The design:SD charrette has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the work is over. Armed with ideas, dreams and sketches, the implementation period has officially begun. Before we begin working on a way to realize some of the visions you described, though, we need to take a minute to recap and debrief on what worked and what didn’t. Corsica was the first community in South Dakota to experience a design team visit, and we need your ideas on how we could make it better. We appreciate your thoughts!

Please take a minute or two to post a comment, or send us an email at rlc@rlcenter.net–you can also call us at (605) 772-5139.

Thanks so much!

Nine senior students from Corsica High School, accompanied by their English teacher Mrs. Eide, took a field trip last Wednesday to visit a few members of the design:SD team at work. The student have been working with the RLC and members of the design:SD team to prepare for the charrette on May 16-19. The field trip gave students an opportunity to see architects, construction workers, and planners in their natural environment!

The first stop on the trip was at TSP architecture firm in Sioux Falls (visit their website at www.teamtsp.com). The students learned about what architects do, what it takes to become an architect, and also about how architects must work with engineers, construction companies, and clients in order to do their work. After a tour of the office, the students visited a job site with Elizabeth (architect) and Marv (construction manager, pictured left below) from TSP.

On the way to Planning and Development District III, students caught a glimpse of one of the great examples of neighborhood design in Sioux Falls at McKennan Park. The houses are a showcase for how a neighborhood can look when you are intentional about creating a sense of community.

What would a field trip be without food? We stopped in Tea on our way to Planning and Development District III at the Pizza Ranch for lunch. A nap was had by most as we headed to Yankton with bellies full of chicken, pizza, and dessert pizza!

At our visit to District III (see their website at www.districtiii.org) we all learned what can be done with GIS mapping and GPS units. Eric and Harry from District III were kind enough to entertain us with videos of 3-D applications for GIS mapping as well as other examples of what GIS technology is being used for. Students learned how dispatch offices are using GIS mapping to locate emergencies and the fastest way to respond.

A big thanks to TSP and District III for taking time to teach about what they do! See more pictures of students on the field trip below!

Jim Beddow and I visited about the design:SD project with the Douglas County Commissioners in Armour yesterday morning. We talked about the regional impact the project can make, and particularly about transportation routes and Corsica Lake.

We also had lunch with leaders of the Armour Horizons project at the Blue Moon, and met with Nancy Barrick at the Conservation District. Nancy provided some great watershed maps for the team, and we signed her up for a presentation during the charrette. The Horizons team has done some great work in Armour, and we invited them to take part in design:SD too.

This may be a great opportunity to point something out–design:SD Project Corsica is not just about Corsica, SD!!The team will provide an outside look at the whole region, including all of Douglas County. There are many treasures and assets in Douglas County that don’t just belong to Corsica folks, so it’s great to get the Commissioners and the Armour Horizons program into the mix.

Thanks for the hospitality, Armour!

By the way, comments are always open and welcome. Just share your thoughts or ideas by clicking on “COMMENTS.”

Joe Bartmann, The Rural Learning Center

 Corsica high school senior students will be doing things a bit differently in the new year.  This senior class will be the first graduating class to complete an educational capstone experience called a Senior Project.  The project will be incorporated heavily in the English curriculum during the second semester.  Students will be researching the Corsica area, and developing products out of their research.

The Rural Learning Center is developing ways to effectively engage youth in rural communities, and will partner with the Corsica School District on the project.  The students will work with the Rural Learning Center throughout the semester. 

 The students will focus their research on three different academic tracks, including Community Design, Understanding Place, and Entrepreneurship.   All of the tracks encourage students to get out into the community and learn from the people who live and work in Corsica.

The RLC is excited to partner with the school district on this project!  If you would like to know more, send us an email!  You can see a detailed description of the tracks here.

Thanks,

Lindsey

We’ve made some improvements to the Storyboard. We’ve launched a new design, added a couple of “about” pages, and a page where you can view reports and documents along this journey. Visit any of these pages by clicking the tabs at the top. We’ve also made it easier to find Corsica’s Stopryboard. Now you can just go to www.corsicablog.com.

It’s easier to enter you comments now too. On any page on this blog, you can share your thoughts, opinions and ideas by typing in the “comments” box at the bottom of any page. Please let us know what you think!