Dear editor,

Staff at Northern Illinois University Lorado Taft Field Campus in Oregon received sad news last week. The beautiful outdoor education center will be closing effective Dec. 31, 2024, due to high maintenance and repair costs, according to NIU administrative officials. Although the campus is used for education, officials state that operating a youth camp has “minimal alignment with NIU’s current mission and goals.”

In 1898, a group of artists and scholars established the Eagle's Nest Art Colony at this location on a portion of the private Heckman estate. The group was led by noted sculptor Lorado Taft. The secluded area provided a creative environment for the group members to focus on their work. The colony remained active until the death of its last member in 1942.

In 1951, NIU acquired a portion of the Heckman estate and Taft Campus was born. Named after Lorado Taft, the 141 acres of wooded areas, open fields and ravines include three of the original art colony buildings, a dining hall and several other buildings. Since then, Taft Campus has been a training and teaching center for thousands of children and adults and provided a beautiful gathering place for many special events, such as meetings, fundraisers and retreats.

While some staff are not without options, it is likely that groups scheduled and planning for 2025 visits — including those who have been repeat visitors through the years — will be at a loss for other options as unique as Taft Campus.

This gem of the Rock River Valley, where creativity, teaching, learning and collaboration has taken place for more than 115 years, is being closed. What will happen to it now?

-Cindy Enzler, Oregon