Discussion: Univ of Michigan O-contacts, history, background
in: Orienteering; General
May 23, 2013 2:19 AM
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I'm a grad student at U of M and I'm looking into making some contacts at the university for getting event land use access so SMOC can do a sprint course over on north campus area or on some U of M land elsewhere. I think I have a good plan and the right person in mind to talk with about getting this approved, but before I start knocking on doors I wanted to check here and see if anyone has any previous contacts, experience, history, background info on any orienteering events that have been held at U of M in the past, even if it was in the very far past. Absent any inputs I'm looking at reaching out to SNRE since they handle the GIS training at U of M and I'm a GIS-er, but any background info, pointers or contacts you might have might be even better. Many thanks!
May 23, 2013 10:10 AM
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SMOC had an active Finnish orienteer named Juha Heinonen who taught at UofM I believe. Unfortunately Juha died a couple of years ago. But I would guess that he might have done some mapping on UofM land.
Why not contact SMOC, particularly longtime SMOC-ers Roddy Wares or Allen Newman to see if they inherited any UofM maps? I don't believe they are on a/p, but I have a couple of telephone numbers for them which I can email to you.
Why not contact SMOC, particularly longtime SMOC-ers Roddy Wares or Allen Newman to see if they inherited any UofM maps? I don't believe they are on a/p, but I have a couple of telephone numbers for them which I can email to you.
May 23, 2013 12:44 PM
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AliC:
Woo, would be great if you could get access Vector! I have no idea of history though, being new to the area and not even all that local =)
May 23, 2013 1:00 PM
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Orienteering at U of M started in 1980 when I was there as a graduate student in Exercise Physiology. I had read about the sport in Bjorn Kjellstrom's book and thought it sounded like something that would combine my love of maps, the outdoors and exercise, so I decided to start a club at the university. I contacted my Advisor, Rod Grambeau (now deceased), who located the USOF and some information to get started. We learned that there was a map in Michigan at Yankee Springs (from 1974, I think) and that an event or two had happened on that map through a club called Grazoo (Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, I think.) We also learned that there would be a national event through USOF in the spring at Yellowwood near Bloomington, IN, so I decided to organize a club, gather interested individuals and see if I could get some momentum going for the sport. (You are correct in deducing that I hadn't tried it yet, but I was certain it was just a matter of time and gaining experience.)
I started the club through the University's clubs system and announced the first meeting both on campus and around town. The first meeting, held in CCRB, brought out about 15 people, including some ROTC members (and an instructor, I think), some students, and the Newmans (Chuck and Al), I think. I had ordered a movie about the sport, explained what it was, and tried to get people to venture down to IN for that event. The ROTC was a crucial player because they had made a B&W map of the Arboretum, were teaching map and compass, and had the interest and resources to travel to Bloomington. They arranged a van and about 8 or 9 people drove 7 hours to our first event a few weeks later. For me, it was a pivotal trip because I discovered that the feeling of running through the forest, on a map, and seeing other people running every which way around me, was the greatest thing ever. I was on a yellow course and knew then that I'd be orienteering for the rest of my life.
That got us started. Sparing you all the minutiae, we had regular meetings where we used the Arboretum map. We worked with the ROTC and got a map made of Stinchfield Woods (owned by UofM, I think), near the Pinckney Recreation Area (I'm fuzzy on those details), and began holding events and composing a newsletter. We also changed the name early on to the Ann Arbor Orienteering Club to attract more community members.
The club grew slowly over the next couple of years with the Newmans (Chuck, Al, and Roddy) and a few others being active members. We held several local events over the next few years.
The most significant change in the club's development came when Tom Hollowell, Sr., and his family, moved to Jackson, MI after spending some years in Norway where Tom worked and he and his family took up orienteering. When he came on the scene, the pace of development increased rapidly. Tom had the experience the rest of us did not, and in no time, he spearheaded the making of more maps, he got southern Michigan to be a stop on a Scandinavian O tour, and he rallied the troops to conduct our first A meet. He also suggested that we become the Southern Michigan O Club so as to embrace people from around that part of the state who were becoming active. Soon, a date was set to hold our first A meet, I think at Silver Lake (a U.S. Championship?), though I'm fuzzy on that, too. I had finished grad school by then was not very involved in the A meet prep, either because I was traveling abroad or because I had accepted a job in Dallas, TX, and moved. Not sure on those details either, right now.
So, you're fortunate that the Newmans and Tom Hollowell are both still in MI and can probably provide more info. I can dig into my own files and see what I have. Basically, the U was supportive of us as a club, but it was the people from the community who made things happen.
Good luck with getting permission and developing the sport on campus. North campus might make a great place for a sprint. The last time I was there, (my family still lives in MI) there were several new buildings, some great landscaping offering courtyards, passageways, topography, and point features (sculptures, etc.), and enough pockets of woods to change it up along the way.
For what it's worth, my name was Mary Jo Catterall at the time. If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to ask. The best way to reach me is via email. Best wishes.
I started the club through the University's clubs system and announced the first meeting both on campus and around town. The first meeting, held in CCRB, brought out about 15 people, including some ROTC members (and an instructor, I think), some students, and the Newmans (Chuck and Al), I think. I had ordered a movie about the sport, explained what it was, and tried to get people to venture down to IN for that event. The ROTC was a crucial player because they had made a B&W map of the Arboretum, were teaching map and compass, and had the interest and resources to travel to Bloomington. They arranged a van and about 8 or 9 people drove 7 hours to our first event a few weeks later. For me, it was a pivotal trip because I discovered that the feeling of running through the forest, on a map, and seeing other people running every which way around me, was the greatest thing ever. I was on a yellow course and knew then that I'd be orienteering for the rest of my life.
That got us started. Sparing you all the minutiae, we had regular meetings where we used the Arboretum map. We worked with the ROTC and got a map made of Stinchfield Woods (owned by UofM, I think), near the Pinckney Recreation Area (I'm fuzzy on those details), and began holding events and composing a newsletter. We also changed the name early on to the Ann Arbor Orienteering Club to attract more community members.
The club grew slowly over the next couple of years with the Newmans (Chuck, Al, and Roddy) and a few others being active members. We held several local events over the next few years.
The most significant change in the club's development came when Tom Hollowell, Sr., and his family, moved to Jackson, MI after spending some years in Norway where Tom worked and he and his family took up orienteering. When he came on the scene, the pace of development increased rapidly. Tom had the experience the rest of us did not, and in no time, he spearheaded the making of more maps, he got southern Michigan to be a stop on a Scandinavian O tour, and he rallied the troops to conduct our first A meet. He also suggested that we become the Southern Michigan O Club so as to embrace people from around that part of the state who were becoming active. Soon, a date was set to hold our first A meet, I think at Silver Lake (a U.S. Championship?), though I'm fuzzy on that, too. I had finished grad school by then was not very involved in the A meet prep, either because I was traveling abroad or because I had accepted a job in Dallas, TX, and moved. Not sure on those details either, right now.
So, you're fortunate that the Newmans and Tom Hollowell are both still in MI and can probably provide more info. I can dig into my own files and see what I have. Basically, the U was supportive of us as a club, but it was the people from the community who made things happen.
Good luck with getting permission and developing the sport on campus. North campus might make a great place for a sprint. The last time I was there, (my family still lives in MI) there were several new buildings, some great landscaping offering courtyards, passageways, topography, and point features (sculptures, etc.), and enough pockets of woods to change it up along the way.
For what it's worth, my name was Mary Jo Catterall at the time. If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to ask. The best way to reach me is via email. Best wishes.
May 23, 2013 2:16 PM
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Vector, you may want to find out how to renew (or start again?) the student club at Uof M. We (Orienteer Kansas) are resgistered as a student club at KU. It's been very helpful , even necessary, to get permission to hold events on campus.
I would follow up on MJ's suggestion to talk with ROTC folks. You also might want to contact the Geography dept. At KU, they are very involved in making campus maps, and many of our members got their start in that department (notably peggyd)
I would follow up on MJ's suggestion to talk with ROTC folks. You also might want to contact the Geography dept. At KU, they are very involved in making campus maps, and many of our members got their start in that department (notably peggyd)
May 23, 2013 2:21 PM
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Thanks everyone, and Mary Jo, huge thanks for all that context info!! This is extremely valuable to me. In fact I don't how I overlooked ROTC being a military guy but you reminded me I should reach out to them too. I'm sure they will be all over it as I certainly was as a cadet. I also sent an inquiry out to our SMOC group as you suggested, Clark. We'll see what comes of it, no promises at the moment.
May 23, 2013 2:29 PM
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Well, Thank you, Neil. Like most orienteers, it quickly became an obsession.
Vector's request prompted me to dig into my orienteering file cabinet where I found some of the original documents from AAOC and SMOC. I can remember sitting at my old Smith-Corona electric typewriter in my campus office composing newsletters and making meet announcement post cards, samples of which are in the file. Reviewing them just now refreshed my memory about the other people and activities that contributed to the development of the club. Names like Julie Weeks, Preben Alsholm, Kirby Milton, John Laage (ROTC), an early set of By-Laws, the original USOC club affiliation certificate, articles from local and regional newspapers, original maps and old newsletters make up the files. There was even an early newsletter from the Jackson O Club/SM (Tom Hollowell, pres.) with a request for donations to support the U.S. Orienteering Team for the World Champs in 1983 in Hungary. That team included Carl Childs who I hadn't met yet! It also included Eric Weyman, Mikell Platt, Tom Hollowell, Jr., and Steve Tarry with Coach Peter Gagarin.
Anyway, I feel like I should scan/copy this stuff for SMOC, so Vector, please let me know if anyone there is keeper of the archives and we can figure out what to do with all of it.
Vector's request prompted me to dig into my orienteering file cabinet where I found some of the original documents from AAOC and SMOC. I can remember sitting at my old Smith-Corona electric typewriter in my campus office composing newsletters and making meet announcement post cards, samples of which are in the file. Reviewing them just now refreshed my memory about the other people and activities that contributed to the development of the club. Names like Julie Weeks, Preben Alsholm, Kirby Milton, John Laage (ROTC), an early set of By-Laws, the original USOC club affiliation certificate, articles from local and regional newspapers, original maps and old newsletters make up the files. There was even an early newsletter from the Jackson O Club/SM (Tom Hollowell, pres.) with a request for donations to support the U.S. Orienteering Team for the World Champs in 1983 in Hungary. That team included Carl Childs who I hadn't met yet! It also included Eric Weyman, Mikell Platt, Tom Hollowell, Jr., and Steve Tarry with Coach Peter Gagarin.
Anyway, I feel like I should scan/copy this stuff for SMOC, so Vector, please let me know if anyone there is keeper of the archives and we can figure out what to do with all of it.
May 23, 2013 2:30 PM
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maprunner- I've been considering that possibility as well (campus club within the SMOC club). As for Geography... let's just say as a geographer I wish U of M had a geography club. :) Its a long story how that happened and where things are at now, but the SNRE is the dep't that most closely resembles a geography dep't at U of M and I'm definitely planning on reaching out to them. I now know who I'm coming to if the campus club route looks promising, good to know it is something that is working out well for you!
May 23, 2013 2:40 PM
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Your SNRE connection reminds me that there are some other possibilities for University lands that you might want to consider. I spent a couple of summers at the U of M Biological Station at Douglas Lake before I started orienteering, and later realized that their vast acreage had lots of potential for mapped sites. I made a small map of the campus on Douglas Lake years later, but never put on an event. I have stayed in touch with some of my colleagues from the Bio Station and I think they would be receptive to orienteering there--it's just a bit far away.
Also, there was a guy named Lou Borie from SNRE who orienteered and who also spent time at the UM Forestry Camp in the UP. He now lives in the next town over from me here in VT. I can't remember the name of the camp now, but perhaps that's something you could look into if it aligns with your goals.
Also, there was a guy named Lou Borie from SNRE who orienteered and who also spent time at the UM Forestry Camp in the UP. He now lives in the next town over from me here in VT. I can't remember the name of the camp now, but perhaps that's something you could look into if it aligns with your goals.
May 23, 2013 5:19 PM
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What a fascinating series of recollections! Keep them coming!
My only connection to Michigan Orienteering was participating in the 1976 US Champs at Barry State Game Area on a 1:20,000 map. We trained on the Yankee Springs map. Louie and Lina Van Staveren were instrumental in making that event a success.
My only connection to Michigan Orienteering was participating in the 1976 US Champs at Barry State Game Area on a 1:20,000 map. We trained on the Yankee Springs map. Louie and Lina Van Staveren were instrumental in making that event a success.
May 23, 2013 6:54 PM
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bubo:
I visited SMOC-land in 1984 - travelling with Kirby Milton (mentioned above). We were driving a VW van from New York to LA and back (to Lansing) following the Swedish Tour that had O meets*) organized across the whole USA.
Meets in Michigan were at Portage Lake and a park event at the Cascades in Jackson. The Hollowell´s were heavily involved in those days and I still run into Tom H. Jr off and on since he´s been living in Sweden for a number of years.
*) The whole Tour:
1) Central Park, NYC
2) Silver Mine, NY
3) Durand Eastman Park, Rochester, NY
4) Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY
5) Brock University, St.Catherines, Ont.
6) Cascades, Jackson, MI
7) Portage Lake, Chelsea, MI
8) Palos North, Chicago, IL
9) Forest Park, St.Louis, MO
10) Slough Creek, Perry Lak, KS
11) Devil´s Thumb, Boulder, CO
12) Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO
13) Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM
14-16) Mount Laguna, CA
17-18) Joseph D. Grant Park, CA
(the final races in California were part of the California 5-Days)
Phew, that was some hot summer...
Meets in Michigan were at Portage Lake and a park event at the Cascades in Jackson. The Hollowell´s were heavily involved in those days and I still run into Tom H. Jr off and on since he´s been living in Sweden for a number of years.
*) The whole Tour:
1) Central Park, NYC
2) Silver Mine, NY
3) Durand Eastman Park, Rochester, NY
4) Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY
5) Brock University, St.Catherines, Ont.
6) Cascades, Jackson, MI
7) Portage Lake, Chelsea, MI
8) Palos North, Chicago, IL
9) Forest Park, St.Louis, MO
10) Slough Creek, Perry Lak, KS
11) Devil´s Thumb, Boulder, CO
12) Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO
13) Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM
14-16) Mount Laguna, CA
17-18) Joseph D. Grant Park, CA
(the final races in California were part of the California 5-Days)
Phew, that was some hot summer...
May 23, 2013 7:50 PM
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While I don't have a copy of the original Arboretum O map I do have a base map of the Arb and the surrounding area that I'd be happy to share. SMOC does use the University's Peach Mountain property regularly.
May 24, 2013 12:03 AM
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Hey, Chuck! You're on AP! Glad to hear you have a base map of the Arb. I have an old B&W map, but it's pretty awful. I suspect your basemap is better even without field checking.
It's fun to see more names, like the Van Staverens. Was Bud Fish one of the early organizers of Grazoo? I never did meet him. I'm also enjoying being reminded of the event at the Cascades. Did we have a night-O there when the lights were on and the music was playing? I can remember that, but am not sure if it was an O event or just a visit.
Bubo, are you still in touch with Kirby? What an amazing tour that was. Someone should resurrect such a tour again. I seem to recall that it was a Swede who organized it. The event at the Cascades was my first mass start. I was so nervous that I did not orient my map correctly and when the start bell went off, I did a 180 for about 50 meters before I realized that no one else was going my way. It was so embarrassing.
It's fun to see more names, like the Van Staverens. Was Bud Fish one of the early organizers of Grazoo? I never did meet him. I'm also enjoying being reminded of the event at the Cascades. Did we have a night-O there when the lights were on and the music was playing? I can remember that, but am not sure if it was an O event or just a visit.
Bubo, are you still in touch with Kirby? What an amazing tour that was. Someone should resurrect such a tour again. I seem to recall that it was a Swede who organized it. The event at the Cascades was my first mass start. I was so nervous that I did not orient my map correctly and when the start bell went off, I did a 180 for about 50 meters before I realized that no one else was going my way. It was so embarrassing.
May 24, 2013 12:05 AM
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Gord, I didn't realize you went THAT far back. I hope you have noted your recollections somewhere. I noticed that SMOC is having an event at Yankee Springs, soon. Such a cool place, especially with the Devil's Sinkhole!
May 24, 2013 12:52 AM
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Let me know if you need help with anyone specific. Through my work in Ann Arbor I am connected to a few VPs and Directors at the U. My name is Barbara and my email is liveyourtruenorth@gmail.com. I am still working on official Bird Hills access. We have another new SMOC member, Tizoc Cruz Gonzalez who is a grad ME student at UofM.
This discussion thread is closed.