OUR HISTORY INFORMS OUR PHILOSOPHY
Thirty-five brave souls overlooked the reasons for NOT attending and came to the first Northland Rec Lab in 1935. While some of the participants were recruited because of their resource skills, every attendee was to be a potential resource. The key word in all these early years (and yet today) is "sharing". Depression economics in 1935 taught the true meaning of this word, but Northland Rec Lab was to be a sharing of ideas and skills. Early leaders sought to create an environment in which everyone was a participant in all general sessions and in a week of sharing with others, developed a camaraderie and common purpose. Many of the principles of Northland Rec Lab found their roots in this very first lab, and continue to the current day:
Northland Recreation Laboratory participants continue to honor and observe these traditions while embracing new friends, new skills, and new experiences.
- There is no stratifying of the group by level of skill or credentials of expertise
- Leadership is unobtrusive and minimal in any overt form
- No participant is identified by his/her role back home. No one attends as representative of a particular organization or church.
- Titles such as Rev., Dr., Professor, etc... are not used.
- A "neutral course" is steered to avoid conflicts in religion or politics
- The "age gap" is bridged and forgotten.
- In the process of sharing, teachers become learners... and likewise, learners, teachers.
Northland Recreation Laboratory participants continue to honor and observe these traditions while embracing new friends, new skills, and new experiences.