Hoffman Estates Boys Club Winter Trip

this young man is Randy taking a walk at the Union League Boys Club camp in Salem Wisconsin. Randy was a member of my Hoffman Estates Boys Club. We were using the camp in January on one of our monthly trips there. On this trip we had some snow which made it fun hiking in the woods. Some of the boys actually camped outside by an open fire all night. Camp director Al Mackin showed the boys how to pack their sleeping bags with snow all around to keep them warmer. It was a great trip and Randy chose to sleep inside that night with several of the other boys and me. The next day we went sledding and had hot chocolate waiting for us after our fun. It was a great trip.

The ULBC 7- Course Meal

On an early winter trip to the Union League Boys Club Camp in Salem, Wisconsin, our Hoffman Estates Boys Club kids were treated to special fare prepared by Al Mackin and Danny Heisen. The rest of us largely spent the day outdoors to let Al and one of our own, Danny, prepare the special meal.

We hiked around the lake, played hound and the hare, and also did a scavenger hunt before returning to the main lodge for supper that evening. To our surprise a seven course meal awaited us. Most of our kids had never had such an eating experience but it began with an appetizer and moved into several more courses including dessert.

Danny later told me that it was an exciting experience for him as Al had asked for one volunteer to assist him that day. Our boys went to bed that evening with very full stomachs and an experience I’m sure they have never forgotten.

That weekend we had hoped for some snow to do some sledding on the ULBC hills but that never happened as there was only a dusting on the ground. However, the day we left, Sunday, by the time we got back to Hoffman Estates the television news recorded a two to three inch snowfall in Wisconsin.

They may not have got to go sledding but they did feast on that seven course meal with hearty appetites.

Day of the Storm

About a quarter mile behind the dining hall was the tent area of the Union League Boys Club Camp in Salem, Wisconsin where I served as a tent counselor along with Gordie Payne and Bob Reiser.

I was coming up from the main camp on my way back to the tent area when the director of the camp shouted, “There’s a storm brewing, Dave, better get the kids back into the main camp area”. I ran out to the tent area and just as I announced what the kids were to do the winds and storm hit and hit hard. Gordie, Bob, and I put all the kids in the center of the tents with mattresses and blankets covering them just in case the worst happened. The three of us were holding onto the tent poles as if they were a vibrator in the winds.

Within minutes the storm subsided but the skies were still dark. A decision was made to get into camp as soon as possible and all we encountered at that time was light rain. As the kids made it into the cabins the storm broke and the sky began to clear. I was the only one of the three counselors that picked up strep throat after all that. Had to endure two straight nights in the camp infirmiry.

Keith Hansel

Keith Hansel has been on more trips to Michigan than any other kid I’ve ever worked with. By his last trip there he knew our property almost as well as I did. Keith was not the hardest worker but whatever he did, he did good enough and those were his words. He loved our hammock nrar the point. His favorite activity was night hikes on our property because he knew it so well. He also like going to Ludington State Park for swimming in Lake Michigan. All the boys liked the sand dunes. Keith was an avid fisherman to especially for perch. His brother Kevin liked to fish too. Those were the good old days.

More of Four Winds Island

Currently, Four Winds Island is privately owned but could you imagine a resident camp on that island now? Of course it would have to be a primitive camp, and a small one to boot, but wouldn’t that be great? Can you imagine the old camp buildings being used again for kids? As I understand it none of the facilities on Four Winds Island are winterized but it could be used for summer.

Yes, a camp with limited facilities wouldn’t attract the number of kids that Camp Martin Johnson once did. Still an island summer camp does have possibilities. A swimming area could easily be put into place and the old ceremony campsite could be reopened.

Even a limited usage of the island would make for a great camp. Or even a two week wilderness camp with tents erected on the island. As I’ve said before, Big Bass Lake deserves a resident camp of some sort. I had always envisioned one on our old property before it, like Camp Martin Johnson, was sold. Maybe some day Four Winds Island will again be available for kids?

The ULBC One Day Counselor

One of our older boys by the name of Tim was given a high honor by being selected as a counselor in training at the Union League Camp in Salem, Wisconsin, and he was to join seven of our other club members that summer. The other members were there as campers for a one month session.

In the late afternoon ofthe first day Tim was there his mother called me at the Hoffman Estates Boys Club where I served as the Executive Director and told me that Tim wanted to come home already. Tim had taken it upon himself to boast to all the club members prior to going to camp about his counselor assignment. So after my club closed that day, I drove up to the camp which was about seventy miles away in southern Wisconsin.

As soon as I got there Tim demanded that we leave immediately. After a full days work and the drive I was quite tired and the camp director, Al Mackin, offered me a place to sleep that night. Well, Tim would have none of that so he began walking down the camp road heading for home to which Al picked him up and directed him back to the main lodge at the camp and gave him a good talking to. I informed Tim that we would leave camp about noon the next day.

Tim had trouble relating to the largely Hispanic kids at the camp, Our club was largely middle class white kids but we had an excellent relationship with the Union League Boys Club organization. In the morning I quizzed the other seven members that were there as campers asking if they also wanted to leave but they all said they were having a great time.

After a great breakfast, I took a quick row on League Lake before picking up Tim to take back to Hoffman Etates reminding him that he would be in for a rough time about all his bragging about being a counselor at camp to our other members since he only endured one day at camp. He still chose to leave so after bidding Al a fond farewell we headed back to Hoffman Estates.

Tim had been selected as a counselor during one of our many off season trips to the camp. He and Al had hit it off during those trips and Tim was ever so excited to be a counselor there but he found the work not to his liking. Al told me that was somewhat of a record as he had never before recalled a one day counselor.

That summer, Tim endured the ribbing by the other older members about his one day experience but it was all soon forgotten and things returned to normal.

How About Some Union League Camp Air-Condtioning

I understand that camp started this year on a rather hot note so maybe, just maybe, one day of air-conditioning might add to your pleasure? Yes, on hot days League Lake and the pool might provide you with a measure of refreshment, but what about your cottages? Or the mess hall?

My Hoffman Estates Boys Club kids got to experience the real cool stuff during winter time often. Then sledding took the place of swimming. Some of our boys even camped out all night near the lagoon by snow packing their sleeping bags aside a warm fire.

Al Mackin, on that trip, provided our boys with a seven-course meal that was outstanding.  One of our boys stayed with Al to prepare that meal while the rest of us hiked the forest around the lake and visited Tent City where I once worked as a counselor for the summer camp.

That same summer of that trip our boys got to attend summer camp with Union League Club boys and they hot a great time albeit without air-conditioning such as you find in our photograph.  But for one day this might feel real good after all those early camp days in the 90’s.

Hiking the Bloody Antler Trail

Hiking the Bloody Antler Trail can be adventurous. Notice how dark the trail is during the day. Can you even imagine how that same trail might be at night? Our boys club trips experienced that sandy road enroute to the grassy trail that led them just behind Bear Swamp.

From our property the trail was quite open for the first quarter mile before it moved into the heavy cover of trees. It would stay that way from what you find in the picture above through the grassy trail until we entered the Christmas Tree Farm. Pitch darkness was our constant companion. Flashlights were only used as needed as they tended to rob the vision of the kids.

On that particular trail no boy was ever more than ten feet from me as they huddled rather close together. On these hikes we once saw a deer and even a bear. The latter was from a distance at a place where there was an overlook. He seemed preoccupied with getting some honey out of a fallen tree that had become home to a nest of bees. That particular hike was during the day but the kids got some great close up’s with the binoculars.

The nightly Bloody Antler hike was looked on almost as much as the trip to the Haunted Island. Both were remembered far more than anything else on our trips to our farm.

Campfire Strawberries

 Here is a tasty concoction that is very easy to prepare at your next campfire. All you need to do is to stick a strawberry in marshmallow fluff and roasted over the campfire. The Taste is sumptuous beyond belief. You can also use this with blackberries and raspberries. Kids will love it because they get fruit along with their marshmallow. Try it out in your next camping trip. You won’t be sorry! You can even try it with Trail pack whipped cream. It sure makes for a nice change of pace.

Dangerous Breakwater

Most people don’t know how dangerous Lake Michigan can be in stormy seas. Here is a father and his little son about to get wet. They are nearly a quarter mile out into the lake on this breakwater. In times of high waves this is very dangerous as one can easily be swept over the breakwater with the dangerous waves that crash into it.

This wave is just what I am talking about. Now, I know some kids hate to get baths but this is ridiculous! I can make out the father but where is the sun as that wave crashed upon them? And what kind of father would risk his son’s life in those kinds of waves?

Well, at least dad grabbed the little guy as his light weight might have found him on the other side in Lake Michigan without this intervention. If they’re wearing shoes, they sure are wet ones now. Do you see how dangerous these breakwaters can be when the waves are high?

Here, dad is showing some real paternal love but perhaps on this day he should have stayed on shore and watched these waves from afar? He must be some kind of daredevil or something. Can you even imagine how scared this kid was during all this? Well, those that tempt these breakwaters are definately not wise. But for certain, “otherwise”.