Date of Submission

12-18-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Advisor

Jamie Slenker

Keywords

military children, community design, therapeutic design, military psychology, family dynamics, multifunctionality, summer camp, deployment cycle, resilient coping

LCSH

children of military personnel, community health services--barrier free design, camps,

Abstract

Military children and families face obstacles unique to only members of the service community. They spend indefinite amounts of time apart, and sometimes go without contacting one another or knowing if the other is okay. That kind of stress and anxiety would be tough to work through for anyone, let alone for a child who didn’t choose this life. This creative study addresses the challenges in psychological wellbeing that these communities face by designing a summer camp for military children rooted in therapy and wellness. The camp, intended to relieve the stress of service, form a sense of community between children facing similar circumstances, and emphasize healthy coping, is built on a 370-acre plot in the Catskill Mountains of New York, with beachfront access and some of the most beautiful views in the region. Research was collected on the socio-emotional effects of service on the family unit and design elements that benefit the wellbeing of the user. This project aims to prove how a summer camp can be designed with architectural features that will specifically benefit military children and their families while fostering an environment that lends to resilient coping and togetherness. The goal of the design is to bring a community of service children together with hopes that they return to their families and their communities with a stronger sense of self and the ability to remain resilient through their unique struggles.

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