It's always fun to go to a park, whether it's a local park with swings and a ball field, or a state park with camping, hiking, and fishing. But National Parks are different. Sure there are still lots of ways to have fun there, but that is not the main reason for their existence. In the U.S., when citizens determine that some place is so important to us that it absolutely positively must be saved for future generations, it is frequently entrusted to the National Park System for preservation.
As a park ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, I routinely greeted groups of visitors with an introduction to the park and the National Park System. I found that for elementary school kids "preservation" is an unfamiliar word. But even lower elementary grade students understand the concept if you ask them whether they have something they like so much that they are trying to make it last forever. Surprisingly, the majority have some object, an old toy, doll, blanket, or model that has special meaning to them and that they want to last. They already know that to make it last they need to be extra careful. They may play with it but not as roughly as they play with other toys.
And so it is with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Folks have determined that there are important natural and historic features here that need to be preserved as part of our national heritage and passed on to the next generation. We can still have lots of fun in the National Lakeshore but in some areas we need to be more careful so that our fun activities do not harm those features that we agree to protect for our children's children. Visitors to a National Park area need to know what physical features are considered especially important and why. They can plan their time in the park to experience these resources, learn about them, and get the full value from their travel and vacation experience.
Every employee of a National Park should be able to list and explain what features make that national park unit important to our national heritage. Several years ago I prepared this list of nationally significant features of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to train our seasonal staff. Some of these significant features were identified in the legislation passed by Congress that created the National Lakeshore. Other nationally significant features have been identified later by required inventories, new discoveries, or new understanding of known features.
Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is the largest body of freshwater totally within the boundaries of the United States. Its size and water quality makes it a national treasure. However, because of human impacts, it is subject to major changes to its ecology. The park extends 1/4 mile out into Lake Michigan. Of course Lake Michigan can be seen from many locations within the Lakeshore.
Lake Michigan Shoreline In the 1960s the primary motivation to create Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was to protect a large section of pristine Great Lakes shoreline for future generations. The National Lakeshore protects 35 miles on the mainland and another 33 miles around North and South Manitou Islands –68 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline altogether. The park provides public access for recreation and enjoyment. The natural shoreline processes of erosion and deposition continue mostly un-impeded. The shoreline includes special features such as the mouth of the Platte River (the last natural river mouth of any size on the Michigan side of the lake, and one of last on the Great Lakes), a bar lake at North Bar, sand spits at Gull Point and Dimmick's Point and sometimes at Sleeping Bear Point. The shoreline also provides critical habitat for the endangered piping plover, a small, sand-colored shore bird that nests and feeds along sand and gravel beaches.
Sand Dunes The eastern shore of Lake Michigan has the world's largest collection of fresh water sand dunes. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has the greatest concentration and variety of dunes and the largest dune field of any site along this shore. Perched dunes are a rare type of dune formation worldwide and the park has one of the best examples of this type of dune anywhere in the world. Dune types in the park include: shore dunes, perched dunes, falling dunes, dune and swale, dune and swale with river, linear, and parabolic.
Vegetated Dunes (Dune vegetation zones) From active dunes to hardwood forested dunes, Sleeping Bear has excellent textbook examples of plant succession on dunes. In fact, the first ecology textbook was conceived after field work at Sleeping Bear and North Manitou by Henry Cowls. The variety of dune types provides the basis for a variety of vegetation habitats on dunes.
Historic Maritime Landscape The National Lakeshore includes several maritime related historic districts connected by the waters of the Manitou Passage. Within these districts you will find three Life-Saving Service Stations, a lighthouse, two coastal villages, summer cottages, island farms, and a shoreline that remains undeveloped. Mostly outside the National Lakeshore, but part of this maritime landscape, is the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve which protects a couple dozen shipwrecks. Together these maritime structures and features create one of the best remaining historic maritime landscapes in the nation.
Historic Agricultural Landscape The Port Oneida Rural Historic District, which contains 18 farms and 3,000 acres of land, is the largest intact historic agricultural landscaped fully protected from development in the United States. In addition, the park has two more agricultural districts on the mainland and another on each island. While already significant, these historic agricultural districts will become even more important in future years as older farm buildings across the Midwest disappear and rural areas undergo modern development
Glacial Landscape Knowledgeable geologists say that the park has the best examples of the effects of continental glaciations of any unit of the National Park System. The glaciers retreated from the park 11,000 years ago. This is a young land and the marks of the glaciers are still fresh. Of course the park's major landscape features, such as Lake Michigan, the inland lakes, and the rolling sand-deposit hills found here, are the direct result of the glaciers. Glen Lake was formed when glacial waters melted and the Earth rebounded, closing off the bay entrance.Often it is the smaller almost unnoticeable marks on this young landscape that geologist find most exciting. For example, marks in the hillsides, such as the Alligator's snout on Alligator Hill indicate the shorelines of ancient ice border lakes. Another example is the ridge in the open fields south of Empire, which reveal the meander bend of a huge melt water river. A long little hump behind the parking lot at the Dune Climb, small ravines in the field by the Windy Moraine parking lot, and a clay pit near Devil's Hole all have important meanings to geologists and those interested in the Earth's history .
Two Large, Undeveloped Fresh Water Islands: North Manitou and South Manitou Large islands in fresh water lake are uncommon worldwide and publicly accessible large, undeveloped islands in fresh water are rare. Because of their isolation, islands have their own ecology, history, and mystique. They provide an opportunity to protect fragile resources and natural processes.
Diverse Habitats The Lakeshore's many landforms create a variety of habitats that support a large array of plants and animals. The Lakeshore provides critical habitat for rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals, and the Lakeshore has more species of nesting birds than any other unit in the National Park System.
Non-threatening Habitats that Encourage Visitor Interaction Sand dunes, beaches, forest trails, gentle streams, and open fields invite visitors to get out of their cars and experience the natural environment. For several years, Sleeping Bear Dunes has been voted the best family nature vacation spot in the Midwest. Our park's natural environment is fun and welcoming. This non-threatening natural environment can support a wide variety of outdoor recreation. More than most National Parks, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore provides safe opportunities for families with limited outdoor skills to have fun and adventure outdoors. Fun outdoors is the greatest single factor in persuading people to take a greater interest in protecting the environment.
There are the ten features of national significance. Later I will discuss each one in more detail with specific information about how and where to best experience each feature.
Even before she became executive director of the Glen Arbor Art Association, Peg McCarty fell in love with its "Dune Climb" concert.
"There are kids running up and down the dunes, seagulls overhead, families having picnics," said McCarty, of the free concert that brings together local residents and summer visitors each year at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore landmark near Glen Arbor.
Click through to read the rest which includes information about this summer's Dune Concert (on July 12) featuring Shout Sister Shout and a bit about other shows including another outdoor concert with Jeff Haas at the Homestead. For more about the Manitou Music Festival, visit the Glen Arbor Art Association.
The annual Glen Arbor Winterfest takes place on Saturday, February 14, 2009. It features a Chili Cookoff at Boone Docks Deck in Glen Arbor (from 12 Noon until the chili is gone) and a perch fishing contest on Glen Lake sponsored by The Sportsman Shop (starting at 7 AM).
The event is sponsored by the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce and all net proceeds benefited the scholarship fund at the Glen Lake School. Here's some photos from last year. Jeremy Plamondon took the fishing honors in 2008 with 13.25", 1 pound perch. Nearly 400 chili tasters selected Chili Cook-Off Winners:
Traditional Chili
1st place-Peace Pole Makers
2nd place-Glen Lake Schools Non-Traditional Chili
1st place-Bear Paw
2nd place-LaBecasse
The Michigan Notable Books program annually selects 20 of the most notable books published in the year. The selections are reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience. Learn more about the program at www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.
Leelanau Press -- More than 50 historic cottages' interiors and exteriors are documented in this beautiful publication detailing the resort community nestled in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Leelanau County. Like taking a trip back in time, the book's descriptive narratives and lavish photographs highlight each individual cottage's lore and memories, and will delight readers with interests in local history, architecture and family traditions.
Rarely seen interior images of fifty cozy summer cottages and narratives provide a portrait of a special place and state of mind evoked by summer cottage living on beautiful Glen Lake. These cottages are viewed against the backdrop of early summer resort life in northern Michigan the first half of the twentieth century. Dietrich Floeter’s duotone photographs and author Barbara Siepker’s captivating historical narratives include personal anecdotes on each cottage. The cottage is shown in its glory and reveals its importance in the lives of its owners and the broader community. In total they document the essence of these wonderful old cottages as well as life and time of bygone years.
These rich cottage images have been captured with care and reverence by Traverse City photographer, Dietrich Floeter. His intention choice of a wide view camera replicates the type and style of camera that would have been used during the time period of the early resort era. Floeter has captured their essence through close attention to light and detail which he has meticulously set up and framed. Floeter has been a commercial photographer for twenty-three years, specializing in architectural, industrial and aerial work.
If you want more information or would like to purchase this Michigan Notable Book visit The Cottage Books website, which is owned by author Barbara Siepker.
Speaking of gloom, the first time I saw the sun this week was 2:05 PM today! That's some February-class gloom!! That, plus over a foot and a half of snow means that we are all entitled to get cabin fever a month early this year!
December 4, 2008: Snow (2-4"), wind & 20s (25/18)
December 5, 2008: Light snow and teens (20/16)
December 6, 2008: Light snow and 20s, then evening snow and heavy wind (27/18)
December 7, 2008: Light snow, windy & 20 (21/17)
December 8, 2008: Mostly cloudy, light snow and 20s (26/18)
December 9, 2008: 2-5" fluffy overnight snow, then more snow & upper 20s (30/24)
December 10, 2008: Light snow and low 20s (25/20)
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) is holding a fund-raiser and reception this Sunday (Nov 16) in Traverse City to launch a campaign to protect the public trust in the waters of the Great Lakes Basin. MCWC will be showing the film FLOW: For Love of Water (trailer below), an award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. On hand will be filmmaker Irena Salina along with former Governor Milliken, Terry Swier, Jim Olson and Dave Dempsey.
FLOW will be shown on November 16, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the State Theater in Traverse City with a reception immediately following at the Opera House. At the reception, there will be a panel for Q&A’s, music provided by Chris Campbell and Jimmy Olson, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres.
Tickets to the event are $15 for single and $25 for couple. Purchase of reception ticket includes reserved ticket to the film. Tickets are available at www.cityoperahouse.org or 231.941.8082.
The M-22 Color Tour promotion is a collaborative effort of the visitors bureaus in Benzie and Manistee counties, along with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The three organizations pooled resources and marketing dollars to spread the word about the color route.
In addition to the Web site, the groups printed about 10,000 rack cards that are available at their respective offices, at Michigan Welcome Centers and at businesses along the route...
At a time when many folks are watching their gas gauges, one appeal of the M-22 Color Tour is that it's a one-tank trip for many in Michigan and across the Midwest. That makes it an appealing day trip or weekend getaway for those who want to savor autumnal beauty.
On Sunday, September 21 the The Cherry Capital Cycling Club will host the annual Leelanau Harvest Tour. It's an annual bicycle road ride that drew 1,000 riders last year and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. To honor this milestone, a bluegrass band will perform at the end of the ride and special surprises along the routes are also planned.
The tour starts and ends at Glen Lake School, and route options cover 15, 25, 45, 67 and 100 miles through the hilly countryside. In an effort to encourage families and less inexperienced riders, the 15-mile route was added this year. The rides feature unique food stops every 20 to 30 miles at lakefront parks with a menu that includes specialties from area merchants and restaurants. Pre-registered riders will also enjoy a pasta and salad meal after the ride, which is included in the registration fee.
The Exposures Open House will be held Friday (Apr 25) at the Old Art Building. The event features an exhibition of work from this year's Exposures magazine along with refreshments and music. The opening reception is on Friday, April 25 from 5 to 8 pm featuring original artwork, essay and poetry readings, hors d'oeuvres and live music by the "I Am Art" student band. The exhibit continues on Saturday, April 26 from 10 am to 4 pm and this is a great chance to support some wonderful student artists and writers from all of Leelanau County's schools.
Alligator Hill Trail comes equipped with beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake. Alligator Hill has a total of nine miles of trail, which are divided into different loops, the hike is very hilly and passes through beautiful Michigan forests.
The 1.5 mile hike from the Stocking Road trailhead to the Islands Lookout on top of Alligator Hill is a relatively gentle uphill walk through Maple-Beech forest on an old road bed. The view from the Lookout is outstanding. On a clear day, you can see North and South Manitou Island and Sleeping Bear Point. Quite often South Fox Island will also be visible. There is a bench at the lookout, so you can take some time to relax and enjoy the view before continuing your hike. From this vantage point you will often see a freighter making its way through the Manitou Passage.
For more information on the Alligator Hill Trail, feel free to visit the National Parks Service's website.
Cool things to do: hike the trail, run the trail - which is very hard, ride the trail -horses are also allowed. Search the undergrowth for signs of different animal life. Do not bike the trail. Stop in Glen Arbor before or after your hike to check out the great shops, grab a bite to eat, or just walk around town.
It's always fun to go to a park, whether it's a local park with swings and a ball field, or a state park with camping, hiking, and fishing. But National Parks are different. Sure there are still lots of ways to have fun there, but that is not the main reason for their existence. In the U.S., when citizens determine that some place is so important to us that it absolutely positively must be saved for future generations, it is frequently entrusted to the National Park System for preservation.
Sand Dunes The eastern shore of Lake Michigan has the world's largest collection of fresh water sand dunes. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has the greatest concentration and variety of dunes and the largest dune field of any site along this shore. Perched dunes are a rare type of dune formation worldwide and the park has one of the best examples of this type of dune anywhere in the world. Dune types in the park include: shore dunes, perched dunes, falling dunes, dune and swale, dune and swale with river, linear, and parabolic.
The new 
