A solar-powered interactive panel, complete with touch-access to 7 clever stories, was installed at the Linda Ulland Memorial Garden (LUMG) near the entrance to the US Army Corps of Engineers Crosslake Campground just before the busy 4th of July weekend. It didn’t take long for campers and day users to find the new panel and enjoy the fun of pressing a button to hear about Babe and the Butterfly Stare-down, Purdy McGurdy-stellar smeller and other Bunyan ‘teaching tales’ related to the garden. Listeners also learned fun facts about the role of the US Army Corps of Engineers in our nation and the Crosslake Corps of Engineers site. A printed list of story titles, provided in a literature box attached to the exhibit, helped users pick the story they wanted to hear first.
The panel was designed by Drumminhands, a Minnesota company specializing in these kinds of exhibits. Installed by USACE staff and volunteers, the panel was sponsored by First National Bank, Crosslake; Crow Wing Power; Ulland Brothers Construction and Richard Ulland of Lake City, MN, with project management donated by the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association.
The Linda Ulland Memorial Gardens is located on the south side of the USACE Crosslake site next to the Administration Building along Crow Wing County Road 66. The LUMG site is free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged to support upgrades, maintenance and new exhibits.
