THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 29, Number 3 Thursday, January 24, 2013 Then… Camp Goodfellow During the early years of U.S. Steel’s development of Camp Goodfellow, it was a bare bones operation. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) Now… Dunes Learning Center Continued on Page 2 Modern air conditioned cabins that sleep four greet visitors to the Dunes Learning Center. (Photo by Rick A. Richards) THE Page 2 January 24, 2013 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. Camp Goodfellow by Rick A. Richards As she walks along a tree-lined road from the entrance of Dunes Learning Center to her offi ce about half a mile away, Sandi Weindling bubbles over with enthusiasm about the lives of thousands of young people touched by the programs hosted at the center. “Five thousand children a year come through here,” said Weindling, the director of marketing and development for Dunes Learning Center. “They come from across Indiana and from Illinois, Wiscon- sin, Chicago Public School, and private schools.” She said many of them arrive full of trepidation, but leave three days later brimming with confi - dence. The main lodge at Camp Goodfellow. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) lodge is shuttered and efforts are underway to re- store it; all that remains of the 10 platform tent lo- cations are concrete foundations. The stainless steel swimming pool is rusting away and the concrete tennis and shuffl eboard courts are in disrepair. But the grounds are full of modern, air condi- tioned cabins, said Weindling (each named for a native tree) and they sit in a semi-circle around a large, open grassy mall across from a modern lodge Campers stream through the gates of Camp Goodfellow at the beginning and cafeteria. of another session in the 1950s. As Camp Good Fellow, some 80 children of steel- (Photo provided by the National Park Service) workers at a time enjoyed week-long camping and The goal of Dunes Learning Center is to teach recreational activities along the shore of Lake children and their teachers about the outdoors and Michigan. Today, Dunes Learning Center hosts 80 that’s exactly where the learning takes place. “We youngsters at a time for three-day stays. don’t use a classroom. Why stay inside when you have all of this as your classroom?” said Weindling, spreading her arms wide to take in the sky, trees and land around her. Dunes Learning Center opened its doors in 1998 using the remnants of the former Camp Good Fel- low that opened July 20, 1941. It was built by U.S. Steel for its employees’ children and occupies 63 acres along the Little Calumet River. Today, Dunes Learning Center operates in con- junction with the Indiana Dunes National Lake- shore, which acquired the camp in 1976. Some of the original buildings from Camp Good Fellow are still standing, and are being used as of- Campers take part in Hobo Night in 1951. fi ces by the Dunes Learning Center. However, the (Photo provided by the National Park Service) THE January 24, 2013 Page 3 Come in NOW for a great haircut at a great price. Download our free app or visit greatclips.com. Campers take a hike at Camp Goodfellow sometime in the 1940s. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) When Camp Good Fellow opened during the early days of World War II, it consisted of an adminis- tration building, a caretaker’s house, 10 tent plat- forms, a washhouse, and dispensary. Don’t just get a cut, get your haircut. The interior of the lodge at Camp Goodfellow. The building is now shut- tered but is being considered for restoration. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) Shoppes of Michigan City 5244 South Franklin St. (In front of Lowe’s) (219) 879-8860 M-F 9-9, Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6 ANY HAIRCUT Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer. At participating area salons. $$6.9999 HURRY, EXPIRES: EXPIRES 00/00/13 2/28/13 CIN06DS 0 A post card from Camp Goodfellow in 1948. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) greatclips.com | salonjobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com Find us at Camp Goodfellow Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 January 24, 2013 Camp Goodfellow Continued from Page 3 Five years later, after the end of the war and an end to rationing, the camp was expanded to include a stainless steel swimming pool, a water fi ltration plant, pool house, four concrete tennis courts, three shuffl eboard courts, and a playground. Besides the children of U.S. Steel employees, Camp Good Fellow hosted the Gary Kiwanis Club, Chesterton Lions Club, Lake County Credit Union, Chicago Motor Club, the Gary University Club and other organizations. Meals are served in the spacious great hall of the lodge at Dunes Learn- ing Center. (Photo by Rick A. Richards) In the 1940s, six weeks of the eight-week summer program were reserved for white children; the other two were for African Americans. Weindling loves the history surrounding Dunes Learning Center and is proud of the fact that the re- maining buildings of Camp Good Fellow are either being used or stabilized for possible future restora- tion and use. “All of these buildings are historical buildings,” The stainless steel swimming pool built by U.S. Steel. said Weindling. “This is a great place to come and (Photo provided by the National Park Service) enjoy nature.” Today, Dunes Learning Center hosts fourth-, But more importantly, Weindling said she’s proud fi fth-, and sixth-graders and has programs that of the fact that children are still coming to the camp involve science, math, social studies and language to learn about the outdoors. For many of those chil- arts. There also are programs for Science Olympiad dren, she said, it will be their only opportunity to Team training, winter ecology and DuneSCOPES, enjoy that kind of experience. an award-winning interpretative program for high school students. Along with outdoor recreation, the staff of Camp Campers and camp counselors talk about Good Fellow emphasized sportsmanship, democrat- their experiences at Camp Goodfellow in a future ic living, etiquette and spirituality. Its “Indian Ap- Beacher article. preciation Program” stressed Native American lore, nature study, local history, and handicrafts and ex- amined the history of the tribes that called the re- gion home – the Potawatomi, Waubansee, Pontiac, Chekagou, and Shabbona. Art of the Valentine Sunday, February 3 • 2-3:30 p.m. Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. 2nd. St., Michigan City Vintage valentine collector and Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ Executive Director, Carolyn Saxton, shares the history of valentine art and presents her own extensive collection. Admission is $15 per person and includes pas- tries, tea sandwiches, and candy delights served by students of Ivy Tech Community College, Michigan City. A complimentary beverage will be provided with your admission. To RSVP or for more infor- Young African-American campers had an opportunity to experience life at mation, phone 219-874-4900 or e-mail artinfo@lu- Camp Goodfellow. (Photo provided by the National Park Service) beznikcenter.org THE January 24, 2013 Page 5 Micky Gallas Properties 123 (219) 874-7070 CRS T 1-800-680-9682 www.MickyGallasProperties.com Micky Gallas ABR, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES Cell 219/861-6012 We Make It Happen. You Make it Home! 2518 Oriole Trail • Long Beach 2913 Roslyn Trail • Long Beach $599,000 $294,000 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. A generous foyer opens to a combined living/ 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Beautiful refinished wood floors in living room, dining room complete with atrium, skylights & fireplace. Kitchen dining room & enclosed porch. Huge sunroom with two skylights. adjoins an equally large family room with eating area. Hardwood Living room with gas fireplace & is open to formal dining room. floors, custom tile foyer, professionally decorated. 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Very solid brick home located on golf land with out building in addition to pole barn. Great location near course with two car garage plus abundant parking in driveway. 94 & 239 as well as Four Winds Casino. Shirl Bacztub, GRI 219/874-5642 Susan Kelley*, CRS 312/622-7445 Daiva Mockaitis, GRI 219/670-0982 Barb Pinks 219/325-0006 Judi Donaldson, GRI 219/879-1411 Tina Kelly* 219/873-3680 Randy Novak*, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI Nancy Rusboldt, ABR, e-Pro, GRI, SFR 219/861-9407 Jamie Follmer 219/851-2164 Karen Kmiecik-Pavy, GRI 219/210-0494 219/877-7069 Pat Tym*, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES 219/210-0324 Jordan Gallas 219/861-3659 *Licensed in Indiana and Michigan THE Page 6 January 24, 2013 Mainstreet Theatre Presents First Friday Open Stage The Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) First Stage” gives the opportunity for the artist to per- Friday event of January 2013 was an Open Stage form new material in front of a live audience, meet hosted by Tim Rounds, local poet.