North Star Reach

You can count on Don Sanford like the sunrise.  His dedication to North Star Reach is seen in many ways, but none as evident as out at camp.  Working behind the scenes is not as glamorous as other roles, but it sure makes a difference.  His skills and expertise have single-handedly removed the fallen trees from blocking the road, fixed the leaking roofs and broken windows, beautifully maintained the grass and grounds, plowed snow and helped to re-establish the beach area.  Don has made it a personal mission to maintain the property and facilities at camp and eagerly awaits the construction phase.

 About three years ago Doug Armstrong and I were at a conference together for Haz-Mat response teams. Doug was telling me about a camp he was building near Pinckney. It turned out I knew the camp property, I had been there with my family when I was a kid. Well talking about the camp brought back a lot of memories of the great times we had out there, and I thought it would be great to help give some other kids those memories.

When my family was out at camp it was from about 1962-70. It was a three or four day weekend with a group of families that belonged to the same Square Dance club that my mom and dad did. Somehow the club rented the camp from U of M and about twenty families got together out there for the weekend. It was great because us kids could play in the woods, swim and canoe in the lakes and dance with our parents in the dining hall. The old dining hall was a lodge style building with wood floors and huge fire places. We ate together there, everyone helped out with cooking of the different meals. Then the meal was cleared away and cleaned up, the tables moved and the fun began! Well between the dancing, playing in the woods and of course the campfires the families all grew closer together, and us kids created a whole new group of friends.

This is what I hope can be created by the kids who come to North Star Reach. I volunteer my time and equipment because I have seen what kind of magic that camp can create and want the kids who have many more challenges in life than I ever thought of to have a chance to see that magic. To be able to go into the woods and see a deer or turkey. To learn about different trees, plants and bugs. To look into the dark night sky and see stars that they can’t see at home because there are too many street lights. Or just to get away from the hospital and drudgery of being homebound because the cost of care eats up any hope of a vacation.

I have donated time, fuel and replacement parts for my equipment (including flat tire repair on my trailers, tractor and mower).  My endless case of poison ivy and some other interesting allergic reactions sometimes lead to frustration because the camp isn’t built yet.  Then when I am on my mower or walking a path I look at the grounds and think about what the camp was and what it will be again.  I realize the camp doesn’t owe me anything and I owe the camp for the wonderful memories it gave me and the special memories it will give generations to come. That’s why I volunteer at camp.