As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students explored alternatives and made recommendations to reduce contaminants in the source water that serves Camp Courageous. 

Camp Courageous is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides year-round recreational and respite care opportunities for individuals with special needs. Camp Courageous offers a variety of services including week long camp sessions, respite care weekends, winter camper care, family camp sessions, outdoor education sessions, and Courageous Travels. The camp operates primarily on donations without government assistance, formal sponsorship, or paid fundraisers. On an annual basis, Camp Courageous serves thousands of individuals with special needs ranging in age from 1 to 105.

The purpose of this project was to assist Camp Courageous in developing the best short- and long- term strategies for providing high quality potable water to staff, campers, and families. The team worked with Camp Courageous, the Iowa DNR, and Rebecca Ohrtman Water Quality Consulting L.L.C., to amend the scope of work to include a Potable Water Master Plan that explores the best short- and long-term strategies for Camp Courageous. This plan includes recommendations on providing educational materials for local farmers, getting the wellhead casings inspected, and options for a centralized water treatment system that could accommodate an increase in camper attendance.