On January 14, 1922 fifty-four angry men met at the Chicago Athletic Club for lunch. They were angry for one reason and one reason alone. These fifty-four men from different backgrounds had one thing in common, they were all fishermen. And they were all fed up with virtually unbridled industrial pollution and the fact that the people they had helped elect to office were sitting idly by and doing nothing to stop the fouling of our nation’s lakes and streams. They didn't realize it at the time, but this was the first meeting of what would become the Izaak Walton League of America. 
 

The Izaak Walton League's mission is "Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Water and Wildlife". Word quickly spread about this fledgling organization. On May 17 of 1922 the Michigan City Chapter #7 received its charter. Chapter #7 is now the oldest continuing chapter in the nation. Sadly we know very little of the early history of our chapter. We do know that our predecessors were worthy stewards of our chapter's property.

 

We plan on using this site as an information exchange hub for our members and all those who prize our natural habitat, and wish to preserve and manage it for future generations.

 

 

Our Mission

 

"Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Water and Wildlife." 

  

 Our Pledge

  

“To strive for the purity of water, the clarity of air, and the wise stewardship of the land and its resources; to know the beauty and understanding of nature and the value of wildlife, woodlands and open space; to the preservation of this heritage and to man’s sharing in it.”