| Blog Post Published on: | 26th October 2022 |
| Title: | Circle Pines Center celebrates 75 years as quiet Barry County gem |
| Lead Author: | Seth Graves |
| Type of Blog Post: | cpc_history |
This article was originally published in the Hastings Reminder
by Seth Graves
10 August 2013
For 75 years, people have come from all over the United States and Canada, but why they come each summer to a remote wooded area in Orangeville Township remains a mystery to most Barry County residents. The nearly 300 acres of wooded and picturesque rolling hills with meandering walking trails and scenic Stewart Lake that make up the Circle Pines Center certainly make a stay understandable. So, too, would the enjoyment of locally grown organic food and the fellowship from discussion of current events, environmental awareness, and social justice — as well as home made music — make a visit more obvious.
But why the mystery? How could so much of Barry County miss out on this annual gathering of so many bright and creative minds from around the country each for three summer camp sessions and year-round retreats for adults and families? “We are more well known in Chicago than we are here locally,” concedes Tom VanHammen, director for Circle Pines, who points out that the camp currently receives more visitors from Illinois, New York and even California, than from Barry County. “This is something we hope to change. ”
The roots of its long history, which extend back to 1882 and which has long emphasized peace education and the then-growing cooperative movement, explain in part how a county gem could go unnoticed for so many years. After their building in Grant was condemned in 1938 by the local fire marshal, the Central State Cooperative League purchased the Stewart Farm on Mullen Road in 1940. A Quaker work camp helped ready the site for the first summer of camp meetings and the group’s dedication to the tenants of cooperative living. During the turbulence of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War era and anti-nuclear protests, many cooperative league members joined in as protesters. The most popular protest balladeer, Pete Seeger, even visited Circle Pines in 1957 to perform. Today, the embrace of people with different ideologies and religious beliefs continues as Circle Pines seeks to build common ground and to work together for the mutual benefit in a non-judgmental environment where the dignity and worth of each individual is respected and valued.
Today, Circle Pines attendees are still active in many social, educational and political activities which, in the past, may have contributed to detachment from the larger Barry County community. Circle Pines staff works hard today to encourage Barry County residents to come and see first-hand, what Circle Pines has to offer.“We are challenging community members to open their hearts and minds to diverse thinking” Rachel Zegerius, Circle Pines program director, says. “We want them to open their minds in ways they may not normally be challenged to do so living in Barry County. ”Which is why Circle Pines is welcoming everyone to its 75th Anniversary Jubilee to be held from Friday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 18. Swimming, hiking, singing and folk dancing will all be part of the celebration as will lectures and a traditional banquet.
The jubilee comes amidst the camp’s traditional summer session. It hosts three summer camps for children aged 7 to 17 years old each year, as well as year-round retreats for adults and families. The summer camps, which are either one or two weeks long, strive to teach children cooperation, social justice, environmental awareness and peaceful problem-solving resolution methods. The camp is not all about classroom or group discussions, however. The kids also partake in arts and crafts, cooperative games, swimming, folk music and theater. Ten-year-old Sam Schafiro of Oak Park, Ill., says this is his first year attending the Center and is having a great time so far, especially given the advanced electronic work he does even still being a youngster.
“I’m just glad that I am getting away from technology for a couple weeks,” says Schafiro, who’s not talking about playing video games. “I’m using a basic programming code from MIT to create simple online video games.” Schafiro said that this is what he does in his spare time.
Circle Pines has also become somewhat of a benchmark for multi-generational educational experiences. According to Zegerius, nearly 30 percent of all camp attendees are multi-generational Circle Pines guests. Sonya Ochshorn, a 20-year-old camp counselor from New York City, started coming to Circle Pines because her mother attended many years before. Rabiah Fresclo, 14, from Boston, has been coming to Circle Pines for the last two years. Her mother worked at the Circle Pines nearly 20 years ago. Alexander Smirnoff, a staff member at Circle Pines Center, has an interesting family lineage as well. His father is Yakov Smirnoff, a famous 1980’s Russian immigrant and comedian that starred in several movies and television shows dating back to the early 80’s.
VanHammen, a long time visitor to the Circle Pines Center, was hired as Center Director in 2007. As a life long resident of Southwest Michigan, he feels that it is well past time to embrace the local community and hopes that the citizens embrace them as well. One of the ways that the Center has been active in the community is through food purchases. According to Zegerius, Circle Pines works with six local farmers for nearly all of the food consumed at the Center.“That includes all meat and dairy as well as much of the produce not grown at the camp,” reports Zegerius. The Circle Pines Center currently purchases all poultry from Otto’s Chicken and Otto’s Turkey farms in Middleville. Other meat is purchased from the Crane Dance Farm which is also located in Middleville. Zegerius said that dairy products are purchased at Moo-ville Dairy in Nashville and Farm Country Cheese House near Grand Rapids. Lettuce comes from Mud Lake Farms in nearby Hudsonville.
VanHammen said that he hopes that the surrounding communities will come out and share in the adventures at Circle Pines as it continues moving to the future. “We hope they start by coming and checking out the Jubilee,” says VanHammen. “There’s going to be some great entertainment and an awesome atmosphere. We hope everyone comes out to see what we have to offer.” The event, which is open to the public, hopes to draw on not only existing members but also the community to come out and experience what Circle Pines has to offer. It follows the third annual Buttermilk Jamboree which brought together noted music acts from the area and the region in June.
For more information on the many events held at Circle Pines Center, its history … visit the website http://www.circlepinescenter.org.