1. Camp Rota KiwanCamp Rota Kiwan
Master Site Plan UpdateMaster Site Plan Update
2. Significant Historical Events for Rota Kiwan
•1921 Initial 10-acre site on Bass Lake founded
•1926 Fruitbelt Area Council formed
•1935 First eight cabins erected
•1938/1940 “Hill” and “Dickerson Woods” parcels were added
•1944 Camp roads added by County
•1952 Jackson and Littler parcels were added
•1953 Gildea Farm was acquired
•1961 Loving and Hammond parcels were acquired
•1968 Fath parcel was obtained
•1973 Three area Councils merged into Southwest Michigan Council
•1979 Fath and Hammon parcels were sold
•1984 Property exchange with Todd bringing the camp to its current size
of 197 acres
•1987 Started construction of the new Cub camp
•2005 RK Strategic Plan was published
3. RK Master Site Planning Overview
•New camp master site planning initiative called for in the new
RK Strategic Plan
•Three day-long site planning meetings were held this past
November and December at camp
•Professional leadership of the planning process was provided by
OCBA, Bosch Architectural, Prein and Newhof, Lamar
Construction and Midwest Realty Group
•Approximately 20 individuals joined us for these planning
meetings for input – participants ranged from existing scouts, to
adult leaders, to program instructors, Board members, donors,
and others
•Our goal is to provide a physical site concept of camp for the
next 50+ years, developed from a programming perspective,
while considerate of our existing infrastructure, ideally serving
up to 450 participants per summer camp session
•The final plan will be published for our general memberships’
review and comment for completing
4. Initial Planning
Discussions
•Divided Cub and Boy
Scout camps vs. single-
purpose camp concept.
•Internal traffic
routing and related
issues.
•Primary camp access.
•Primary area uses.
•Existing
infrastructure.
•Contiguous land uses &
possibility to expand.
•Security issues.
5. Secondary
Camp Layout
Considering the
possibility for limited
common elements like a
shared dining hall and
welcome center, but
keeping the existing
Boy and Cub Scout
camps separate.
Short discussion on use
of 8th
Street property
for the relocation of
the Scout Service
Center.
6. Camp Programming
Discussion
Based upon the perceived
merits of a single-purpose
camp concept, the following
conceptual programming map
was completed.
•Shared improvements like
main dining hall, new welcome
center, shared waterfronts,
new sports fields, improved
gun and archery range, etc.
•New entry feature with
proposed land acquisition.
•New “staff village” housing
concept.
•Demolition of several older
cabins, with some being
replaced.
7. Our Final Vision . . .
The RK Master Site Plan
Designed for single-use
operation with all program
areas and lodging updated or
replaced and the acquisition
or perpetual easement of an
additional 150+/- acres east
of camp.
This design will accommodate
450 campers weekly through
each summer camp session.
Total project cost including
connection to municipal water
and sewer is currently
estimated at $12,000,000
before any donations of time
or materials or the cost of a
new on-site Scout Office.
8. 7 – New chapel at former Cedars site.
8 – Former dining hall renovated as program
center.
9 – Former admin bldg renovated for T-1
program.
11 – Replacement of Oaks cabin.
13 – Addition of new “all sports fields”.
14 – New seating added to fire bowl.
15 – Waterfront renovated as new boat livery.
16 – Eagle pavilion renovated.
17 – New main dining hall structure.
18 – New staff village cabins.
19 – New “Welcome Center”.
20 – New shared entry, signage and paved
roadway.
21 – Reconfigured home site with new garage.
22 – New parking for 150 vehicles.
23 – New “Adirondack” shelters for
programming.
24 – Replacement of Spruce cabin.
25 – Expansion of former cub waterfront as
new swimming and training area.
Exploded View
9. Bird’s-Eye Perspective
Conceptual of new dining hall right center, with the new staff village just
left center and the new “Welcome Center” left front. Note the new
sports fields in the immediate foreground.
10. New Camp
Entry Concept
•New shared entry
access with Al Sabo
Trailhead.
•Improved road and
entry signage,
landscaping and paved
and lighted entry and
parking.
•New ‘Welcome Center’
at entry for improved
property management
and internal security.
•Improved parking,
vehicle staging and
landscaping. Statue
moved to front turn
about.
11. New “Welcome
Center” Concept
This new facility would
include business offices,
a health center,
conference room and
“Campmaster” quarters.
12. Dining Hall Concept
Initial dining hall concept to seat 300 inside and another 150
under roof outside. Full commercial kitchen, scoutmaster
lounge, health area, trading post, and full walk-out basement.
Post and beam construction with open ceiling and large walk-in
fireplace. Ample skylights and outdoor BBQ.
14. Adirondack Shelter Concept
Initial concept of the program shelters to be built into the
upper south ridge overlooking Baas Lake. These may also be
used for off-season troop camping.
15. New Cabin Proto-Type
To be used to replace Oaks, Tamaracks and Spruce cabins,
as well as for developing the new “Staff Village” cabins.
Interior Plan
16. Common Building Materials & Colors
(to be used throughout camp for all new construction and renovation work)
•Stone or rock base wall with cap.
•Log veneer exterior or similar design material.
•Standing-seam steel roofing on 10’x12’ pitch.
•Additional skylight and roof overhangs where possible.
•Natural stain, brown paint, green anodized metal roofing
and brown anodized metal window and door trim.
17. Additional Areas Being
Developed . . .
•Redevelopment and expansion of the former gun
range with black powder, shot gun, expanded .22
cal rifle range and buckskin sports
•Renovation of former Dining Halls as year-round
program centers
•Development of a new ecological stations on
Scouters Pond
•Development of a new themed fishing camp
•Redevelopment of the Boy Scout waterfront as a
boat livery
•Improvements to the roads and infrastructure
•Addition of a new climbing tower, high copes
course and wilderness camping area
•Fire bowl improvements
•Addition of a new all-sports activity field and
equipment building
•And other areas
18. Next Steps . . .
1. Complete formal RK Site Master Plan by mid-March and
post on our web site (http://bsa.midwestrealty.com) for comment
by our general membership. Continue District meetings.
2. RK Steering Committee to conduct final meeting in April
to review comments and evaluate possible final changes to
the Plan prior to completing.
3. RK Site Master Plan would then be finalized and
republished for the RK Steering Committee to
recommend adoption of the final Plan to the Council Board
for approval, which is estimated to be completed by June.
Questions or Comments?
Call Rick DeKam at 269-207-5430
(or post to our web site)
