bigger and merrier the sound gets. As the campers simultaneously ride the swings, they create and experience a symphony of floating forest chimes.

MY ROLE: As a camper, I was part of a Wave. We all work together on various parts of the project.

Project 2012.1: Creature Quake

PROJECT MASTERS; RACHEL KUNREUTHER AND DOUGLAS STOOKEY

In “Creature Quake,” Rachel Kunreuther and Douglas Stookey design reshaped the camp’s landscape to reveal enormous creatures in earth, sky and lake. Beam campers and staff constructed an array of large-scale forms and structures imbued with their own kind of life and movement. Says Kunreuther of the project, “We wanted to build creatures that evoke the very real apprehension and fascination many of us have felt, in all stages of our lives, for the unknown world around us. By creating something real out of what is daunting and mysterious, we invite campers to forge positive personal relationships with their natural surroundings, to be inspired instead of afraid.”

MY ROLE: This was my first summer at Beam Camp. It was exciting to work on these new projects and learn different skills, make new friends and live in the beautiful forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.