Wacker Chemical Corporation Promotes Safe Spaces For Graffiti
In celebration of National Graffiti Appreciation Day on October 14, Wacker Chemical Corporation launched an awareness campaign—“Graffiti: Creating Safe Spaces, Keeping It Out of Unwanted Places”—to support artistic expression while helping communities protect public assets.
In partnership with local municipalities like Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation and Pittsfield Township, the initiative encourages designated areas for graffiti and aims to reduce vandalism in neighborhoods, schools, and businesses. The initiative embraces graffiti as a powerful form of creative expression and seeks to strike a balance: celebrating art in the right places while protecting community assets in the wrong ones.
Graffiti cleanup costs U.S. communities an estimated $12 billion annually, according to the Department of Justice, placing a heavy burden on urban areas with limited budgets. From parks and playgrounds to bridges and transit systems, graffiti and illegal stickers drive up maintenance costs and contribute to perceptions of neglect. As cities look for cost-effective ways to protect public spaces, many are turning to advanced protective coatings that make graffiti easier and less expensive to remove.
Organizations interested in learning more about WACKER’s innovative graffiti removal technology are encouraged to attend a WACKER ACADEMY seminar, where product experts will share best practices, real-world applications, and tailored solutions for graffiti challenges. For more information on the seminar, email james.barnes@wacker.com with the subject line “GRAFFITI WEBINAR.”
Opening The Door To Camp: Expanding Access And Belonging For BIPOC Youth
By Phil Bouman, Founder of ESS Universal - HeavyDutyBunkBeds.com
Across the country, summer camps offer something truly special—spaces where young people develop independence, build friendships, and experience community. But for many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) youth, those opportunities remain out of reach.
Despite all the well-known benefits of camp, from building confidence to connecting with nature, BIPOC representation continues to lag. According to the American Camp Association, BIPOC youth are underrepresented by roughly 20 percentage points compared to their share of the national youth population.
For those who do attend, being part of a diverse and inclusive camp community can be life-changing. Camp isn’t only about games, cabins, or campfires—it’s about discovering your voice, feeling seen, and finding where you belong.
Why We Started The ESS Cares BIPOC Scholarship
At ESS Universal, we’ve always believed that business can be a force for good. Our company builds durable bunk beds for camps, shelters, and other organizations, but we also wanted to build something that lasted far beyond our products.
The idea for the ESS Cares BIPOC Scholarship Program came out of a conversation I had with the team at The Summer Camp Society about disparities in camp participation and the lack of representation among campers. That conversation stayed with me. As a family-owned business, we wanted to take action and create a way to help more youth experience the community, learning, and joy that camp provides.
Through ESS Cares, we support BIPOC youth ages 13 to 17 by covering up to $1,000 in camp tuition per child. It’s one small way we can help open doors that might otherwise stay closed.
As Caitlin Carroll, MSW, Director of Programs at Camp Holiday Trails, says, “This program has been a game-changer for so many of our families, and we are grateful for you all at Heavy Duty Bunk Beds.”
Stories Of Impact
One of my favorite parts of this work is hearing from scholarship recipients after their summer experiences.
Olivier, a recent ESS Cares Scholarship recipient, says about his time at Camp Onas, “Camp Onas really got me outside of my comfort zone. Camp taught me to just try to be myself and how no one really cares if you act silly or how you look. They also taught me that you should put others in front of you and how making a new friend can be a great thing. Thank you so much for helping my brother and I get to camp this summer.”
Reading Olivier’s words reminded me of why we started this program in the first place. When youth are given access to spaces of acceptance and growth, they thrive—socially, emotionally, and personally.
Building A More Inclusive Future
When children from all backgrounds have the opportunity to attend camp, it strengthens not only the individual but the entire community. Programs like ESS Cares exist to remind us that real change begins with awareness and the willingness to act.
I’m encouraging more camps to join us in supporting BIPOC youth. Becoming an ESS Cares Partner Camp is simple—just share the scholarship opportunity with families who may benefit and welcome scholarship recipients into your programs. Together, we can make sure more kids experience the magic of camp.
If you’d like to learn more about the ESS Cares BIPOC Scholarship or get involved, please visit heavydutybunkbeds.com/ess-cares or contact me directly at phil@essuniversal.com or 616-229-0597.
Because every child deserves the chance to belong and every community is stronger when they do.
New N.H. Trails Built For Sustainability And Community Benefit
Two towns in northern New Hampshire have expanded their outdoor recreation opportunities with newly constructed trails that emphasize sustainability, community access, and connectivity. The new trails, in Gorham and Franconia, reflect years of planning and partnership development between trail organizations, land managers, and the public.
The Northern Forest Center provided 51 percent of the $110,000 cost for the trails, using funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission, and also provided support throughout the projects.
In Gorham, the Coos Cycling Club and Gorham Land Company partnered to add approximately 1.5 miles of new trail that climbs from Gorham up toward the White Mountain National Forest and essentially looks like a lollipop. One section of the new trail will be open for bi-directional travel, while another will be optimized for downhill travel. The bi-directional side of the trail is now open, and the downhill section will be completed next spring.
Meanwhile, three partners in Franconia—Franconia Area NEMBA, the Town of Franconia, and the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust—have collaborated on a 0.9-mile, machine-built, bi-directional, adaptive-friendly trail in the Lawrence Town Forest.
Franconia NEMBA (a chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association) has a goal of creating an adaptive-friendly loop accessible from the Town of Franconia. This new trail, combined with work done several years ago on “Pebble Beach 2.0,” will help bring the group much closer to accomplishing that goal.
Additionally, Franconia NEMBA recognized the need for more trail diversity—having more options for beginner and intermediate riders—as well as the need for adaptive-friendly trails to help meet its goals of being a true community asset.
Real Life Adventures of Littleton, N.H., built Franconia’s new trail, which was scheduled to open in November.
These trails are two among dozens of recreation projects that the Northern Forest Center has helped communities undertake in the last few years with funding from NBRC, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, LL Bean, RK Mellon, and the Center’s own Northern Forest Fund.
Coos Cycling Club and Franconia NEMBA are both members of Bike Borderlands, a Center-led collaborative of 16 mountain biking trail networks that work together to provide great trail riding in Northern New England and southern Quebec, and to foster a shared sense of responsibility within the mountain biking community.
The Northern Forest Center is an innovation and investment partner serving the Northern Forest of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
Flying Horse Farms Raised $1M At Annual Campfire Event
Flying Horse Farms (FHF) is a medical specialty camp in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, that provides medically, physically, and emotionally safe camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families, completely free of charge.
Its annual Campfire event welcomed more than 600 guests to the Flying Horse Farms property on Friday, October 3, raising more than $1 million to support year-round programming. This was the most money ever raised by this event and the only time the organization has hit the $1M mark on the night it took place.
“Campfire is one night that makes every day at camp possible,” says Nichole E. Dunn, president and CEO of Flying Horse Farms. “For 15 years, camp has been good medicine for the families we serve. It’s been a place of belonging for every camper as they get the freedom to just be a kid here."
Funds raised at Campfire ensure that more kids and families can attend camp at no cost—experiencing joy, confidence, and community far beyond their diagnosis.
GOOD DESIGN® Award Honors Excel Dryer’s D|13 Integrated Sink System
Excel Dryer, Inc., inventor of the touchless, high-speed XLERATOR® Hand Dryer, announced The D|13 Integrated Sink System, featuring the XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer, was honored with a 2024 GOOD DESIGN® Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. As the world’s oldest and most prestigious program for design excellence, the GOOD DESIGN awards recognize products that embody innovation, sustainability, and transformative impact. Founded by designers and known for crafting high-end commercial restroom fixtures in close collaboration with architects, engineers, and clients, D|13 Group partnered with Excel Dryer to bring the award-winning system to life. This honor cements manufacturers D|13 Group and Excel Dryer as leaders in modern restroom design.
Learn more about Excel Dryer at exceldryer.com.
Field Notes
Otterbine Barebo, Inc., a global leader in aerating fountains and water quality management solutions, proudly announced the launch of its dedicated Field Service Team, comprised of Colin Buqueras (Field Service Manager) and Sean Claude (Field Service Coordinator).
Pictured: Buqueras & Claude
American Camp Association® announced Henry DeHart as its new chief executive officer.
American Heart Association announced several appointments to its Northeast Ohio Board: Grace Ayafor, MD as president; Zachary Goodson as chair; and Laura Kish and Holly Hogston, Esq. as new members.
Pictured: Ayafor, Goodson, Kish & Hogston
Calendar
January
13-15 The Northern New England Recreation & Parks Conference, Bartlett, N.H.—Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash; https://nnerpc.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
13-15 Mid America Pool & Spa Show, Indianapolis, Ind.—Lucas Oil Stadium; https://midampool.com
18-22 Sports Field Management Association Conference; Fort Worth, Texas—Fort Worth Convention Center; https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/conference/
21-23 Southeast Pool & Spa Show; Nashville, Tenn.—Music City Center; https://southeastshow.com
28 American Camp Association Micro Staffing Event, Virtual; https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/event/aca-staffing-summit
29-31 IAPD/IPRA Soaring To New Heights Conference, Chicago, Ill.—Hyatt Regency Chicago; https://www.ilparksconference.com
February
1-4 2026 OPRA Conference & Trade Show, Sandusky, Ohio—Kalahari Convention Center; https://www.opraonline.org/assnfe/ev.asp?ID=42
6-8 DSC Convention & Sporting Expo, Atlanta, Ga.—Georgia World Congress Center; https://www.biggame.org/convention/
13-16 PTR & PPR International Racquets Conference, Wesley Chapel, Fla.—Saddlebrook Resort; https://ptrtennis.org/irc-2026/
14-21 International Aquatics & Safety Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo.—The Broadmoor; https://site.pheedloop.com/event/AOAP2026/conferenceandexposition
March
20-22 h+h Cologne, Cologne, Germany; https://www.hh-cologne.com
24-27 PRPS Conference & Expo, Manheim, Penn.—Spooky Nook Sports; https://www.prpsconferenceandexpo.org