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Story Subject Category: Hobbies
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For 6,000 years people have been practicing yoga. Its roots are religious, but outside of India, most people practice it as a form of exercise. Producer Virginia Steffen examines this ancient practice and learns that it’s something anyone can do.
Segment duration: 08:49
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Producer: Virginia Steffen
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • Champaign
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A group of baseball players in Macon County is preserving the old days of baseball. The Rock Springs Ground Squirrels play the game by 1860s rules, which don’t allow swearing or gloves. Producer Julius Bolton takes viewers to the Macon County Conservation District to enjoy a bygone era from our national pastime.
Segment duration: 06:02
Story links:
- Vintage Baseball Association--Rock Springs Ground Squirrels
- Rock Springs Ground Squirrels Vintage Baseball Site
Producer: Julius Bolton and Jeff Bossert
Editor: Tim Hartin
This segment is filed in these categories: History • Hobbies • Illinois Culture/History • Sports • Decatur
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By producer Alison Davis Wood
There is something about the idea of defying gravity that is really addicting to people. Why do people always want to attempt flying through the air? Probably the safest way to explore this desire is by learning to fly model aircraft. At least then when you are learning to fly you don’t have to leave the ground.
Champaign-Urbana has a large number of model aviation enthusiasts because the twin cities are home to two of the largest manufacturers of model planes. These companies even have professional flying teams which travel around the world testing and racing company products. The members of the local club are just as serious about their hobby. Their model aircraft airport is immaculate and I’m sure it is one of the best in the country.
My first time seeing model planes fly up close was when I was taping this story. Videographer Julius Bolton and I attended the CCRCC’s “Giant Scale Fly-In.” The planes were awesome in their size and resemblance to actual aircraft. In our quest to get the best shot, we asked club members if we could get out on the runway to get closer to the planes. Normally they would have said absolutely not, but today professional flyer Frank Noll was on hand. They said he was such a skilled pilot, they felt confident that we would not be struck by his six-foot plane.
So Julius and I headed out to the prairie grass on the far side of the runway. I think Frank liked the challenge of having human obstacles and he wanted to get us the best shot. Before I knew it his incredible plane was hovering just feet away from us. It was amazing and a bit frightening, as we had just heard stories how the propellers on model aircraft can cut off fingers. We wanted to get home with all our digits and limbs intact! But we didn’t need to worry. Frank had complete control of the plane and he swooped it by us several more times before taking it in for a perfect landing.
Remember you can learn to fly a model plane at the club’s free instruction nights. These happen every Thursday in good weather.
If you want to experience model aviation for yourself then don’t miss Great Planes Model Manufacturing’s E-fest, Feb. 9 and 10, 2008, on campus at the University of Illinois. For more information visit http://www.gpe-fest.com Saturday is THE day to be at E-Fest because they have open flying all day with pylon races, ultimate combat and a unique “blackout” where pilots trim their planes with lights and fly in the dark.
Segment duration: 07:09
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Producer: Alison Davis Wood
Chief Camera - Segment: Julius Bolton
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • Champaign County
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First Lego League by Eleanore Stasheff
When I heard about a team of six middle school girls who designed a robot out of Legos that was going to an international competition in the Netherlands, the first thing I thought was “Wow, I can barely build a house out of legos.” I decided that their story had be told – people had to know about a group of kids from Champaign, Ill., who could make a nationally award-winning robot. It sounded like the kind of fairy-tale story that happens in movies and after-school specials, but that you would never think about happening in your own backyard.
It was a Saturday afternoon in late April when I first met the team, well three of them. I arrived at the unassuming Next Generation Middle School and filmed B-roll footage with Bridget Mueller-Brennan, Elinor and Yasmin Nadir, and the two coaches Joe Muskin and Jim Brennan. As I filmed them working on improving their robot I was stunned to see how smart and creative these girls were. They were not only building a robot in front of me, but they were programming it and making it perform simple tasks. They had problems getting the robot to move correctly and spent most of the two hours I was there adjusting the programming and discussing what the problems were and how they could be fixed. They were children, but talked like college students as they munched on popcorn and sifted through boxes of complex Legos that I don’t think they sold when I was kid.
All around me in this small, three-room school that was next door to a Cardinal Fitness gym were pictures that were drawn by 10- or 12-year-olds that were better than pictures I could draw now. Signs in multiple languages hung on the walls, or sat on desktops. I could feel an aura of creativity and an encouragement of learning that I wished every school had, and I must confess I was rather envious that Next Generation wasn’t around when I was in school. I was incredibly impressed with the knowledge and imagination that the three girls presented as I filmed them, and the encouragement and excitement of the coaches as I talked with them.
I would have liked to interview all of the girls, but time constraints prohibited me from interviewing them on more than one day, so only two of the girls were interviewed. I’m just so impressed with those girls, and with the coaches and the school for having a program like this that encourages learning science and computer skills in a fun and competitive way, and I only hope the Prairie Fire segment about them adequately shows how amazing they are, and how amazing it is that they went so far in their first year.
I want to thank Aramael Pena-Alcantara and the Pena-Alcantara Family for providing all the great pictures and footage from the First Lego League contest in the Netherlands, and Amy Mueller for being a vital communications link with the team, and for sending out the press release that let me know about this remarkable group of girls.
Segment duration: 05:21
Producer: Eleanore Stasheff
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • Science/Nature • Champaign • Champaign County
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When I first heard about Quen Cultra, I was interested in doing a story about how he built a boat on his family’s farm in Onarga and sailed it around the world in the 1960s. We knew that he had recently returned from his trip around Cape Horn, but we didn’t realize that he would have as much video footage as he did (he gave me about 20 hours of footage of the trip to comb through) or that his trip itself would have been as exciting as it was (complete with exotic South American locations, dangerous seas, and even a man overboard!). I had originally envisioned making one segment featuring Quen’s 1960s trip that would just touch on his Cape Horn trip. But, after finishing our interview with Quen and his daughter Ashley, and seeing all of the great photos and videos they had, it was clear that both stories were worth telling in their own right. Prairie Fire segments are usually only around 5 minutes each, but given the epic nature of both of Quen’s voyages, these two turned into epic segments as well (the Sailing Around the World segment came out at 12-minutes and this Cape Horn segment is a whopping 16-minutes). Hopefully you agree with me that they’re worth the time.
Segment duration: 16:34
Producer: Steve Drake
This segment is filed in these categories: Hobbies • University of Illinois
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Ray Walsh by Alison Davis Wood
Ray Walsh was a man who really loved tractors almost as much as his wife and 10 Children. It was a pleasure to meet Ray and hear him talk about the pieces of farming history that he was preserving. He had every right to be proud of his handiwork.
After a Prairie Fire story airs you rarely hear back from the subject and sometimes you never know what they thought of the final product. So it was truly touching to hear the response from Ray’s family that this story had meant so much to them. They told me that it was a great tribute to their father and to their brother Mike. Sadly both have passed away since this story originally aired. The Walsh family says they still watch this tape at family gatherings. And I couldn’t be more honored.
Segment duration: 07:04
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Agriculture/Agribusiness • Hobbies
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Ray McIntyre was a man of few words. His whole world was his collection of miniature trains that he proudly displayed in his own museum. But none of it would have been possible without the help of volunteers from the Piatt County Museum. They took care of Ray for thirty years. They would take him to do his grocery shopping, do his laundry and most importantly pick him up every day of the year and take him to his museum. There Ray would spend the day being the boss of Rayville. This charming museum caught the eye of former WILL producer Matt Docter. Matt worked extremely hard on this story using unique camera angles to take the viewer inside the Rayville train layout. He also worked hard coaxing an interview out Mr. McIntyre. Matt and his twin brother Jason are also musicians, so they played and recorded music for the story. Now that Ray has passed, we hope this segment is a fitting tribute to a man who really loved trains. Rayville has closed and now it is the location of Prairie Fire Glass Studio. Soon the Rayville collection will be on display at the new Piatt County Museum. Matt Docter has since moved to Los Angeles and has a successful band call The Lift (http://www.theliftstation.com). He has also appeared in several films, ads and TV shows.
Segment duration: 10:08
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Antiques/Collectibles • Hobbies • Railroads
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At the annual belly dance caravan at Lake Shelbyville, dancers explain the origins of their hobby and demonstrate the American tribal style most U.S. dancers practice.
Segment duration: 04:58
Producer: Tim Hartin
Chief Camera - Segment: Julius Bolton
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Hobbies
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At the Honeybee Festival in Paris, Ill., chainsaw carvers display their art and talk about what appeals to people about their carvings. “Most people want to see how fast we can whip it out,” said carver Sam Dunning. He says his work is more like hauling hay than sculpting indoors, since he works outdoors in hot weather.
Segment duration: 06:00
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Producer: Steve Drake
Chief Camera - Segment: Julius Bolton
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Hobbies • Illinois Culture/History
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Since 1975, Kenny Davis has laid 2300 feet of track, including bridges and tunnels, for small scale railroads at his house in Decatur. He welcomes help from friends to keep up his layout, and once a year, invites them for a party to celebrate railroading.
Segment duration: 03:06
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Producer: Lillie Buck
Chief Camera - Segment: Ian Mitchell
This segment is filed in these categories: Antiques/Collectibles • Arts/Culture • Hobbies • Illinois Culture/History • Railroads
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