Salesian Center- 4

at one time this was the cadets game room. The club had three game rooms one for each age grouping the remaining two being for the juniors and seniors. The kids had ping pong, pool, bumper pool, air hockey, and shuffleboard. this was our swimming pool located on the third floor. It had an adjacent locker room. The one thing that always made me nervous was that instead of a diving board we had a mini Tramp to catapult you into the pool. I formed a water soccer team that was competitive and also a swim team that traveled to other boys clubs. Next time, the gymnasium and the running track.

The ULBC Camp Paddle Boat Fleet

I wish those paddle boats were at camp when I was there in 1970. This is a new docking area since I was there. I could evasion having relay races using those paddle boats for races around League Lake. And, since I used to take my guys around the lake on a hike each day before breakfast, the same leg action could have been accomplished with a paddle boat excursion around the shore each day.

I’ll bet those paddle boats are in high demand at camp even over kayaks and canoes. When I was there rowboats were my vehicle of choice. But I could just see me taking one of those paddle boats into the lagoon. It makes me wonder what other new things are up at camp? I know they have a tennis/basketball court there now and a new staff cottage.

I hope Tent City gets a make-over as well and is available for kids again on a rotating basis. What was taught out there by me and two other counselors were real camping skills. Still an occasional visit to the paddle boat area sure would have been in order for me as well!

Salesian Center- 3

this area was the ballroom on the second floor of the building. It was used for a variety of purposes. Twice a week Bingo was held here for the community to help support the Boys Club. It was also used for dances and parties. Once a year it was used for the boys club Awards dinner. Now that the building is up for sale this is how it looks now. But here is how it used to look. quite a difference wouldn’t you say?

Fall at the Bloody Antler Trail

This is the Bloody Antler Trail looking toward Big Bass Lake Road. Yet, its the other way that leads back into the Manistee National Forest which surrounded our property and Big Bass Lake itself. On this trip the Hoffman Estates Boys Club kids hiked the trail from our beach campground. Other times I would drive up and down these few hills and park the car just off the road down the grassy trail that led into the Manistee National Forest enroute to the tree farm.

On this trip, as we were hiking, I told the boys of a motorcycle rider that was on the very trail we now found ourselves. Yet he was intoxicated and only his twisted bike was found by the authorities. One could only surmise that he was cruising through the forest on this path and ran right into a black bear. That, of course, could help one to sober up quickly. No one ever found the man, only the bike. I think only that black bear has the answers to what became of the rider.

This hike was taken in the daytime and as we entered the tree farm area the kids separated for a brief scavenger hunt. The boys asked about the dirt road that bordered the tree farm and I said that road eventually came out on the Free Soil Road going one way and the other exited quite close to Seaman Lake.

On the way back to our property the boys were asking a whole lot of questions about that biker and speculating to their hearts content. I could only then grin and “bear” it.

One Night Trip To Beartrack

The Mishawaka Boys Club spent a one nighter at a primitive campsite known as Beartrack. It is located on the Little Manistee River. Our five boys fished, swam, had splash wars, and hiked for that day. For water, there was a water pump on site. We arrived in the area just before lunch.

We had a great time cooking our meals and had a fun campfire that night. I’m planning an afternoon outing there this fall. Great place!

Belly Buster Award at Big Bass Lake

Take a gander at the fellow at the top of this picture! Then check out th kids in the lake below! The water doesn’t look too deep where they are and the extent of his dive doesn’t appear to be too far from them. I can just envision the belly buster dive this guy is going to have and I wouldn’t want to be his stomach afterwards! Ouch!

Can you imagine the big red mark that will soon be appearing on his belly? Wow! Talk about a belly smacker! It will take several jars of lotion to offset that red mark. And when he hits the water, they’re sure won’t be a lot of depth for him to deal with. Maybe he’s a member of the Red Chest Tribe? If not, he soon WILL be!

Even if he’s attempting a cannonball, there isn’t much water below for that cannonball to land in! I just hope that this fellow has all his affairs in order and has his life insurance up to date!

The Hoffman Estates Boys Club Indoors Facility

This was the first club where I served as Executive Director. This club had a large games room with two pool tables, air hockey, and ping pong. On the ground floor was also a concession stand that opened up to the outside, a clubhouse room for various clubs, two restrooms, a furnace room, an indoor concession stand, and a library. The upstairs contained a gymnasium where floor hockey league games were played as well as basketball games. Paddleball was also played in the gym along with wrestling programs.This was our renovation on stairwell leading to the gym.

Just off the gym was a small room where a Broadcasting Club was formed that announced the floor hockey games over the club intercom and later also did the play by play for the exterior football and softball programs.

The library hosted educational activities plus our arts and crafts programs. Movies were also held in this room. In time, arts and crafts was moved to their own room just off the library which included work benches in a long and narrow room that also served for Torch Club meetings.