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McCall Outdoor Science School

The University of Idaho received a half million dollar grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This grant is intended to help with the hazard mitigation project in Ponderosa Park, located in McCall, Idaho. McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) was looking to make practical and aesthetic improvements on its campus, as well as display safety tips to the public about protecting their homes from forest fires. Improvements on sustainable practices for landscaping were also emphasized throughout the site.

These sustainable practices included plant life restoration in areas that have been eroded over the years. Primary and secondary pathways were designed to direct pedestrians throughout MOSS. The cabins received a variety of plant materials along with rock pavers taken from Brundage Mountain McCall. The outdoor classroom will give visiting students a chance to learn while being outdoors. The cook’s garden provides the kitchen with edible plants such as onion, strawberries and other berries that are native to the area. The demonstration garden displays a variety of plants, including different flowers, and a bioswale to catch the water from the lodge. The existing amphitheater, originally comprised solely of railroad ties, was improved both to increase safety and be more visually appealing. There was also a need for an updated master plan of the entire campus.

Other improvements such as the butterfly garden and redesign of the parking lot were also a priority. The bank of McCall Lake was planted with varieties of both roses and sumacs to help restore the steep hill and aid in the prevention of future erosion. Restoring the native grass and maintaining the turf will be an ongoing process on the campus. Members of this design team included Karen Oleson, Will Krahn and Virginia Lee Batha.

Status: Built
Location: McCall, ID, US
My Role: Landscape Technician
Additional Credits: Karen Oleson, Will Krahn and Virginia Lee Batha

The original map of the area was extremely outdated. MOSS wanted an updated map for brochures, which would display the pathways, parking lot, open grass areas, cabins, yurts, dining hall, and other buildings and elements. One of the main purposes of the updated map was to illustrate the designated parking areas, to keep people from parking anywhere they could find a spot, which is what had been going on in the past. I created this new map using a combination of hand graphics, AutoCAD, and Adobe Photoshop.

The cabins were in need of vegetation because much of the soil had been eroded. It was estimated that about 12 inches of soil has been lost other the years. In addition to erosion control, plants were needed to absorb rainfall from the roof. To change this we made improvements such as adding topsoil and laying down natural pavers collected from Brundage Mountain. The vegetation was planted with a couple feet between it and the cabin walls.

The outdoor classroom is an area for students to sit and learn from an instructor while being close to the lake and other outdoor surroundings. The purpose of the overhead structure is to provide relief from both sun and rain. Where the structure stands now was once a blank slate, which is where our team began. We started by laying down the foundation and building upward from there. Many native plants were also placed around the classroom, along with natural pavers. The benches were built from logs cut down in Ponderosa Park.

As mentioned before, the amphitheater was comprised solely of railroad ties. These railroad ties were not very comfortable to sit upon, so this site was rarely used. It was in desperate need of redesign. We tackled this problem by collecting large rocks from Brundage Mountain. These rocks were flat and were used to create the seating/retaining walls of the amphitheatre. The fire pit was also in need of improvement. Rocks from the same place were hand-picked individually, stacked upon one another, and joined together using concrete. The final element added was benches created from Ponderosa Park logs.

This garden is comprised of edible plants that are native the region. These plants include onions, strawberries and other types of berries. To tackle erosion issues in this area, we added a couple of feet of topsoil, along with bark. Benches were also placed or seating. Secondary pathways were set in place so people could walk along and view the plants.

Many years ago when MOSS first started, there were no direct pathways to carry people between different parts of the campus. People walked all other the place. Our job was to design primary pathways for people to walk along to connect all areas. Secondary pathways were created to allow people to walk around other areas to eliminate cow paths. Other concerns included making the pathways wide enough for snow plows and tractors during the winter and summer and emergency access to the lake.

This garden displays plants that are native to the region. This includes Idaho fescue and nootka rose. A bioswale was put in place to drain water in case of heavy rain. Natural pavers were laid down along with benches. Bark was also used to provide a soft ground surface. Much of the plants displayed here were picked up from the surrounding area, creating a seamless connection between the campus and the natural environment.