By Guest Blogger, Nina Asunto
 

For any hikers out there in need of a vacation with limited time available, consider South Manitou Island. With just three days at your disposal, it is possible to enjoy an unhurried visit that is part backpacking trip, part summer beach vacation. Observe historic artifacts, take in spectacular views, and fall asleep to the sound of Lake Michigan’s calming surf while hiking the island’s perimeter.

Manitou Island Transit Ferry

Your first day begins by taking the passenger ferry from Leland to South Manitou. After National Park Service orientation, you are free to begin hiking north to Popple Campground, the island’s most secluded spot, approximately 3 ½ miles from the boathouse. You will have two options to get there:

• Head inland immediately to observe ruins from the island’s agricultural history, or
• Walk the beach along Crescent Bay before eventually turning inland and then heading north.

Campers venturing to Popple Campground should be experienced and properly equipped. There is no drinking water available; water must be collected from the lake and purified for drinking and cooking. The majority of visitors stay near the island’s south end, so camping at the far north offers little in the way of company. Your reward is a very private campsite and a beautiful stretch of lakeshore that does not see much traffic. Enjoy the afternoon at this secluded beach – you might have it all to yourself.

South Manitou Island Beach

The following morning, sleep as long as you like before packing up and heading down to the beach for a leisurely day traveling the water’s edge. Take your time walking the seven miles to your next campsite; this beach hike offers spectacular views of turquoise water, khaki sand, and towering bluffs. With over 100 miles of Lake Michigan’s expanse stretching out before you, it is easy to imagine you are on an exotic island in the ocean, far from the Midwest.

South Manitou Island Bluff

As you travel south, the flat, sandy beach gives way to a rockier shore flanked by increasingly tall bluffs. Watch for the occasional freighter in the distance as you near the island’s Southwest corner. Coming around to the island’s south side, you will spot the remains of the Francisco Morazan shipwreck, a freighter that ran aground in 1960. Still jutting out of its watery grave, this shipwreck is just offshore from another nice stretch of sandy beach, where you can expect to see fellow visitors swimming, climbing the adjacent dunes, or simply relaxing in the sun. Just under two miles ahead, a handful of paths from the beach lead up a sandy bluff to Weather Station Campground. Weather Station Campground is much more populated than Popple Campground, and some of the campsites are located near the edge of the bluffs with views of the lake and distant mainland.

Francisco Morazan Shipwreck

After a good night’s sleep courtesy of Lake Michigan’s surf, begin your third and final day on the island enjoying the sights at your leisure. The ferry does not leave until 4:00 p.m., leaving you with nearly the whole day to explore. From Weather Station Campground, continue hiking along the beach for 1 ½ miles to South Manitou Lighthouse, then follow the boardwalk to the ranger station. From here, you may leave your backpack at the boathouse and decide how to spend therest of your day. A guided tour to the top of the 100-foot lighthouse offers impressive views of the endless lake and surrounding landscape, or, if you would like additional adventure, a 6-mile roundtrip hike to a stand of ancient cedars begins near the lighthouse. Just be sure to be ready to board the ferry when it departs unless you are looking for an accidental extension to your vacation.

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

Although Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a highly-visited summer destination, hiking and camping on South Manitou Island should be taken seriously. Once visitors step off the ferry, they are essentially on their own. The island’s park rangers greet each batch of visitors, offer helpful information, and answer questions, but they are often out patrolling the island and not readily available in the case of an emergency. Poison ivy is abundant in many places on the island, so care should be taken when venturing into the woods and even along some paths. Keeping these things in mind will allow for a memorable weekend that you are bound to want to repeat.

 

Nina Asunto on Sleeping Bear Point Trail

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

August 23, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Join Park Rangers for another Families United with Nature (FUN) day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) and this time compete in the FUN Summer Olympics!  Meet Park Rangers at Esch Beach (south of Empire) on Saturday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m.  Families will make their own team flags and compete in a variety of fun summertime games!  Be sure to dress in clothes and shoes you do not mind getting wet and sandy.  Reservations are not required, but are recommended by contacting Park Ranger Lisa Griebel at 231-326-5134 or Lisa_Griebel@nps. gov.

FUN is a free outdoor activity club for all types of family groups (no matter the size and composition) hosted by the National Lakeshore.  The club provides a fantastic opportunity for families to get outdoors together and try their hand at something new, breathe a little fresh air, and meet other families who enjoy being outside.  FUN meets monthly, with additional special events held throughout the year.

When you join the club at any FUN event, you receive a free journal to document your outdoor activities and have the opportunity to earn rewards as a family for active participation.  All FUN activities are free; however, a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park Entrance Pass is required to be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle.  The Entrance Pass costs $10 and is good for a full week, or an Annual Park Entrance Pass may be purchased for only $20.  Both passes can be purchased at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Barn to Barn Trail Course

On Saturday, September 3rd, at 9 am, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear hosts their second annual Port Oneida Barn to Barn Run/Walk – a 5K on the Bayview Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Proceeds support historic preservation in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, recently voted as the most beautiful place in America by Good Morning America.  “What ABC didn’t mention in their wonderful coverage, is that in addition to its magnificent natural beauty, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore also boasts ‘one of the most prized historic landscapes in the nation’– an honor, and a treasure that contributes to this most beautiful place”, said Susan Pocklington, Director of the nonprofit park partner, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB).

The fundraiser for PHSB helps stabilize, rehabilitate or restore the Park’s 366 historic farms, barns, outbuildings, log cabins, antique orchards, and maritime structures, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and “are very much a part of the uniqueness and serenity of the Park described in the TV video,” Pocklington added. “You really can’t beat having a run/walk in a National Park like this one, plus, the trail gives participants the opportunity to see the very resources we are involved in protecting,” commented Pocklington.

The course meanders through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, passing old farmsteads and panoramic views of Lake Michigan. Kid’s can join in the fun too with a ¼ mile Kid’s Dash to the Schoolhouse.

Last year, 154 runners and walkers came out for the inaugural event which starts and finishes at the Charles Olsen Farm located right off the trail in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, 3 miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22.  Praise from participants for the first-time event was gratifying to organizers: Lauren Hawthorne from Atlanta, Georgia wrote, “I loved the race!  I’m so happy I was there for the inaugural event and plan on making it an annual tradition.  The course was great and the views were wonderful”.

“My wife, son, and I enjoyed the inaugural Port Oneida Run.  The running trail, woods, and views were great.  We hope to participate with more family members next year,” remarked Garry Ringnalda from Alto, Michigan.

Suttons Bay resident, Amy Baker, commented, “I loved the run.  It is really a beautiful trail run.  Best trail run I did this year. Kudos to you and all your volunteers; I have been sharing how much I enjoyed the race with all my friends.” And Jack Gossett raved, “What a fun time.  It is hard to believe it was your inaugural event.  I plan on inviting additional family members for your next race.”

Pre-registration is $20 through August 27^th and $30 after that.  The event will be limited to 300 participants this year.

Hand-crafted plaques will be awarded to the overall male and female winners.  The number of age categories has been increased to nine from last year, with medals awarded to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners.  The event offers the first 125 paying registrants a free 20 oz. aluminum imprinted waterbottle with carabineer. A post-race celebration includes tasty edibles along with some great free give-aways donated by local businesses.

 For registration and details, visit: www.phsb.org, or contact 231-334-6103.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

Empire, MI – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce that the 10^th Annual Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair will be held August 12 and 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  In addition to the many popular demonstrations, animals and exhibits, the fair will be a zero-waste event, will feature a chicken dinner on Friday, and will end with an astronomy party on Saturday night to celebrate the milestone 10^th year.

Each August, amid the pastoral setting of meadows, maples, barns, farmhouses and corncribs, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District awakens from its peaceful slumber and comes alive with activity true to the period when it was a community of robust farms.  Once again, visitors are invited to step back in time at the two-day Port Oneida Fair on Friday and Saturday to experience life as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Visitors can take the shuttle, drive, hike, or bike to the six unique historic sites where a variety of activities take place.  One can almost imagine the life of these farm families as the clip-clop of horse and wagon is heard toting visitors down Port Oneida Road on a scenic drive-by of the community’s historic homes, schoolhouse, barns and outbuildings.  Timber framers, candle makers and basket weavers will be demonstrating their crafts.  Potters and blacksmiths will be hard at work.  And oxen will be cutting hay in the fields.

Additionally, children can try their hand at the crosscut saw and other farm tools.  Do not miss the displays of wind-up musical instruments, flour sack dresses, and quilts, too.  Learn about knitting, soap-making, butter-churning, spinning, bee keeping and honey production.  Satisfy your curiosity and walk through many of the historic farmhouses and barns that will be open for tours. 

Interpreting the history of the Port Oneida Community and its settlers is an important aspect of the fair.  Who were the families that lived on these farms?  How did they live?  What did they do?  Park Rangers and families of Port Oneida residents will share these stories at various farm sites. Food will be available for purchase or you may pack a picnic lunch to eat on the trail or in a farm meadow. 

By partnering with Bay Area Recycling for Charities, the National Lakeshore will be going “green” and composting or recycling all materials possible throughout the fair.  The goal is to have a 95% recycle and compost rate.  Special bins will be placed at each site.  In order to reduce what is being put into a landfill, compostable service ware will be used.  These items (cups, plates, and utensils) are made from plant based materials and will break down in a compost pile within weeks, as opposed to plastics and paper material that would take generations to decompose in a landfill.

Also new this year, on Friday, August 12, starting at 5:00 p.m., Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear will present the Port Oneida Picnic; a chicken dinner for only $12.  Tickets need to be purchased in advance.  There will be music and activities to accompany dinner at the Olsen Farm.  Please contact Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear for ticket information at http://phsb.org.

Star Party (Spring 2011)

To close out the two-day fair, there will be a Star Party on Saturday, August 13, starting at 9:30 p.m. at the Thoreson Farm.  Join Park Rangers and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) to experience a form of recreation that has been enjoyed by many generations and continues today.  GTAS members share their telescopes and knowledge while viewing the sunset, Saturn, and the full moon.  Learn about astronomy as it was in the 1900s.  Remember to bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car. 

It is the mission of the Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair to promote the preservation of rural traditional skills, crafts, landscapes, and communities of the Upper Great Lakes Region through education, artistic expression and the development of a coalition of community organizations.  Port Oneida is the largest intact historic agricultural district in the United States that is fully protected within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  It is historically significant because it conveys the land use practices, architecture, and evolution of agricultural technology common to subsistent farms of the upper Great Lakes region.  The Port Oneida Rural Historic District contains 19 historic farms (four privately owned), more than 300 buildings, and over 3,000 acres of land.  In addition to the farmhouses, barns, and wonderful variety of specialized outbuildings, the historic district contains the fields, orchards, fence rows, roads, cemetery, forest and other elements that make up the historic landscape.

 All events are free after visitors purchase and display the National Lakeshore pass on their vehicles.  For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/slbe or call the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center at 231-326-5134.  Also, check out the National Park Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Heritage Trail

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, TART Trails, Inc. and NWMCOG

August 3, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:

• Pam Darling, Marketing and Outreach Director for TART Trails, Inc., (231) 941-4300 or pam@traversetrails.org
• Patty O’Donnell, Regional Planner for NWMCOG. (231) 929-5039 or pattyodonnell@nwm.cog.mi.us
• Tom Ulrich, Deputy Superintendent for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, (231) 326-5135 or tom_ulrich@nps.gov

Groundbreaking to Celebrate Trail August 12, 2011

GLEN ARBOR – The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is officially being launched with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Dune Climb on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.  When completed, the 27-mile trail will run from the southern edge of Leelanau County through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Good Harbor Bay.  The groundbreaking celebrates the upcoming construction of nearly five miles of trail between Glen Arbor and the Dune Climb. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed next year.

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a project of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee (LSHR).  Trail development is a partnership between the LSHR Committee, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and TART Trails.  Funding for trail development comes from federal and state grants, foundations, and individual donations. “After five years, this amazing Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route project is taking physical shape.  By this time next year, we will be able to safely bike, walk, or wheel from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor with the opportunity to stop at other park sites in between, ” said Patty O’Donnell, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Project Manager- Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

The trail was included in the National Lakeshore’s most recent management plan and garnered strong public support during the planning process. According to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz the “The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the single most exciting project to come out of our recently completed General Management Plan.  The trail will provide a wonderful way to explore and learn about the park, as well as become a meaningful alternative for visitors to travel between park sites and local businesses – without having to use their cars!”

Heritage Trail

Julie Clark, Executive Director of TART Trails is grateful for the strong collaboration between partners. “Many partners came together to make this trail a reality. We are very excited for the groundbreaking ceremony on August 12^th as it officially launches the public fundraising effort,” said Clark.

Campaign Tri-Chair, Karen Van Nort is excited about the groundbreaking, “We are thrilled that families will have a safe place to ride their bicycles.  We hope the public will join us as we kick-off this legacy trail.”

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PICTURES: Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail pictures may be downloaded and reproduced at http://www.flickr.com/photos/63844875@N04/  Click on a photo you would like, and click on “All sizes” to download. For more information about the trail visit www.sleepingbeartrail.org

 About the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee

The Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route is a program of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments which is funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation.  The Committee is dedicated to promoting measures which protect and enhance the scenic, historical, and recreational characteristics of M-22, M-109, and M-204 as they traverse the rural countryside and unique communities of Leelanau County.

 About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a unit of the National Park Service established in 1970.  The Lakeshore preserves the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the area so that all may experience and appreciate it.  Significant resources of the Lakeshore include forests, beaches, dunes, and glacial landforms, as well as maritime, agricultural, and recreational historic features.

 About TART

Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization formed in 1998 and located in Traverse City, Michigan. TART works to enrich the Traverse area by providing a network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways; and encouraging their use. TART Trails include a network of trail systems located in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. It is estimated that the trails serve over 200,000 users annually while preserving valuable community green space. TART is working to integrate these trails into the community by advocating for interconnected bike lanes, bike routes and sidewalks, and is also working to extend these trails to connect with a developing regional trails system. For more information about TART Trails, please visit www.traversetrails.org

Official Press Release from PRESERVE Historic Sleeping Bear

July 29, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Susan Pocklington (231)-334-6103, phsb@leelanau.com

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is offering something new at the Port Oneida Fair this year.  They’ll be hosting the Port Oneida Picnic – an outdoor chicken dinner –on Friday, August 12 from 5 – 7 pm, as a fitting way to end the first day of the two-day cultural fair. The Northport Community Band, and fiddler, Bob Sadler and Company will entertain while you eat under the tent at the Charles and Hattie Olsen Farm in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District.  A corn-on-the-cob eating contest and other activities will add to the family fun.

Tickets are $12 each and must be purchased by August 9th to guarantee a dinner. After the 9th there will be only very limited tickets. The menu includes a ½ Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Potato Salad, Roll and Butter and a beverage.  For ticket information and purchase, go to www.phsb.org.  The Olsen farm is located at 3164 W. Harbor Hwy (M-22) about 3 miles north of Glen Arbor and just west of Port Oneida Road.  For further information please call 334-6103.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

June 20, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Join Park Rangers for another Families United with Nature (FUN) day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and this time discover how to reuse and recycle in a creative, playful and artistic way!  Meet at the Platte River Picnic Area on M-22 south of Empire on Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m.  There are several different craft stations and outdoor games planned for everyone. This event is open to all families, no matter the size or composition, and is part of the park’s outdoor activity club, FUN.  Dress for crafts and fun.  Reservations are not required, but are recommended by contacting Park Ranger Lisa Griebel at 231-326-5134, or Lisa_Griebel@nps.gov.

FUN (Families United with Nature) is a free outdoor activity club for all types of family groups, hosted by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The club provides a fantastic opportunity for families to get outdoors together and try their hand at something new, breathe a little fresh air, and meet other families who enjoy being outside.  FUN meets monthly, with additional special events held throughout the year.

When you join the club at any FUN event, you receive a free journal to document your outdoor activities and have the opportunity to earn rewards as a family for active participation.  All FUN activities are free; however, a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park Entrance Pass is required to be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle.  The Entrance Pass costs $10 and is good for a full week, or an Annual Park Entrance Pass may be purchased for only $20.  Both passes can be purchased at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.  Family scholarships are available by request for those needing assistance.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134

There is plenty of summer left to take advantage of volunteer projects or participate in special events hosted by Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, a non-profit partner of the National Park Service. The mission of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is to help preserve and interpret the historic structures and cultural landscapes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In keeping with this mission, Preserve has organized some really fun activities, projects and contests.

HISTORIC PORT ONEIDA: THE LAND TELLS Its SIDE OF THE STORY

Thursday, July 14 at 10:00am

Tour Port Oneida with Bill Herd, a retired interpretive ranger with the National Park Service, for a fascinating looks at the historic buildings and their history! Meet at the Olsen farm on M-22 (3164) just west of Port Oneida Road.

TREAT FARM VOLUNTEER WORK PROJECT

Friday & Saturday, July 15 & 16 at 9:00am to 4:00pm

Last year paid contractors and volunteers repaired six outbuildings. This summer a team will finish the pig barn, clear brush and start a large project, repairing the Treat farmhouse. The house will be scraped and painted. Rotting sills and gutters will be replaced and the chimneys will be repaired. Professional painters have been hired to handle the scraping and painting but a team of six skilled carpenters and ten general volunteers are needed. For more information on how to volunteer, visit the Treat Farm Project web page.

“WE LOVE OUR PARK” PHOTO CONTEST

Entry Deadline, Saturday, July 16

Get out into the park and capture the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Each photo must contain a historical structure within the park boundary. Prizes will be awarded that include for first place, second place and honorable mention. Finalists will be selected by photographer Tom Kachadurian. The public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites online. Entries must be postmarked by July 16. For more information on the contest or to enter online, visit “We Love Our Park” Photo Contest. Cost: $20 for two entries.

PATH TO THE PAGE: HIKING AND WRITING

Thursday, July 28 at 9:00am to 3:00pm

This workshop offers an interpretive experience of Port Oneida, through a unique combination of writing and hiking. Exploring the scenic paths and farms, Anne-Marie Oomen, Creative Writing instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy, provides the inspiration and writing tools for creating your own imaginative pieces based upon facts about select historic sites. The morning begins at the Olsen Farm before heading off on the approximately three-mile hike. Participants and instructors share snippets of their writing progresses. Cost is: $70 and includes a box lunch. Registration required. For more information and to register online, visit Path to Page web page.

PORT ONEIDA PICNIC PRESENTED BY PRESERVE HISTORIC SLEEPING BEAR

Friday, August 15 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Come to the Port Oneida Historic Fair during the day and stay for dinner in the evening. Enjoy an old fashioned chicken dinner at the Charles and Hattie Olsen farm. Live musical entertainment, tractor wagon rides, and a corn-on-the-cob-eating contest. The “We Love Our Park” photo contest winner will be announced. Tickets are limited: $12/person. For more information, visit the Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Programs web page.

 10^th ANNUAL HISTORIC PORT ONEIDA FAIR

Friday & Saturday, August 12 & 13 from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is a co-sponsor along with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes of the Port Oneida Fair. The Park is host to two full days at seven historic sites in Port Oneida that sets the scene for over 100 demonstrations in life-skills, crafts and traditions of the late 1800s – early 1900s. From oxen mowing to butter making and spinning, this event is an enjoyable and relaxing, yet educational time for the whole family. Attend the fair or volunteer by calling 231.334.6103. Visit the Port Oneida Fair for more information.

HISTORIC PORT ONEIDA: THE LAND TELLS Its SIDE OF THE STORY

Thursday, August 18 at 10:00am

Tour Port Oneida with Bill Herd, a retired interpretive ranger with the National Park Service, for a fascinating looks at the historic buildings and their history! Meet at the Olsen farm on M-22 (3164) just west of Port Oneida Road.

NORTH MANITOU ISLAND VOLUNTEER PROJECT

Friday through Sunday, August 19^th through 28^th

Spend some time on North Manitou Island working on historic buildings including Blossom Cottage, a Frank Lloyd Wright structure, the Katie Shepard Hotel and other structures. Sign up for a little as three volunteer days or for the whole week. Work for six hours with a few hours off each day to explore the island. Ferry ride to the island and house is provided. Register early since space is limited. For more information on the trip and projects, visit the North Manitou Island Project page or the Volunteer Signup page.

DAY TRIP TO NORTH MANITOU ISLAND

Tuesday, August 23 from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and the Leelanau Historical Society are teaming up to provide an enjoyable experience visiting the island and viewing some of PHSB’s restoration work. Explore the natural beauty while learning about the island’s vibrant historical contribution to Leelanau County – it’s settlers, shipwrecks, commerce and mainland connections. Tours will include historic Cottage Row with an overview of the Katie Shepherd Hotel restoration project and work which has begun on the Frank Lloyd Wright Blossom Cottage. A light breakfast and box lunch are provided.  Depart from Leland at 9:00am. Tickets are $60/person for LHS or PHSB member or $80/person for non-members. For more information and to register call the Leelanau Historical Society at 231-256-7475 or e-mail info@leelanauhistory.org. Also visit Programs & Events on the PHSP website for more information. 

SECOND ANNUAL PORT ONEIDA 5K BARN-TO-BARN TRAIL RUN/WALK

Saturday, September 3^rd at 9:00am

Help raise money to support the efforts of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear by running or walking on a beautiful course through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. Kids get in on the fun in their own ½ Mile Dash. The run is limited to 300 participants and pre-registration is required. Cost: $20 pre-registration/$30 after August 27^th. Volunteers are needed for this event. To register, volunteer or for more information, visit the Port Oneida Run web page.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

June 16, 2011

For Immediate Release

Kimberly Mann, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce the next installment in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s highly successful Barn Restoration Workshop series.  This year’s workshop will take place June 24-25 at the often-photographed Bufka Barn located 11 miles north of Glen Arbor and 6 miles south of Leland on M-22 just south of Townline Road.  This year marks the 15^th anniversary of the partnership between the Michigan Barn Preservation Network and the National Lakeshore in developing this series of “hands-on” workshops.

Each year a different skill is highlighted, and this year, the workshop at the Bufka Barn will focus on stone masonry repair.  The course will include 1) basics about mortar, 2) mortar analysis, 3) mortar and raking demonstrations, 4) tuck pointing and finishes, and 5) tool use and equipment safety.  The course is set up so participants receive “hands-on” training of all techniques.  The park and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network are providing the skilled labor to conduct the workshop.   The workshop begins on site at 9:00 a.m. each day.  There is no cost to participants.  Tools and materials will be provided.  Participants should wear boots and gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend.

Bufka Farm (Photo by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder)

Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated.  The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train homeowners and interested persons how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures.  Past workshop attendees have ranged in age from 7 to 70, with each contributing their own unique skills to the project.

The public workshops started in 1997 at the John Burfiend Barn in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, with subsequent workshops again at the Burfiend Barn, Brunson Barn, Lawr Barn, Klett Pasture Barn, Miller Barn, Barratt Pig Barn, and South Manitou Island’s Beck Farm.  Superintendent Shultz noted that, “An amazing amount of much-needed work has been accomplished on the National Lakeshore’s historic structures through these workshops, but perhaps even more significant is that these skills are kept alive and passed on to others in the community.”

Interested parties should contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at (231) 326-5135, ext. 501, or by email at kimberly_mann@nps.gov, to sign up for the workshop.  Campsites may be arranged for you at the D. H. Day Campground Group Site near Glen Haven, as needed.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

June 16, 2011

For Immediate Release

Kimberly Mann, 231-326-5134

Nineteen national parks receive grants from the National Park Foundation to support interactive and engaging projects that will strengthen Americans’ connection with their national parks.

Empire, MI – The National Park Foundation (NPF) has announced that it is proud to award Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) a grant to support the launch of the Traditional Skills and Trades Mentor/Apprentice Project.  This new and innovative project will pair SEEDS/Northwest Michigan Youth Corps members with professionals skilled in traditional and historic trades as apprentices to pass down these skills to the next generation.  The grant is part of the NPF’s America’s Best Idea; a nationwide program which connects underserved and under-engaged populations throughout the United States with their national parks in innovative and meaningful ways.

“It is an honor to receive this grant because it will assist the park and the National Park Service in preserving traditional trades through video documentation and apprenticeship training,” said Tom Ulrich, Deputy Superintendent of the National Lakeshore.  “With this project, we will expand the park’s current partnership with SEEDS/Northwest Michigan Youth Corps to connect at-risk and adjudicated middle school and high school students with traditional artists and trades people who participate in the park’s annual Port Oneida Rural Historic District Fair.”

The project will engage many of the Fair’s traditional demonstrators/mentors with the youth who participate in the SEEDS summer youth camps, thus bringing park resources to more youth through an established educational venue.  The project will continue with SEEDS facilitating the mentors’ participation in their after-school and summer camp programs during the 2011-2012 school year as a continuation of the teaching/learning relationships started in the initial steps of the project.  The project will engage the youth apprentices in learning about the traditions and resources that shaped the people and land who lived in what are now park lands.  Understanding of those connections will develop the youth’s sense of place and their own personal relationship with the place with its resulting stewardship of the resources.

“We must create opportunities for all Americans to have access to and enjoy their national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the NPF.  “With these grants, we’re connecting more and more people to the parks, while building and strengthening long-lasting support, appreciation and commitment to protecting America’s Best Idea.”

Inspired by the epic Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the NPF, in partnership with Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, the Anschutz Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation, awarded America’s Best Idea grants to 19 national parks across the country.

A full list of grantees and project descriptions is available on the NPF website.

Sleeping Bear Dunes was created to preserve the outstanding natural features of this area, including 71,000 acres of dunes, beaches, forests, inland lakes and rivers, and glacial phenomena.  It also preserves cultural resources that reflect Great Lakes maritime and Michigan agricultural history.

About the National Park Foundation – You are the owner of 84 million acres of the world’s most treasured landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites — all protected in America’s nearly 400 national parks.  Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks.  NPF works hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. 
Join NPF – This is Your Land. www.nationalparks.org
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 For further information, you may contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at (231) 326-5134, ext. 501, or by email at kimberly_mann@nps.gov.