The 2009 MO chapter reunion, held the weekend of October 16-18 in Cuivre River State Park, in Lincoln County, was notable for a sharp increase in attendance over previous years. This year a total of eighty two people showed up to take part in the various activities. Sierra Club members from around the state gathered with their families to spend the weekend, sleeping in cabins at night, and, during the day, exploring scenic trails, fishing, looking for wildlife, and generally relaxing. Saturday night's activities included toasting marshallows around a bonfire, playing board games, and renewing old acquaintance with Sierrans from other parts of the state.
The campers found that Cuivre River State Park, with its many miles of hiking trails of different levels of difficulty, is an excellent area in which to introduce children to the delights of outdoor life. On Saturday morning, Norma
Deen Juracsik led a hike around Lake Lincoln. That afternoon, Bruce Schulte, a state park naturalist as well as Sierra Club member, led campers on a walk along the Blazing Star Trail, as they explored an area aptly described as “one of the last, best remaining prairies in Eastern Missouri”. And on Sunday morning John Christensen led a comfortably paced nature walk, emphasizing environmental features of the area which might easily be overlooked.
For the John Christensen family, spending an annual weekend at the Sierra Club reunion s a tradition that goes back to the early 1980's. In those years, John and Emily Christensen were active participants in EMG activities, both serving on the EMG ExCom. Since then the Christensen family delegation to the chapter campout has grown, to include, in addition to John and Emily, their daughter Lois and their son Alex, also Alex's wife Becca, and their two little third generation campers, Caroline and Margaret.
As the 2009 reunion came to a close, campers were overheard talking about what a satisfying weekend they had just experienced, and asking each other whether they would be coming to next year's reunion. For many, the answer was definitely in the affirmative!