A building becomes a gathering place

There was nothing wrong with the idea of a village lodge. The problem was that the old space wasn't living up to the idea.

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In 2016, Hazen completely reshaped the lodge serving one of its older villages, turning it into a more useful, welcoming space that could actually become part of campers' everyday lives.

Today, it isn't reserved for special occasions. Campers use it for drama productions. During Siesta and Beach Party, it can become a quieter place to hang out. At other times, tables fill with campers playing Magic: The Gathering tournaments.

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That's the kind of change The Next Ring is meant to create. The value of a camp building isn't measured by how impressive it looks when it's empty. It's measured by what kids do there when it's full.

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The Impact

Some of the most important spaces at camp are the ones that can become something different depending on what campers need that day.

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Spruce Lodge can be a stage for a drama production, a tournament space filled with campers playing Magic, or simply somewhere to spend time with friends during Siesta or Beach Party. That flexibility gives campers more ways to connect—and more choices in how they spend their time at camp.

That matters because community isn't built only during the biggest activities on the schedule. It's also built during the quieter, less structured parts of the day: sitting around a table, sharing an interest, watching friends perform, or finding a comfortable place to spend time together.

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The renovation gave the village more than a better building. It created another place for campers to find their people and make camp their own.