Peregrine Treehouse and Zipline (2018)
Photos by Henry McCoy
(This is part of a series on the 11 projects designed and built by classes in the Louisiana Tech School of Design at MedCamps of Louisiana.)
MedCamps Executive Director Caleb Seney: The Peregrine Treehouse and Zipline marked the introduction of a new activity on new property that was donated for use by MedCamps of Louisiana at Camp Alabama. The activity consists of a fully accessible zipline that is over 500 feet long and in parts nearly 40 feet off the ground. The students designed and built staging area and launch platform where the camper’s ride begins. They also designed a treehouse where each camper’s ride ends. MedCamps and Arch335 partnered with Adventure Experience to design and install the zipline. AE certifies the equipment annually and trains our staff on how to safely use it.
It is almost overwhelming to see a child who might be confined to their wheelchair during all waking hours of their day-to-day life come to the Peregrine, be harnessed in and raised up to the zipline where they too get to fly through the canopy of trees at the north end of the lake. This project takes “fully accessible” to another level to say the least and sets MedCamps’ program apart from almost any other experience a child confined to a wheelchair can have. I love watching the fear that confronts our campers as their turn approaches be replaced by the same resilience and determination that they live their daily life with and blossom into courage as they rise up to the platform are transferred over to the zipline and fly away with squeals of joy and exhilaration. Essentially that is what MedCamps is all about. We take the impossible, make it possible, challenge our campers to confront their fear and foster grit and resilience in their lives all with the reward of unbridled joy!
Tech Professor Brad Deal: This project began as a simple treehouse idea until Caleb challenged us to access it via zip line. We immediately said, “Absolutely not!” But some research led us to Adventure Experiences, a zip line outfit in Trinity, Texas, whose owner grew up in Farmerville and had a daughter with special needs. From our first call, he was excited and committed to helping us make it happen. This was also An Le’s introduction to Design Build; she later returned as a co-instructor in the 2024 studio. This project was hard to top. Each one that followed struggled to compete with the thrill of sending otherwise wheelchair bound campers sailing through the treetops.
Program Summary: Special needs-oriented zip line launch and landing structures including a “tree house” and climbing tower.
Program Statement: This 712-foot zip line and support structures at a camp for children with special needs encourages participants to embrace the thrilling experience of flight. At the “launch”, dramatic steel walls gesture skyward, visually obscuring and revealing the zip-line. The varied deck facilitates safe loading, and a pivoting swing-arm allows wheelchair bound campers to be hoisted up, swiveled into position, and transferred onto the zip line. Riders unload at the “tree house” which extends horizontally as the land falls away. Campers then find themselves on an elevated perch overlooking a stream where they can observe a multitude of flora and fauna. A floor hatch provides access to the ground below, reinforcing the feeling of “tree house”. A 50’ tall steel tower signifies flight and offers an accessible ropes course challenge. The brave are rewarded with a dramatic view of the horizon from the treetops. The project is inspired by a parable in which two peregrine falcons are gifted to a king who admired the birds for their speed, power and grace. One of the falcons, however, simply would not fly. After many unsuccessful attempts by experts to remedy this, the king was visited by a peasant who claimed she could get the falcon to fly. Upon seeing the second falcon high in the air, the king implored “How?!” “Simply by cutting the branch the bird was resting on. Some souls,” she said, “need to be reminded they have wings.”
Project Team:
Professors: Robert Brooks, Brad Deal
Students: Amanda Abadie, Anthony Ardoin, Ethan Carlisle, Devin Cashio, Khaki Coggins, Rachel Cowell, Jane Emory, Madison Hackworth, Jordy Head, Jacob Hunter, Will Johnson, Jennifer Jones, An Le, Christian McVay, Laura Miller, Wesley Mitchell, Marisa Noonan, Chris Perry, Rashon Porter, Brie Ramsey, Randi Roberts, Casey Rogers, Raquel Ross, Sarah Sparks, Cameren Trowbridge, David Verzyvelt, Logan Vickery, Nick Winters
Recognition: 2018 AIA Louisiana Member’s Choice Award
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MedCamps programs are completely free of charge to all campers with special needs. If you would like to support future projects at MedCamps, events, sponsor a campers attendance financially or volunteer please visit www.medcamps.org or email info@medcamps.org for more information.
