Suggestions for improvements of Base Camp

I looked around and didn't see an existing thread, so I am starting one.

Paul asked us in the 2019 PDC to give some suggestions on improvements. Observations while here that might make things a bit better for the next group.

Only a couple come to me at the moment.

1) Making the dish wash station a more ergonomic height. Currently with the tubs being used (Jocelyn did mention these were not the normal tubs) the tops are rather high and especially difficult for shorter people to reach over. Something a bit more easy to reach in and out of would likely make life a lot easier and better for all.

2) a flag that raises up (or other indicator) that is attached to the latching system of the Willow Feeder composting toilet door. Since this building is at the end of a path, having the ability to see if the space is occupied before walking up to the door could make for a much nicer experience for the person inside, as well as the person approaching to use.

At this point I don't have any other suggestions, but if something comes up I will post it. I also encourage others to post any suggestions they come up with.

A few ideas:

1.  It would be nice to have some method to gently open a water hydrant to fill water bottles near the shop.  The one by the berm shed is generally either off or 100 psi so it seems to waste water when filling water bottles.

2.  How about a path from the trail above the willow feeder down to the feeder?  If you're staying at the love shack or red cabin the walk is longer than you'd want.  I know you can climb down the old compost pile staircase but it's a bit rickety seeming.

3.  How about a trail from Arrakis up to the willow feeder to save car campers from a long journey

I think one more willow feeder stall would be very helpful when there are multiple people trying to use it during a short break.

Another idea,

People are making a shortcut coming down the hill, cutting the corner before getting to the Love Shack. Basically making straight down for the Pee Palace structure.

Embrace the switchback shortcuts that human traffic are making and put in a set of stairs linking the road sections.

Could do some rock steps, or quick and dirty logs runners and steps.

People will likely continue to try to short cut so finding a way to embrace the path they are choosing and make sure it doesn't cause excess erosion might be a good idea.

Based on my previous visit in October, putting on shoes/boots inside the front door of the FPH caused a bit of a road block and/or the door was open a bit letting heat out. Perhaps a bench on the porch which is covered in case there's rain, where 2-3 folks can sit at once and remove shoes, and the shoes are left outside under cover, would clear up the inside entryway?

I try to do a thing at events where I ask people to:

  A:  in 30 seconds, name something you like about the infrastructure

  B:  in 30 seconds, name something one thing about the infrastructure that could use improvement

I try to write down the suggestions that are new, and this year we got a lot of new stuff.

From the pdc:

- hand washing station near the dish washing station

- more natural light in the classroom

- more air flow in the classroom

- another willow feeder

- better chairs

- better fly control in willow bank
         o I think there are near zero flies, but there may have been one or two
         o I like the idea that augment the fan so that it goes up, over the roof
         o I think we need signage on the lids that say "put lid down when not in use!"

- move dish cleaning station closer to where the food is served

- let people know, before they arrive, that we have excellent drinking water

- better internet
          o we currently pay for 25 down, 3 up, but what we get is 5 down and 2 up.
          o i have contacted our provided to get prices on a custom internet solution featuring gigabit internet
          o the ATC improved our antenna that serves the classroom

- let people know, before they arrive, that we have good verizon connectivity

- more growies

- more shady bush pee spots

- provide sawdust for some of the most popular pee spots


from the atc:

- lower workbenches (or a collection of different size stools)

- mobile project carts (for certain tools or types of work)

- screen door on the classroom door
        o keeps the cat out, and lets in more air and light

- lots of "you are here" maps
        o with a focus of where the most interesting things are

- short (1 foot) hose on hydrants

- more lights on the showers, for late night showers

- hand washing station for when people have been working on super grimey stuff and want to clean their hands before eating

- ability to quickly move skiddable structures
        o I think that this would involve some rollers mounted on the sides of the beavertail trailer

- more places to discreetly pee outside

- padded classroom chairs

- another vise

- a proper anvil

- more labels for where tools go

- more porta-cabins.   Like maybe 20.
         o a big workshop where several cabins are built

- a proper well at the lab

- a broom in the big shower
         o people track sand in, and once they are clean, they are getting sand on the bottom of their feet
         o maybe we need a bit of a door mat just outside the shower?  Something good for bare feet?

An idea for the hydrants... for better control and more familiar to most people.
Adapt an additional valve (like a standard hose bib, or a ball valve) to have female garden-hose thread input, then attach your one-foot hose on the output.
Now, the hydrant can be FULL-ON, and then the add-on valve can be opened and closed to get water.

Or get one of those 2-way splitters with the valves (though I find the knobs are TOO SMALL), then you could still have a hose attached for projects/fire prevention, and have a port free for filling water bottles.

Suggestions from the 2023 PTJ:

-Larger cubbies (lockers) for people staying on lab or volcano to base down here a full day.

-Short post-lunch project choreography session
-Short evening post-dinner recap (both this and above would take pressure off morning choreography)
-Tighter morning infrastructure and schedule sessions. If we're done by 8.30 instead of 9, that's more morning project time.

-Long claw-grabbers to reach stuff.

-Put fans at apex of N and S classroom walls to pump hot air out/cool in.

-"Tesla valving" (passive check value) as use in flumes (anti back flow)

-Solar lights in showers

-Tripods with phone grippers

-A 3 week long workshop to finish all the cool, unfinished projects

-Pea gravel paths on common walkways

-Electro-culture experiments with control group: BS or real if done correctly

-Rocket 'retort' for bio char (soil amendment, structure strength?)

-The willow feeder in Arrakis needs signage (how to use the pooper/how to use the sink general shark week flyer)

-The bandaids in the first aid kit need dinosaurs or super heroes on them. Also workshop kit needs antiseptic ointment

-Project locations on blackboard (or printed large maps with pins)

-Coat rack in classroom and red cabin

-Paper easel (wood working project?)

-Notifications for events starting soon (group text?)