Leelanau Outdoor Center expands ways to quietly serve

From staff reports

In spite of current restrictions, or perhaps because of them, the Leelanau Outdoor Center (LOC) never closed its doors, and has in fact been busier than ever during the last few months continuing to support the local community in new and expanded ways.

Widely known and recognized for work that is traditionally geared towards school groups, LOC’s mission is “to promote, through outdoor education, the discovery and development of positive character values that enrich everyday life”. When local mandates required that the typical school year be modified, LOC’s more customary spring season was obligated to shut down as well, but this is where the story gets good.

True to the mission and knowing that even in the most unusual circumstances there is always an opportunity to “enrich everyday life”, the LOC team was undaunted.

With a constant focus on benefiting students, “Virtual LOC” was created so that schools could continue to “attend” LOC even while safely sheltering in place. Virtual LOC consists of innovative online content, presenting outdoor education through new and exciting alternatives that include videos, interactive games and quizzes, all while continuing to promote LOC’s goals—do your best, be considerate, and have fun. 

“The videos have been informative, fun, and engaging,” said Nadine Elmgren, a first-third grade teacher at The Children’s House. “I appreciate how the spirit of LOC shines through in each of them with your inclusion of the three LOC goals. This has been the perfect way to end the year with something special, and to give the kids the LOC experience that we all treasure”.

True to these goals, even the LOC kitchen reached out to embrace the greater community as well, offering support in a variety of ways, living examples that were definitely enriching to everyday life and to many grateful recipients. 

Beneficiaries include Rapid City Food Bank (RCFB) and Step Up Northern Michigan that supports Traverse City High School. A combined total of approximately 250 full meals were prepared each week and given away for free to recipients throughout the spring season. 

At RCFB in particular, the cook who normally prepared meals was having physical problems which made LOC’s contributions more meaningful than ever. Because LOC meals were prepared and delivered free of charge, RCFB could continue offering meals in spite of the cook’s challenges, which fed approximately 100 each week.

Essential workers at local stores, post offices, markets, gas and auto maintenance shops, as well as first responders were also treated to LOC goodies. Continuing to do their jobs for the public’s benefit regardless of adverse conditions, employees received custom-made packages of home-made cookies, baked and delivered at no charge. According to Kyle Hayes at Northwoods Hardware, “the cookies were awesome, they made my day a little better with a nice sweet treat”.

Spring 2020 will definitely go down in the history books for a variety of reasons, and equally notable but less likely to make headlines are those organizations that have continued to make life better for the rest of us in spite of unprecedented times. Quietly supporting its community, LOC walks their talk in ongoing efforts to improve the lives not only for school groups but through expanded service to neighbors as well. Summed up in the words of one LOC recipient, Cathy O’Connor, president of Step Up Northern Michigan who said, “It is organizations like yours that keep me hopeful that there is good in the world!”