Student athletes train and bond at Björklunden
By Cameron D. Kramlich '02
Reprinted from the Boynton Society Newsletter, a publication for supporters of Björklunden vid Sjön.
During my three years at Lawrence I have visited Björklunden for various academic purposes, but my favorite moments in Door County are definitely the annual preseason trips with the cross-country team.
As a freshman I went to Björklunden eager to spend time with my teammates, yet slightly apprehensive about our ambitious workout schedule. Coach Mike Fox trains our team to win, and I had unfortunately misinterpreted his summer running goals as some bizarre Midwestern freshman hazing ritual. Physically and emotionally drained from a week of hard work in Appleton, I thought the prospect for a change sounded promising.
Heading north in a yellow Bluebird bus, I sat next to Nichole Cook '00, who became my partner for the first workout. The bus stopped about 20 miles outside Baileys Harbor. Unloading our bicycles we began a "partner run" that paired two runners who alternated bicycling and running every few miles. Although our group was not the first to reach our destination near Ephraim, Nichole and I made a valiant attempt. After a short ride to a park outside Baileys Harbor, the team inhaled Subway sandwiches. Enjoying the sand between my toes, I walked into town along the beach, before heading down Chapel Lane.
Although the wooden gateway and hardscrabble dirt road seemed to portend rustic accommodations, the Great Room of the lodge exceeded my expectations in every possible way. After dinner -- the first of Björklunden cook Steve Martin's superlative meals -- the team indulged in our favorite evening activity, board games. According to this year's captain, Julie Liebich '01, "We always broaden our minds by playing Trivial Pursuit from the '70s." I remember hitting the down pillow that night well before the game ended.
Our exercise regimen varies slightly each year, although a few activities stand as defining moments, including the annual, infamous 20-mile run. Starting on a pier jutting out into Devils' Doorway, the passage between the peninsula and Washington Island, it takes several hours to reach Björklunden.
One night, a summer employee somehow managed to convince several of us to attend the final performance of a locally produced play in Ephraim. The next day, our workout involved a 60-mile round-trip bike journey to Peninsula State Park. Fortunately, my body sufficiently cooperated so that, upon arrival, I was able to enjoy a brisk five-mile run.
During one evening of our stay in Door County, Coach Fox encourages the musically non-challenged members of the team to share their talents. Over the years the program has ranged from a virtuosic horn solo to a rendition of some Dave Matthews tunes. This ritual is one of many that mark our stay at Björklunden.
A major event for the cross-country team at Björklunden, and our most important ritual, is the discovery of the Big Wood. First created by runners in the Class of 2001, the Big Wood is a talisman found anew every year by first-year initiates to the team, who then endeavor to create a team mascot. After each cross-country meet, the captains award the Big Wood to both a male and a female runner with exemplary performances. This ritual also serves as an experience of bonding for freshman athletes.
In addition to the cross-country team, some 90 other students on sports teams spent 343 nights at Björklunden last year, including the basketball, golf, swimming, hockey, and volleyball squads. Other student groups that retreat to Door County include the Lawrentian staff, the Lambda Sigma honorary society, and the members of the Judicial Board, not to mention the many weekend seminars that are part of specific courses or academic departments.
Another bonding ritual for student groups is the service portion of a visit. Without an extensive network of supporters, Björklunden would not exist; organized service projects help reinforce the community spirit of the student weekends. New cross-country freshmen learn to clean dishes and do laundry together, while teammates clear tables. Every year, the cross-country team rearranges furniture in anticipation of the new school year. Major projects like helping expand the running trails act to further the mission of Björklunden. The teamwork required to build a campfire -- ranging from wood cut as part of a work project by the cross-country team this summer to the lake water carried to put embers to sleep -- unites teams in anticipation of future work.
The quintessential ritual that highlights every extended stay in Door County is the campfire. Although different groups bond through different means, campfires bring students and teachers together. When athletes return to Appleton, the refreshing experience of a visit to Björklunden provides a foundation for excellence.