On every trip to our property, each boy specialized in one area of expertise.  Most seemed to enjoy swimming or boating.  Some looked forward to off-property trips.  Mark, though, of the Marion YMCA enjoyed exploring our forest land.

I often call our property the family farm even though the forest acreage far exceeded tha of the farm land.  Mark loved going off the logging trail as he was more interested in making his own trails.  He explored everything from ferns to trees and was especially interested in the birch trees on our beach front. 

On our wooded beachfront we had two small ponds that were only filled in the spring and early summer.  He explored them for frogs and minnows that might still be around.  He spent a lot of time at the Pointe and would be found swinging in an old tire we had attached to a tree. 

His favorite chore, of all things, was chopping wood for the campfires.  He was quite skilled at using the hatchet to the point where he designed some unique artistic designs starting off with a log.  Where other boys would spend their free time fishing or swimming, Mark designed various wood blocks for uses such as a chair for himself during campfires. 

It was a real joy to have Mark along for that particular trip.

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