28 | October 18, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot LIFE & ARTS newlenoxpatriot.com The support you need to find quality SENIOR LIVING SOLUTIONS A Place for Mom has helped over one million families find senior living solutions that meet their unique needs. There’s no cost to you! CALL (855) 524-7398 ! We’re paid by our partner communities Area fathers forge bonds with daughters, sons through long-standing group Konow’s Corn Maze to host families Oct. 21 activity Bill Jones, Managing Editor On Sunday, Oct. 21, there will be no shortage of visitors to Konow’s Corn Maze in Homer Glen. Barring bad weather, crowds likely will grow in the waning weekends leading up to Halloween. Still, it might be hard to miss a group of more than 100 fathers accompanying their sons and daughters in carving and decorating pumpkins. They will be from the Indian Guides & Princesses — for fathers, and their sons and daughters, respectively — under the banner of the Algonquin Longhouse, which oversees a number of “nations” and their “tribes” in the Chicago area. The organization focuses mostly on elementary school children, though some stay involved into middle school. It reportedly was started in the 1920s by a director of the YMCA and an Ojibwa hunting guide, but has since left the Y after facing controversy over its nomenclature. The families carving at Konow’s from 3-7 p.m. Oct. 21 are all involved with the Mohawk Nation, with its members hailing from Orland Park, Tinley Park, Mokena, New Lenox, Frankfort, Lockport and other southwest suburbs. Dan Dion, of Mokena, was coaching his son’s baseball team when another father encouraged him to join them. “I ended up going and sticking with it ever since,” he said. That was 12 years ago, and he currently runs the boys side of things, with three boys and a daughter who have been involved with the program. He said while he thinks the naming convention helps expose children to aspects of another culture — some fathers who were part of it still fondly remember the tribes from their childhoods — the local group is more about providing unique bonding experiences for fathers and their children than pushing that theme. And in addition to the October event, fathers plan monthly activities, such as a trip to Camp Tecumseh slated for November, a Christmas party at Lincoln- Way East in December and a pinewood derby in January. They also typically hold a daddy-daughter dance at Orland Chateau. They have done Chicago Wolves games, a museum sleepover, bowling, drag racing and more over the course of their seasons, which tend to run concurrent with the school year. “We’re open to do whatever we find interesting,” Dion said. “It really is a good program.” While the program has been shrinking in recent years, with commitments to sports programs, Scouts and a variety of other activities for youths and their families nowadays, Dion said it recently has been building back up membership. And he credits that to dedicated families. “There are good, engaged dads in the program,” he said. Members typically pay $60 for a year’s worth of activities if they sign up early, $70 if they sign up later — though certain things, like some of the camping trips, come at an extra fee. The group is open to the public at any time, though it is preferred that people sign up in advance through www. algonquinlonghouse.org before attending an event. Still, Rick Trench, of New Lenox, said people are more than welcome to stop by the Konow’s event to get a feel for what the group is all about. He has been part of the program as a father for two years now, after originally being exposed to it as a child. “It’s been great,” he said of being on the other side of it now. “You start to relive the memories you had. You hope your kids will have the same memories. “I think other dads in the community would enjoy the program. The monthly events are really a great way to make memories and bond with your kids. … Our focus is on dad and daughter/ son doing something fun together, and building a stronger bond.” Chris Lacina, of Orland Park, said a neighbor used to do it and raved about it, so he joined with his daughters. He has been involved with the program now for 10 years and recently ran the whole thing, largely because he was taken those “bonds that my daughters and I have formed.” “It’s a unique organization that has the ability to create strong ties between father and daughter, father and son,” he said.
newlenoxpatriot.com NEW LENOX the New Lenox Patriot | October 18, 2018 | 29 —Siegfried & Roy, Masters of the Impossible “Absolutely THE NO. 1 SHOW in the world.” —Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of English National Ballet “Demonstrating the highest realm in arts.” —Chi Cao, principal dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet “I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.” —Richard Connema, Broadway critic “This is the highest and the best of what humans can produce.” —Olevia Brown-Klahn, singer and musician DEC 26–30, 2018 CHICAGO Civic Opera House JAN 10–13, 2019 AURORA Paramount Theatre FEB 14–17, 2019 ROSEMONT Rosemont Theatre ShenYun.com/Chicago 888-99-SHOWS Early Bird code:Early19 Civic Opera House tickets only throgh hotline Get best seats & waive fees by Nov. 15
Change language