LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Many people you have heard of have been frequenters to Culver and the lake:  "BEN HUR" author Lew Wallace called Lake Maxinkuckee "the most beautiful place on earth." Chicago American Pulitzer prize winning novelist BOOTH TARKINGTON wrote part of "THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA" on the lake.  Meredith Nicholson was inspired in the early 20th century to write THE HOUSE OF A THOUSAND CANDLES - the best selling novel of 1906 in the US while staying on the east shore.
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY frequented the lake and wrote a poem "LIFE AT THE LAKE" in tribute to it.
COLE PORTER, legendary composer, spent summers of his youth on the east shore playing piano to the rhythm of Maxinkuckee steamboats.
KURT VONNEGUT JR.,  author of SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, came from a line of Vonneguts who first moved here circa 1889, eventually populating a number of the cottages on the east shore.  Kurt made repeated references to the lake in his novels, especially SLAPSTICK and spoke eloquently of its impact on his young life in an article in ARCHITEDTURAL DIGEST magazine, calling it his AEGEAN SEA.

fun facts about a special place

 

Bringing in the boats at end of class - always a summery sight.

 

 

 

Heading to an International Seminar - Upper Campers speak 10-12 minutes about their country to get points toward their medals.  We do this two nights a week for a couple hours.  Those coming to listen take a quiz after each one and for every three they pass they also get a point.  A wonderful way to learn about others and their cultures.

 

My first art journaling class of the summer- three from Jordan, one from China, and one from Colombia.  They were wonderful - one girl has a grandmother who has a room with 10 times the amount of materials I do, and another got good grades this year and her mother is having a cottage built in their backyard for her to do art/crafts.  Both from Jordan.  The 2nd 3 weeks the 3 from Jordan are back along with 8 others including two boys.  Great fun - they come in and hate to leave - very meditative and relaxing - and dear.  It has nothing to do with my position - I teach it because I (and they) love it!

 

The chapel - you can see a wedding party on the right - while I was taking this picture one of young boys in the wedding ran down to ask if I would take bride on golf cart down to the lake as the wedding party was going to board a pontoon with ribbons and balloons festooning it to go to home of groom who lived on the lake.  The had all stayed behind after the ceremony for pictures.  My battery on camera was out of energy so no picture of her - cute story - cute people.

 

 

 

one of many memorials on campus

 

Thirty of the internationals volunteered to carry their country's flag in the town's parade for their annual Lakefest Days.  They are always very proud and it is wonderfully colorful and last year we even got the MARCHING TROPHY.  Just a fun activity - daughter Lara is in picture on left - we both walked 5 miles that day getting everything organized, getting to the bus, walking entire parade with campers, etc. - and it was HUMID - but fun.  We always treat them to an ice-cold root beer at the ORIGINAL ROOT BEER STAND at the end.

 

This was the entry behind us in the parade - too funny.

These were some of the 40-50 TROOPERS followed by the 18 or so GIRLS on horses - they always look wonderful.

That's all for today - just one week left after this one.  Daughter Kelly from Colorado comes tomorrow - that will be a great treat.  Take care, Nancy Lou

MY 2013 SUMMER AT CULVER SUMMER CAMP

GREETINGS FROM HOT AND RAINY AND STORMY CULVER!!!

 

This is the Culver Eagle in front of the Huffington Library - I know Michael H. went to Culver but I do not think Adriana, his now ex-wife, did.  The library is only ten or so years old but they are planning how else to use it since the winter and summer students now have books available on their electronic devices.  Interesting.

 

This shows a portion of the gymnasium revamped by George Steinbrenner who attended Culver as did his daughters.  Teeny reminiscent of Florence??

Scene outside my motel room where I am housed all summer.  She had 14 ducklings 5 weeks ago and she still has 14 - AMAZING.  The number in past years has dwindled over the summer.  THEY ARE SO DEAR.

 

And here are the Canadian geese who now have some goslings to add to the mix.

AND

in the background is the camp's R.H.LEDBETTER - the 3-masted, fully-rigged, square rigger ship - that takes the band around the EAST SHORE for a MOONLIGHT SERENADE followed by the WEST SHORE the following night.  The campers take a class and then compete to be on the crew that rigs and sails it out on the lake

 

It is a great place.  I have been here 24 years - as COUNSELOR, ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR, TUXIS ASSISTANT(one way to earn points for a medal), STUDENT LIFE DIRECTOR, CO-STUDENT LIFE DIRECTOR, AND then the past 7 years a newly-created position - COORDINATOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND STAFF. We always have 35+ countries represented on WOODCRAFT AND UPPER CAMP campuses during the summer.

 

THIS IS MY FIRST BLOG - I THINK I LIKE IT - ENJOY

 

Nancy Lou