Partner Spotlight
Tucson Unified School District
From its inception until 2008, Camp Cooper was only available to TUSD teachers and students. With the forging of TUSD’s partnership with The University of Arizona College of Education in 2008, Cooper programs became available to any educational group.
In the 1950’s, TUSD administrator Herbert Cooper was assigned the job of acquiring new school sites for Tucson District #1, as TUSD was then designated. Mr. Cooper, with the aid of the City and County, projected school populations, and acquired land over the following years - Camp Cooper site was acquired as one of these sites.
In the mid 1960’s, Title I programs offered the possibility for expanding nature study in an outdoor education setting, and a number of TUSD educators realized the potential of the Camp Cooper site. Soon, a project began that brought students from west Tucson schools to the site for nature study activities, and the District then built the bathroom building, amphitheater, large ramada, cookout grill, and concrete slabs on which large canvas tents could be placed. Cabins were built on those slabs in 1972 and the site was officially designated “Camp Cooper.” Shortly after, the new cabins were transformed into kitchen, classroom, office, and sleeping areas, and the rest is history.
The TUSD vision of Camp Cooper back then and its growth during the past 50+ years is what has allowed our programs to thrive in the present day. Though Cooper’s programs have changed throughout the years, the camp has always been committed to providing each child with a memorable, first hand experience in our Sonoran Desert.
As the largest school district in Southern Arizona, TUSD strives to provide a world-class education that is equitable, empowering and inspiring for all learners. They work to equip, inspire and enrich the strengths of all learners with relevant educational experiences for lifelong learning, and Camp Cooper is an important part of achieving that mission. Camp Cooper provides an interdisciplinary experience for each student using the Sonoran Desert as our classroom. TUSD’s curriculum helps students to see the connection between their local and global environments and think conscientiously and critically about their roles in these relationships.
Dr. Gabriel Trujillo
Superintendent
Tucson Unified School District
“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.”
Today, Tucson Unified is a key partner in the management and operation of Cooper Center. Cooper Center staff regularly work with District administrators on curriculum and instruction, teacher professional development, and issues related to the Camp Cooper facilities themselves. Financially, TUSD is responsible for all Camp Cooper maintenance and utility costs, as well as some janitorial services and supplies.
For more information, visit www.tusd1.org