on my frequent walks to the river
each time passing this sign
i wondered –
often someone chopping wood
putting up canoes, cooking outside
peaceful communal living
until i learned the intriguing backstory
and understood
the amazing spirit of this society.
—
Society of Les Voyageurs
As the oldest continually active student group on the University of Michigan campus (founded in 1907), the Society of Les Voyageurs upholds a long-standing tradition of convening over the love for nature and the out of doors. The Society owns a cabin on the Huron River just north of downtown called Habe Mills Pine Lodge that was built in 1927 to house the Society, its activities, as well as those members who choose to live there. The group also hosts potluck dinners every Sunday at 6pm, followed by a program from a professor or a community member pertaining to learning more about the out of doors. The group is known to embark occasionally on casual outings such as hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, caving, cross-country skiing, etc.
—
*”si le voyageur n’espere rien, il ne verra ce que voient les yeux.”
-eric-emmanuel schmitt (franco-belgian playwright, novelist, film director)
*(If the traveler does not hope for anything, he will only see what the eyes see.)
argo park, ann arbor, michigan, usa – april 2021
That’s a fun group,
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Yes, I love their shared spirit of adventure
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Thanks for this wonderful story, Beth! It has renewed my faith in the spirit of mankind.
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i’m so glad you enjoyed it brad, and it finally solved a mystery for me –
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Love this! So glad it’s still going on today💛
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Me too, I’m so glad it’s survived over time
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“Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
― Walt Whitman
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Walt understood
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Maybe they were inspired by Walt’s writings…
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I’m putting a visit to Michigan on my bucket list..keeping in mind that timing is everything..after all, you did post that April snow pic.. 😂
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I hope you do visit and yes, the weather is always exciting
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How wonderful!
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Yes!
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❤️
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Sounds like a great group!
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I think so too
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Two of my daughters besties go to Michigan…though I think they are sorority girls
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Cheers to worthy shared passions, Beth.
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We need places like this more than ever!
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Wow. Interesting.
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Fascinating!
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I agree,john
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I have a friend who’s a professor at Michigan. He’s a History guy. Wonder if he’s a member. I’ll have to find out.
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Yes, I’m curious what the faculty’s take would be on ot
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It
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Now that’s a group I would have loved to join, back when I could keep up with them.
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Same!
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Sounds like my kind of group. Too bad it’s so far from me.
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You could start one there
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Solo adventures are amazing but there is something equally as amazing when you find someone(s) who share your same love for adventure and activity.
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Yes, all the better
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I love the aphorism. ❤
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❤️
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what a delightful organization; it would be fun and instructive to join it on one of its outings 🙂
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Absolutely
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Wow…a lovely and important tradition.
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i think so too, jeff –
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Always fun to learn the backstory. Happy Friday, Teacher Beth!
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you too, teacher pete
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one more example of the beauty of living in a college town…
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there’s always something interesting to discover
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do you ever attend any events at the University?
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I do
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👍
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I can picture you being one of the sunday guest professors, teaching outdoor stats
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that would set a record for the lowest attended meeting 🙂
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so fascinating!
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This must be a great group. The fact that it has been in existence since 1907 is a testament to the society. I love the photos, and these are the first ones that are clear as a bell. Yahoo!
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I appreciate you letting me know about the photos, think something was lost in translation from my phone to the blog. Yes, I love the idea of the group as well
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I’ll let you know if your next photo is good, too.
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I loved this poem! Such a wonderful description
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thanks, maggie
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Very interesting…. and you never checked them out before? 🤔😉💕
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no, and each time i walked by i wondered…
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now you know – and so do we! 🙂
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now you know – and so do we! 🙂
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Pingback: les voyageurs. – MobsterTiger
Sounds kind of nice.
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I agree-
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Whoever lives there is truly blessed~ 🙂
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I think so too, it’s such a unique living situation with a common approach to life
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