Camp FUNset Sing-A-Long!

Check out our musically talented camp counselor, Big E, as he leads a spirited rendition of "If I Had a Hammer" at Wilderness Camp!

Camp FUNset Nature Rangers a success!

By Charlie Cross

Charlie and a Nature Rangers camper.

Camp FUNset Counselor

We wrapped up the first week at Camp FUNset this past Thursday, and it was a huge success! The kids had a blast, and learned a great deal about nature, science, and making new friends. The Camp staff is continuously working to find ways to further improve new friendships between the kids, and the children’s overall experience at Sunset Hill. This week was a great kickoff for the remainder of Camp FUNset summer camps!

Botanical Art Workshop Q and A



The Botanical Art Workshop will give artists the chance to capture the beauty of Brincka Cross Gardens.

This weekend marks the first of what we hope will be many collaborations between Porter County Parks and Recreation and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, a gallery and education center in Michigan City. We are teaming with the Lubeznik Center to bring renowned artist and illustrator Olivia Petrides to Brincka Cross Gardens for a Botanical Art Workshop on Saturday, June 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Spots are still available. Call 219-874-4900 or e-mail jbloch@lubeznikcenter.org to reserve a spot. The cost is $125.

This workshop is designed for students of all skill levels. Olivia will demonstrate how to capture the details and defining characteristics of plants in pencil and watercolor. We are very excited to be hosting this event, and we recently talked with Janet Bloch, the Lubeznik Center Education Coordinator, about this unique opportunity.

How long has Olivia Petrides been involved at the Lubeznik Center?

This is a new opportunity for residents and visitors to this area. I have known Olivia Petrides' artwork  for a number of years. It  is stunning and is represented in many museum collections. She lives in Chicago and has taught at the School of the Art Institute for 20 years.  I would not have been able to entice her out this way to teach just any class. It had to be a unique situation and one that had real appeal for her. The ability to hold the class in the Brincka Cross Gardens fit that bill because it is home to hundreds of species of plants, including some very rare ones. She was the first person I thought of when the Lubeznik Center for the Arts was asked to design some classes for the Porter County Parks and Recreation.

What makes Olivia such a great fit for leading the Botanical Art Workshop?

In addition to being a fine artist and educator, Olivia is a professional botanical illustrator. She has illustrated two of the Petersen's field guides to trees and her father wrote the text for them.  She understands how to capture the detailed qualities of  unique plant species and she is an excellent and experienced teacher. Who could be better?

What can students expect from this workshop?

Students can expect specific instruction in drawing techniques and the application of watercolor, personal attention  and honest gentle feedback from a woman who loves to teach and who loves and appreciates the nuances of nature.

What has drawn the Lubeznik Center to Brincka Cross Gardens and collaborating with Porter County Parks and Recreation to deliver programs there?

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts shared a great relationship and history with Bill Brincka and Basil Cross, the couple who donated the property to the Porter County. We have a gallery dedicated with their names at the Art Center. We are also the premier institution in this region for providing excellent art education to adults and children.

Renowned artist to teach class at Brincka Cross Gardens



Brincka Cross Gardens will be the site of a Botanical Art Workshop June 18

When Porter County Parks and Recreation acquired Brincka Cross Gardens, two major goals were to offer art instruction and promote nature appreciation.

The property, located at 427 East Furness Road in Pine Township, was owned and developed by an artist with a passion for gardening, and an emphasis was placed on continuing his legacy.

William Brincka, a professor at the Art Institute of Chicago for more than 30 years, purchased the land in the late 1960s. He and his longtime companion, Basil Cross, nurtured the 25 acres for more than 40 years. Brincka passed away in 2001, and Cross died in 2006. They left behind 400 types of hostas and 450 varieties of daffodils, and a host of other plant varieties.

Porter County Parks and Recreation is now working to make Brincka Cross Gardens a place for artists to study and develop their craft in a setting that supports creativity. The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, a gallery and education center in Michigan City, has joined in this cause as well.

The first program these organizations will collaborate on at Brincka Cross Gardens will take place on Saturday, June 18, when artist and illustrator Olivia Petrides visits the gardens to lead a Botanical Art Workshop.

Petrides is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Painting and Drawing Department and the Visual Communications Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her art has been exhibited at museums and shows throughout the country, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

The one-day intensive Botanical Art Workshop offers the unique opportunity to work with Petrides, who has illustrated two guides to trees in the classic Peterson Field Guide Series. She has also traveled around the world to depict caves, volcanoes, lava flows, geysers, icebergs, glaciers and the aurora borealis in her art.

“A leaf is a small thing, but taking the time to study its minute structures is a meditation on how profoundly complex the natural world is,” Petrides said. “The objective of this workshop is to observe, compare and contrast the details of the botanical world:  to learn how to portray a botanical specimen on paper in pencil and paint, to recognize what the elements of good composition are, and to become familiar with the basics of watercolor.”

The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed for students of all skill levels. Students will be instructed on how to capture the details and defining characteristics of plants in pencil and watercolor. The cost is $125. To register, contact the Lubeznik Center for the Arts at 219-874-4900, or e-mail jbloch@lubeznikcenter.org.

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts will also offer a Writing Workshop at Brincka Cross Gardens during the first four Mondays of August. For more information on this and other programs, visit the Porter County Parks and Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pcparksandrec, call 219-465-3586, or e-mail pcparks@porterco.org.

Camp FUNset kick-off video!

Check out the first of what will definitely be many videos about Camp FUNset! This camp is off to a great start. Our campers are excited, our counselors are awesome. We have been waiting for summer and it is finally here! 

Camp FUNset kicks off!



Charlie and Corie play games with their campers.

By Charlie Cross
Camp FUNset Counselor
Monday was opening day for Camp FUNset! It went very smoothly, and I believe the kids really enjoyed themselves and made new friends, and that’s what this is all about. This was a new experience for almost every camp counselor, but I think everything went extremely well nonetheless. We are all constantly working on new ways to improve camp and new ideas to keep the kids involved, enthusiastic, and educated.  If Camp FUNset continues to improve and progress the way we intend it to, this should be a great Summer!

Porter County Parks and Recreation is ready to share its world!

This is the first post for the new Porter County Parks and Recreation blog! We are committed to delivering youth, adult and school programs, while also providing a gateway into the natural beauty of our area through its unique parks and trails.

Our mission is to preserve, protect and manage the natural, cultural and recreational resources within a diverse park system. We will be sharing lots of stories about how we accomplish that mission right here on this blog. We hope you enjoy reading about all of the great things we have to offer. We want to inspire everyone to enjoy the outdoors and the amazing public lands that are available to them.