The terms "engineering," "architecture," and "surveying," as well as the professions themselves, have been thought to be interchangeable. In fact, it has come as a surprise to a number of our clients that there is a difference. When seeking guidance on the future of camp development, it's critical to thoroughly understand what these disciplines provide, in what ways they overlap, and how they are distinct from each other.

Before we begin, some clarifications are in order. First, we have a bias because we are engineers. Generally speaking, we see camps as small towns with all of the requisite infrastructure of a small town--roads, water supply, sewage disposal, and recreational areas. As we'll see later, this is why municipalities have "Town Engineers." Next, bear in mind that all design professionals should be consultants, but that the reverse is not necessarily so. The company that sells equipment, supplies, and chemicals for the pool will gladly assist you with certain issues for your pool--selecting a disinfectant or even a filtration system (from their list of suppliers). So in that regard, they can be considered consultants. The design professional, however, is licensed by your state to provide your organization with specific, timely, and complete assistance to manage your facility, present or projected. You should receive advice, guidance, or designs that represent the professional's very best efforts to accommodate your needs and desires while complying with the regulations and codes governing their discipline.