What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by opening a project centered on sustainability, environmental education, and stewardship of the Sonoran Desert?

CHASSE Building Team proudly joined community partners, educators, students, and supporters on Earth Day to celebrate the transformation of the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning. The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew hundreds of attendees and featured performances by Tucson Unified School District student musicians and mariachi groups, along with a community celebration catered by local favorite BK Tacos.

The event marked a major milestone for Camp Cooper, the first significant renovation of the site since 1962. In partnership with Tucson Unified School District, the University of Arizona, Swaim Architects, and the Camp Cooper team, CHASSE helped bring to life a multi-phase project designed to expand opportunities for outdoor learning and environmental education for Southern Arizona students.

Each year, Camp Cooper serves more than 3,000 students through field trips, day camps, overnight programs, classroom visits, and community events. For many students, particularly those attending Title I schools, Camp Cooper provides a rare opportunity to explore the outdoors, connect with nature, and experience the Sonoran Desert firsthand.

Phase 1 of the project focused on modernizing essential infrastructure while advancing Camp Cooper’s commitment to sustainability. CHASSE renovated an existing restroom facility to include new showers and a mechanical room and constructed a new self-composting restroom building powered by solar energy. Additional features include solar-powered exhaust fans, rainwater harvesting, and graywater systems. Together, these systems support Camp Cooper’s environmental mission while giving students a firsthand look at sustainable infrastructure in action.

Building on that foundation, Phase 2 introduced six new student cabins, increasing Camp Cooper’s overnight capacity to 72 students. The cabins were constructed using hemp block, a highly sustainable, carbon-negative building material that aligns with the center’s educational mission and environmental values.

Naturally resistant to pests, highly insulating, and well-suited to Southern Arizona’s climate, hemp block helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while reducing long-term energy demands. The project represents one of the largest hemp block building efforts of its kind in the United States, giving students the unique opportunity to learn about sustainability while staying in buildings that embody those principles.

The project also features vibrant murals by local artist Jessica Gonzales, whose work celebrates the beauty, culture, and ecology of the surrounding landscape. Together, the new facilities and artwork create an immersive environment that encourages curiosity, exploration, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

For Camp Cooper Director Colin Waite, who has dedicated more than 22 years to the program, the renovations represent an investment in future generations. “The average American child gets 6 minutes each day outside, while spending over 6 hours on screen,” said Waite. For many students, especially those growing up in urban environments, Camp Cooper provides a rare opportunity to step away from technology, immerse themselves in nature, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

CHASSE takes pride in being a leader in sustainable construction, with a proven track record of completing numerous sustainability-driven and LEED-certified projects. We’d love to collaborate on your next sustainability-focused project! Click here to contact our team.