You know you’re in Ann Arbor when, upon asking a group of kids ranging from 8 to 12 how to say “three” in a different language, immediately hands shoot up and answers range from Hindi to German. This is the case at the Leslie Science and Nature Center Summer Camp, where I was a junior counselor for a week.

At Leslie, campers are provided with a unique experience of activities involving nature and science. Many times this involves going outside on hikes into the immense forest grounds the center calls the ‘backyard’, or making animal costumes and parading about the different buildings.

Junior counselors are expected to accompany the kids, be their doting older siblings and prepare snacks.

An unknown prerequisite of being a counselor at Leslie is possessing some culinary skill. One time, my apple slices (supposedly without the core) for snack turned out to be asymmetrical shapes that took most of the morning to prepare.

However, being a junior counselor has its perks. I get to enjoy the melodious sounds of the LSNC camp song under the walnut tree; I get thirds on any snack, and I get to help out with tie-dyeing during the large extravaganza rendezvous known as “Choice Carnival”.

Helping out at the camp also reminded me of the tale of its being. The LSNC lies on property granted by Dr. Eugene and Emily Leslie, especially for the benefit of the posterity they knew would roam the grounds later on. The kid-loving Leslies enabled their 201 acres of land to be turned into public places welcome to and accepting of all. In addition to the Leslie Science and Nature Center, the Leslie Golf Course and Leslie Park are all conventional grounds located on the Leslies’ original property.

“…We’re back at summer camp at LSNC! It’s our FAVORITE, natural place to be; thank you Dr. Eugene and EMILY!” the campers shout to the stringy guitar music in the background.

As I join along, I can’t help but wonder at the Leslies’ accomplishment: creating an open environment poised to last for generations. Here, perhaps unbeknownst to them, their legacy is reiterating a major concept of the 21st century—diversity.

And that’s what Ann Arbor, ultimately, is: a hodgepodge of different people from different cultures who can come together and mingle. In this case, we’re doubling up and learning about preserving the environment at the same time.