The weather cooperated perfectly during the recent 17th Annual Wetlands, Wind & Water Festival at Wolf Lake.
Sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), the two-day event — Saturday at the Hammond side of the lake and Sunday on the Illinois lake area — definitely offered something for everyone. An awards ceremony for poster contest winners kicked off the event.
“I’m in the art club at school and I was excited to enter my poster,” said Cece Post, 9, of Chesterton, who won first place with her depiction of what was happening on and near the Wolf Lake area. “I knew there was a lot of mudpuppies in Wolf Lake, so I made sure I drew them in.”
Her mom Sara Post said the experience was a benefit for her daughter.
“She’s learning a lot about nature and how to respect it,” Post said.
In addition to the poster award ceremony, families had the opportunity to stroll through the Environmental Education Center, where the event began. Many area schools, scout troops and others visit this location for field trips during the year.
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The interior of the building is made mostly from recycled materials, according to Michael Boos, AWLI executive director, who led the tour.
“The tile in the foyer is made from old windshields, the wall are made from re-purposed pine, the tables and chairs are from discarded wood, and the carpet is made from plastic detergent bottles,” he said.
After the tour, families had the opportunity to take a nature walk to view wildflowers and wildlife around Wolf Lake, led by Purdue professor Young Choi.
“I’m looking forward to this,” said Jean Jackson of Hammond, as she arrived for the stroll. “There’s so many interesting things located around Wolf Lake’s shore line. Many people don’t know this.”
A discussion on water safety and a rowing demonstration by the Calumet College rowing team also were scheduled on the beach.
The day’s agenda also included a talk, “Music From The Mills,” presented by AWLI member and retired music teacher Mary Kuzinar.
The topic covered the history of a 60-member musical group, Singing Men of Steel, which consisted of U.S. Steel South Works employees in South Chicago during the 1960s.
The steel mill is long gone, but fond memories of that formal ensemble group — which performed for company events as well as outside gigs — have remained. And Kuzinar has put together a program that has drawn crowds during her history talks.
Paul Cook was glad she did.
The former steelworker from South Holland, Ill., was in the audience at the recent AWLI to hear her presentation.
“This was a special time and the men were great friends,” said the tenor, who was in the Singing Men of Steel group for 12 years. “I know it took Mary a lot of time and effort to put this (talk) together and I didn’t want to miss it.”
Before he presentation began, Cook and Kuzinar went through a few old photos of the group and he shared stories for her to add to her research
Poster participants came from three schools, Wirt/Emerson High School in Gary; Douglas Taylor Elementary School in Chicago; and Discovery Charter School of Porter. Members of Cub Scout Pack 518 of Whiting, also participated. Supervising the young artists were Melissa Ramirez, science teacher at Taylor Elementary, Deborah Weiss of Emerson and Annette Hansen of Discovery School. Scout leader Ron Hill supervised members of Cub Scout Pack 518.
First-place winners received $25. Second- and third-place winners received $15 and $10, respectively.
Judges for the contest, which was open to all youngsters in the Wolf Lake area schools and members of youth groups, were Racine Kovach of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District and Mary Kuzniar of Chicago. The purpose of the contest was to promote awareness of the recreational activities at Wolf Lake and instill in participants a stewardship ethic in protecting the watershed.
In addition to Saturday’s morning activities on the Indiana side of the lake, the second day of the festival was held by the Visitors Center at William Powers State Fish and Wildlife area, Chicago.
The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the Wolf Lake watershed.
For more information, call (219) 933-7149 or (312) 220-0120.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Poster winners
First-place winners: China Williams, 18, Emerson, high school division; Jackeline Ruvalcaba, 7th grade, Taylor, 7th and 8th grade division; and Leilani Guzman, 6th grade, Taylor, 5th and 6th grade division;
Second-place winners: Latavia Cooks, 16, Emerson; Denise Velazquez, 8th grade, Taylor; Estefania Muñoz, 6th grade, Taylor; and Quinn Frey, 2nd grade, Discovery.
Third-place winners: Kayla Williams, 7th grade, Taylor; Rachel Gallup, 5th grade, Discovery; and Ben Pollock, age 6, Cub Scout Pack 518.
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Honorable Mention: Rimecca Morris, 18, Emerson; Logan Klein, age 7, Cub Scout Pack 518; Finn Dailey, 3rd grade, Discovery; and William Malerich, age 8, Cub Scout Pack 518.