In Memory of "The Philosopher of the
Forest"
Sam
Campbell.
Sam Campbell was born in August 1, 1895, at Watseka, Illinois, and first
visited the Three Lakes area around 1909. At the age of 20, he began to furnish
articles on nature to newspapers and magazines. There was an immediate and
widespread demand for his services. In 1929, he made his first films on animal
life and presented them to the public. The central theme of his talks was
conservation. He is the author of 12 books on subjects dealing with the
outdoors.
While Sam Campbell conducted tours throughout the world, he
maintained a summer home on an island in Four Mile Lake, northeast of Three
Lakes, WI., known to many who have heard his lectures, read his books, or seen
his movies as "The Sanctuary of Wegimind." It was here that he and
his wife Giny, who died in the spring of 1984, prepared most of his essays on
nature and the photography to illustrate both the writings and the lectures.
During the course of his career, he gave around 10,000 public lectures and
produced nearly half a million feet of colored film.
Sam Campbell loved
young people, so it was only fitting that the Sam Campbell Memorial Scholarship
Fund was established at the Trees for Tomorrow Conservation Camp in Eagle
River. It still provides young people from needy areas with an on-going
opportunity to share in the Sam's philosophy, here in the North Country which
was so dear to his heart.
Today, come and
explore the Sam
Campbell Memorial Forest and Hiking Trail Complex, located on Forest
Service road 2207 just off F.S. road 2178, located within the beautiful Nicolet
National Forest. This trail complex was developed and sponsored by
the Three Lakes Historical Society in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service,
Eagle River District of the Nicolet National Forest. It was dedicated on June
29th, 1989, in memory of the "Philosopher of the Forest."
To enhance the
in-depth experiences to be enjoyed while exploring these foot trails, the
famous "Forest Life Series," authored by Sam Campbell, should be
read. The "Forest Life Series" beautifully captures the spiritual
dimensions of the land and its creatures, and is available from the Three
Lakes Historical Museum. Donations dedicated to the "Sam Campbell Trail
Fund" are welcome, and should be directed to the Three Lakes Historical
Society, Inc., an IRS approved non-profit organization.
A line drawing of The Sanctuary of Wegimind. Thanks to Forbes Smith
And as it appears today...virtually unchanged. Photo by Robert A. Waech Sr.
A Few of Sam's Quotations......
- "This will be a day on the trails, then. Let us pack our lunch, fill canteens with water. Get out the binoculars, cameras, the magnifying glass....let's look closer at things than we ever have before, for if we see things well, we shall understand them, and if we understand them, we shall appreciate them."
- ".....frail spider webs spread across branches of bushes and low trees, looking as if they might be fingerprints left by forest fairies."
- Of Porcupines: "When snows are deep and travel difficult, a porcupine will select a tree to his liking, climb in it and live there for several weeks.... they will scale the bark from the tree, eating much of it. Before we criticize him too harshly, let us remind ourselves that the grandest forests in the world have reached their perfection while porcupines lived within them.....and men did not."
- "Nature never hurries. She moves steadily, always arrives on time, finishes things on schedule, but she never hurries. Those who live with nature...woodsmen, lumberjacks, rangers, guides... learn to know patience and to synchronize themselves with nature's pace. Haste just doesn't fit in the forest; in truth, it doesn't fit anywhere."
- "Whatever the plant or creature, there is a certain place that suits it best, a place where it feels a measure of abundance, security, comfort, and familiarity. Such a place becomes home."
The
following books by Sam Campbell, a VHS video about Sam Campbell and a music
cassette dedicated to him are available from the Three Lakes Historical
Society. See the ordering information below, or contact the historical society
at the address below for more information. Thank you.
Sam Campbell's Living
Forest Series Books.
Classic Nature Tales That Explore God's
Marvelous Creations.
*How’s Inky (1943)
*Too Much Salt & Pepper
(1944)
*Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo…and
Still-Mo (1945)
*A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too
(1946)
*On Wings of Cheer (1948)
*Moose Country (1950)
*Seven Secrets of Somewhere
Lake (1952)
*Loony Coon (1954)
*Fiddlesticks and Freckles
(1955)
*Beloved Rascals (1957)
*Sweet Sue’s Adventures (1959)
*Calamity Jane (1962)
All soft cover books above are $11.95 each.
(The year
shown above is the year of the first edition and should be read in that order,
if possible)
******************************************************************************
*The
soft-cover biography of Sam, “Sam Campbell, Philosopher of the Forest” is now
available. It’s cost
is $15 including postage to any of the lower 48 states.
(See details at: http://www.nnex.net/~robwack/sams-bio.htm)
A 20 minute VHS Video About Sam Campbell. $20.00
NEW! A cassette tape featuring 12 songs with a Sam Campbell theme, $10.00 ($5 with ANY book order).
A few songs on the album and partial liner notes are as follows:
To Sam Campbell : In the deepest sense of the word, Sam was truly a "philosopher of the forest"...
Wagon Road to Three Lakes: Sam Campbell was a pioneer of the environmental movement...
Three Lakes Country School: Sam was a true educator, lecturing in schools and, in his everyday life...
Deer in Summer: Sam believed the most valued attributes of wild animals was their ability to play...
Inky's Lessons : Inky, the porcupine, was probably the most popular of Sam's friends...
Voice of Spring: Sam spoke of the importance of keeping ourselves open to the "voices of nature"...
Blueberries: "Destruction, pain, meanness and hatred," Sam said, "are not the truly natural order of things"...
To order, send check to the Three Lakes Historical Society. P.O. Box 58. Three Lakes, Wi. 54562. Please include shipping and handling charges of $2 per soft cover or cassette tape ($6 maximum), or $4 for the video ($8maximum if mixed with books.) Postage to Canada and other countries are higher. Please inquire. Please mention that you are ordering from Sam Campbell's web page. Please address all inquires to us at Box 58. Three Lakes, WI. 54562, or inquire at robwack@nnex.net . All proceeds from the sale of these books go to the support of the Three Lakes Historical Society. Thank you.
Portions quoted from the book, "The Pine The Plow and the Pioneer" Vol. One and Two, The History of Three Lakes. They are available from the Three Lakes Historical Society for $12 each, or both volumes for $20. Please inquire at the email address above.
Last updated 6-25-04
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