The Optimist Club of Traverse City Michigan
Presents The Traverse City Michigan
Optimist Club Cabin Property
Grand Traverse County
For Support In Preservation and Education
Traverse City Optimist Club
Youth Environmental Education
“Cabin Property”
Optimist Club Youth Foundation
The “Cabin Property” – An Environmental
Treasure For Youth Growth & Education
The Cabin Property – History and Use
 Donated by Art and Mary Schmuckal to the
Optimist Youth Foundation
 Traverse City visitors center Cabin was
moved to the property in 1964
 Formal Dedication of Property and Trails
System in Grand Traverse County in 2000
 Partnership with T.C.A.P.S. and SEEDS
 Used by Elementary schools students
 Boy Scouts for Merit badges and camping
 Young Marines for growth and training
Cabin Property Dedication
 The Cabin Property
and trail system
was officially
dedicated in Fall of
2000
 This made the
property available
to various youth
organizations for
education and
recreation
 Property use by
youth groups
increases yearly
The “Cabin Property” - A Unique
Opportunity For Youth Education
The Cabin Property - A Unique Setting
For Outdoor Youth Group Activities
 ½ Mile South of M-37/US 31 Intersection
 44 Acre nature retreat on Beitner Creek
 Secured Access
 Covered Pavilion Picnic Facilities
 Camp Fire Pit and Bench Seating
 Four Marked Educational Trails
 Historic Cabin and Storage Building
 Unique outdoor classroom for students
 Water Hand Pump, and Privy
The Cabin Property – An Outdoor
Environmental Education Opportunity
The Cabin Property – a Natural Setting
on Beitner Creek, in Boardman Valley
The Cabin Property – Includes a Unique
Outdoor Classroom Island Deck
The Cabin Property
Optimist Youth Foundation
Not–for-profit organization (501-c3)
Property must be used for education or charitable
purposes with a concentration around youth.
Foundation organized in 1969
Governed by a Board of (elected members from
the Optimist Club of Traverse City)
Continual improvements toward the use as an
environmental education site for youth
The Cabin Property
Invitation to the Grand Traverse Area
Partnership for use of property for youth education
and recreation, including addition improvements for
Native American natural and cultural exhibits to the
property possibly including construction,
maintenance, and use of
Shelters in traditional woodland village
Artesian well enhancements
Educational trail markings
Trail system maintenance and improvement
The Cabin Property
We invite a community partnership
 This property is unique for natural
environmental education and recreation
 We want to share opportunities with a
more diverse local base.
 We respect the natural education heritage
of our Native American history and the
value this land offers in youth education.
The Cabin Property - A Natural Setting
for Youth Support and Education
The Cabin Property
Next Steps
 The Optimist Club invites local Boy Scout
Troupes and other youth organizations into
a partnership for development.
 Our mission is to continually increase the
usability of our Cabin Property facilities for
the benefit of youth education throughout
the greater Northern Michigan Region.
The Optimist Club of Traverse City
For more information about the
Traverse City Michigan
Optimist Club
www.tc-optimist.org
Contacts:
Mike Brown
Phone 218-4923
mbrown@burdco.com
The Optimist Club of Traverse City
~ friend of youth ~