Public Camp Manual

In planning the development of a public camp, it is first necessary to determine the road system that should be installed. The individual camp sites may then be selected, and the location of tables and stoves may be planned. Toilets, water systems, garbage cans and pits, and any other improvements desired, may then be so placed as to serve the individual sites to the highest possible degree.

The primary purpose in the planning of a camp is its development in such a way as to provide for the maximum recreational use of the area with a minimum of damage to the vegetation. The major element of damage results from the automobile, and therefore it is necessary to control in some manner the line of travel of the cars to and from the individual camp sites. To accomplish this, we must provide means to confine the cars to the service roads and parking spurs, at the same time furnishing protection to the "Key" trees. (See E. P. Meinecke's Bulletin "Camp Planning and Camp Reconstruction")

Methods of accomplishing this will vary with local conditions. Rocks, logs, ditches, or other more artificial barriers may be employed, but all of them detract to a certain extent from the appearance of the camp. Promiscuous use of rocks in some camps is especially reprehensible. Obstacles should never be used except where they are absolutely necessary to confine the automobile to the roads or spurs. Even then, their use should be kept to an absolute minimum. The man "on the job" must exercise judgment in determining the amount and type of obstacle material to use. Native local materials should be used whenever possible. Rocks are entirely out of place on some camps, especially on a dense timbered flat where obstacles (if any) should be preferably of logs, with only an occasional rock. In other words, the camp planner should regard obstacles as detrimental, and avoid them whenever possible. As a general rule, we should regard rock obstacles in any quantity as the least desirable type and use them only where other types are not available or even less suitable. In many cases it will be highly desirable to resort to the planting of trees and shrubs where they may serve as obstacle material later on.

In every case where it is possible to do so, camp improvements should be well back from main highways. Where, due to topography, camping must be close to a highway, it should be screened as much as possible by leaving the natural cover that already exists along the edge of the road, and by the planting of additional trees and shrubs.

While a knowledge of landscape engineering is of value in camp planning, it should be kept in mind that there is no substitute for good, practical "common sense", and our problem is largely a practical one. Individuals react differently to the conveniences and services furnished them by the government. Most people are appreciative, some are critical, and a few are abusive and destructive. Unfortunately, the latter type must be used as a standard in the planning of public camp developments.

Improper Type of Obstacle A ditch or a fence would be preferable.