Groundbreaking Event Happening On Earth Day, 4/22/21
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In spite of moving instruction online, the Cooper Center for Environmental Education brought the values of Earth Day to more than 3,900 Tucson students in educator-led Zoom sessions, representing 27% more students served than the year before.
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Cooper facilities fundraising exceeded expectations, with more than $600,000 raised for sustainable bathroom facility construction to take place this summer.
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An Earth Day Groundbreaking Ceremony will include Dr. Gabriel Trujillo, TUSD Superintendent, Iliana Reyes, Associate Dean of the UArizona College of Education, alongside Cooper Center director Colin Waite and Cooper staff.
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Media guests are invited to attend this socially distanced event, happening at 11:00am on Thursday April 22nd. Raw video footage of speakers general event footage will be provided shortly after the event.
Camp Cooper Begins Long Awaited "Extreme Makeover"
On Dec. 4th, Camp Cooper director Colin Waite was joined by TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo and University of Arizona College of Education Dean Bruce Johnson to announce Phase I of our Master Plan and kickoff long awaited improvements to Camp Cooper.
Success! Goal met and exceeded!
We are thrilled to announce that we have raised $579,155 to complete the first phase of our Master Plan - Bathrooms & Showers. Now, it's time to build! Read more...
Thanks to everyone who donated and shared our campaign - we couldn't have done this without you!
Construction will be a mix of techniques, including sustainable rammed earth.
Where our existing building housing bathrooms sits will be our new shower facility, making overnight stays more comfortable.
Shaded passageways and native landscaping will surround the new facilities. All facilities and walkways will be ADA compliant.
The Bathroom & Shower Complex will increase capacity to serve students and their families, and is Phase I of a multi phase project to overhaul all buildings at Camp Cooper.
A solar shaded classroom adjoins one of the buildings acting as a teaching center and desert gateway.
Rainwater, harvested from increased roof surface, will feed surrounding native planting areas.
The solar shaded learning space would overlook the desert wash where many of our nature walks take place.
Bathroom Stats
2,030
Square feet of space
for bathrooms & showers
Includes 350 sq ft of shaded outdoor classroom gathering space
23,212
Gallons of rainwater
available to direct to vegetation
Includes 5175 gallons harvested off of surrounding hardscape pathways
45
Years of operation with current bathroom facilities
Original Camp Cooper buildings built in the mid 1970s.
+5
Future toilets: 9
Current toilets: 4
Includes 2 wheelchair accessible/family bathrooms
+7
Future showers: 7
Current showers: 0
Includes 1 wheelchair accessible/family shower room
+1
Future urinals: 3
Current urinals: 2
Urinals will be zero-flow water conservation units.
Quotes for Media Use
“For many years, the University of Arizona College of Education has hosted outdoor experiences at Camp Cooper for undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff. Improving Camp Cooper’s aging facilities means, quite simply, that we can inspire more educators and future educators with the kind of hands-on science education and teacher development that Camp Cooper and the Cooper Center are known for.”
Bruce Johnson, dean of the College of Education, University of Arizona
“TUSD is excited to support Camp Cooper’s efforts to modernize their facility, starting with improved bathrooms and showers. Even with their rustic facilities, Camp Cooper has inspired tens of thousands of TUSD students over six decades. Now is the time to invest in future generations of Camp Cooper campers by making the Cooper facility accessible to all and comfortable to use.”
Dr. Gabriel Trujillo, Superintendent of Tucson Unified School District
“Camp Cooper’s existing bathrooms are sufficient for day trips, but with overnights, there was always a long line just before bed and early in the mornings. The existing facilities really weren't designed for wash-ups, teeth brushing, etc. Overnight trips will be much more enjoyable with updated bathrooms and something I’ve wanted for years...showers!”
Kathy DeVinney, retired teacher, TUSD’s Robins K-8 School
"I'm excited for the new addition! There is so much value in students seeing truly sustainable systems in action. Few like to think about toilets & wastewater. But once you've used a well-designed composting toilet or stood under the cool canopy of a big beautiful happy greywater-fed tree, you just understand what a great idea both are. I've seen it with my students... the next thing you know, they're educating their parents and working on upgrades at home together. THAT is what the Cooper Center is all about."
Eric Flewelling, Drachman K-8 Teacher
“Upgrades like solar power support Camp Cooper’s environmental philosophy, while improving bathrooms and showers removes an obstacle some folks had with attending. It allows for some of the ‘comforts of home’ while continuing to provide a genuine experience.”
Kathy DeVinney, retired teacher, TUSD’s Robins K-8 School
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