I was asked to be part of the judging of the King County Parks container camping structure competition.
Architecture firm, HyBrid, was recently named the winner of a competition sponsored by the King County Parks department to create a camping structure from re-purposed cargo containers. The 8’x24′ structure incorporates recycled glazing and mess kitchen and can accommodate up to 6 overnight guest. Funding is secured for the prototype unit and should be camp ready by Summer 2012.
Visitors to King County’s Tolt-MacDonald Park will be able to spend the night in a comfortable and ecologically sound camping structure – thanks to the creative vein tapped by King County Parks’ Little Footprint/Big Forest contest.
The challenge given to designers was to create an overnight camping structure from a used cargo shipping container that could be placed in select areas of King County Parks’ 26,000 acres of open space.
The winning design – selected from 12 entries by a panel of judges that included King County Executive Dow Constantine, plus architectural and sustainability experts.
“Re-Tain” features an adaptable floor plan complete with queen-sized bunk beds, a table that can be moved outside for more floor space inside, and a multi-purpose mess cabinet made from recycled and reclaimed materials that allows for use from inside and outside the structure.
See the winning design and other entries at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/partners/littlefootprint.aspx
“The contest provided us with an exciting and replicable design, and we hope to install these camping structures at appropriate sites within our open space areas,” said King County Parks Division Director Kevin Brown. “I want to thank the judges for their thoughtful analysis of all the entries.”
Design competition judges said they were impressed with the overall design concepts and the creative approach to the second use of storage containers.
“King County is home to wonderful parks and outdoor experiences, and the Little Footprint, Big Forest contest shows that we have the creativity to meet the challenge of preserving our environment and adopting sustainable practices,” said judge Andy Wappler.
And if you like baseball & live in Seattle, Forterra (formerly the Cascade Land Conservancy) and the Mariners are teaming up.
For every ticket purchased through mariners.com/forterra, the Mariners will plant a tree and donate $2 to Forterra! http://www.forterra.org/get_involved/knock_one_out_of_the_park_for_nature
International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Fleming College and the Royal Ontario Museum are teaming up with photographer/educator Neil Ever Osborne to offer a degree program in Environmental Visual Communications. This program is designed as a blend of environmental science skills and the ability to effectively communicate to a variety of audiences.
If you are passionate about our planet and want to develop your career in getting this message out visually and effectively, then explore this unique program.
Conservation photography has grown into a effective means of education and change. The work that is being done now to illuminate the concerns of our planet is being done by committed people that grew this idea out of the ground. Organizations like iLCP support this important work.
Watch this video to learn where these ideas come from and the people that are teaching us about the work we all share as stewards of the Earth.
Hard on the heels of REGARD SAUVAGE and ANIMAL ART comes WERELD NATUUR, Art’s first book translated into Dutch!
World Wildlife Fund of the Netherlands is now offering WERELD NATUUR as a donation premium, in celebration of their 50 year anniversary of saving wildlife around the world. Take a look inside the book and pledge your support today!
“Geef 44,95 euro of meer en ontvang dit boek Wereld natuur
Grandioze, kunstzinnige foto’s van een adembenemende schoonheid: Art Wolfe, onbetwist een van de beste natuurfotografen ter wereld, presenteert in ‘Wereldnatuur’ de 160 mooiste opnamen uit zijn carrière. Hij volgt het spoor van zijn reizen over alle continenten en biedt ons een blik op de mens achter de camera, op zijn ervaringen en op het leven in de wildernis. Een bijzondere ontmoeting met het dierenleven op aarde, in fantastische beelden vastgelegd. “
This is my personal invitation to enter the 2012 International Conservation Awards (ICP Awards), if you haven’t already. The deadline for this biennial competition is February 29, includes Leap Day this year. So you have only two more weeks to enter your best work.
I started this INVITATIONAL in 1997 with support of photographers and sponsors dedicated to conservation photography. AND I’m so proud that this wonderful program, with its success, has spun off into its own organization, with incredible support by the Burke Museum of History and Culture where a first-class, 5-month exhibit of selected images will take place this summer starting on June 30. The Burke exhibit will be followed by a national tour of the some of top images selected for the program.
Please visit the ICP Awards website for complete information and to enter: www.icpawards.com
An impressive collection of jurors is on hand to begin reviewing your submissions on March 1. Students, check out the Student Category. This 2012 program follows the huge success of the 2010 program in which there were record numbers of international participants and record numbers of visitors to the Burke Museum exhibit.
Want to know how Art Wolfe fell in love with nature and all its beauty. He simply got out there and appreciated what we have here in Washington State.
You can too, and here is how you can get out there this winter at little cost.
The start of winter officially begins in a couple days and here is a great opportunity to learn how to snowshoe and take some great winter photos at the same time.
The US Forest Service is offering several weekend day-hikes with a photography theme this winter at Snoqualmie Pass in 2012. For $20 you can sign-up and they will provide snowshoes and a guide and you will take off from 9:30am to 2:00pm. They will teach you ecology and snowshoeing while you glide through a winter wonderland of photo opportunities. Just bring your camera along.
The USFS also has other hikes of varying duration:
Interpretive 90-Minute Walk
Sat. Sun. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m.
Learn about winter ecosystem, wildlife and safety.
Group size 20
$10
Extended Half-Day Hikes
Fri. Sat. Sun. 9:30 a.m.
Experience Commonwealth Basin in the winter surrounded by the Cascade crest peaks.
Group size 10
$10
Winter Photography & Ecology Outings
Jan. 21, Feb. 4, 18, March 3, 17, 31, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Capture winter nature on film while learning about ecology.
Group size 6
$20
“Kids in the Snow”
Feb. 4-March 31, Sat. 1 p.m.
Earn a Junior Ranger Snow badge! Learn about tracking, crawl into a snow cave and check out a snow crystal with a magnifier.
Group size 20
$10
The 90-minute walk and extended snowshoe trips run Jan. 8-March 31, the winter photography and ecology outings Jan. 21-March 31 and the “Kids in the Snow” program Feb. 4-March 31. Make reservations at 509-852-1062 before Jan. 2; and 425-434-6111 afterwards. Trips for special events and school groups can also be scheduled. Meet 15 minutes early at the visitor’s center off I-90, exit 52 on Snoqualmie Pass.
