Great Lakes Recreation Leaders Lab is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan. The many fine Rec Labs now being held throughout the United States of America received their inspiration and beginnings many years ago in Chicago, Illinois. Lynn Rohrbough saw the need for training church recreation leaders and got members of the Central Office of the Methodist Church to help set annual Education Recreation Institutes. The first two were held in Chicago in 1926 and 1927. In 1929, it was moved from Chicago to Ogleby, near Wheeling, West Virginia, and the next year to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The name was changed to “Social Recreation Institutes” and from 1931 through 1934 they were held at Walden Woods near Hartland, Michigan.
As the group became larger and people became eager to share their inspiration, training, and fellowship with people in their own localities it was decided to discontinue the national meetings at Walden Woods and give people an opportunity to start new labs in their own states.
The Michigan group met at Ashland Folk School near Grant, Michigan for three years under the leadership of the directors Chester and Margaret Graham. After the Folk School was closed in early 1938, the Michigan area did not have a Lab until Arden Peterson, Marion Hermance, Bernice LaFrenier, Gould Pinney, Ray Lamb and Jim Halm attended Black Hills Rec Lab in 1952 and came back with such enthusiasm that the Great Lakes Recreation Leaders Lab was started in Twin Lakes in 1952, and was held there until 1956. Lab was changed from fall session to spring, so there was no Lab in 1957.
History of Great Lakes Recreation Leaders Lab
Great Lakes Recreation Leaders Lab
Lions Bear Lake Camp, Lapeer MI, May 14-19, 2010
