Discovery World co-developed the camp with the World’s Greatest Hobby (WGH) organization (wgh.trains.com), a nonprofit educational program dedicated to model railroading. WGH sponsors include Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, Walthers, and Kalmbach Media. WGH members also donated structure kits, models, and books for the students to use at the camp and beyond.
The campers spent the early part of the week deciding what they’d include in their neighborhood. They then drew up a plan and got to work building structures. Although a couple of the campers were model railroaders, most didn’t have any experience with the hobby, but that didn’t stop them from having a lot of fun.
Visitors to the camp included civil engineers and professionals from heavy industry to provide some background on urban planning. Stacey Walthers-Naffah, WGH president and president of Wm. K. Walthers, gave a presentation about the model railroading hobby. Other members of the hobby industry provided hands-on instruction as the campers began building their neighborhood.
By the end of the week, the campers had finished a pair of 2 x 4-foot modules, including structures, track, and scenery. The culmination of the week was showing off the finished modules to their parents and other visitors. In addition, the campers’ work will be part of a larger modular railroad on display as part of the inaugural Trainfest Builders youth program at Trainfest on Nov. 9 and 10, 2019. See www.trainfest.com for more information.
If only urban planning and city development were so easy and quick. Great program to show young people how urban areas, residential, commercial and transportation fit and work together to make a prosperous and livable human space. Thanks