TART Trails and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will host two summer open houses at the intersection of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail and Glen Haven Road —on Thursday, July 27, from 11 am-1 pm, and Thursday, August 10, from 11 am-1 pm. Community members, visitors, trail users and those interested in learning more about the trail and its Pathway to Good Harbor extension are invited to stop by to talk trails.
Amy Hubbell leads Yoga on the Beach sessions every Friday morning at 10 a.m. throughout the summer at the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum near Glen Haven. To join, all you need is a beach towel, water, and some sunscreen to enjoy this gentle all-level class. This is a donation-based class that provides funds to projects within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The suggested donation is $10 per class.
Capture your postcard perfect photos of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and collect a prize at the photo celebration from the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Families, friends, and kids can participate in the Instagram photo adventure celebrating the natural beauty of the park and the fun of discovery it inspires. Sponsored by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, the photo special event is intended to lead you to explore new places and share your favorite moments on Instagram. Upload your snapshots from the park, #sleepingbearfriends by July 8, then, join at the Cherry Republic Glen Arbor Flagship store from 1-3 pm on July 9 to collect your prize.
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will present Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear: The Rest of the Story at the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire on December 15 at 7 pm. Modeled after Paul Harvey’s famous radio program: And Now You Know the Rest of the Story, there is so much more to tell than what fit into the pages of our best-selling book. After a short introduction of the book, the following featured speakers will share funny and informative insight into our area history. We invite attendees to bring their own stories and photos to share. Photographs can be set out on tables or shared through a jump drive on a computer screen.
Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak in Empire teamed up with FLOW (For Love of Water), Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Surfrider NoMi, and S’well for an April 22 Earth Day beach cleanup at North Bar Lake.
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is offering a general training session for new and returning volunteers June 11 at the Empire Town Hall. Join more than 700 dedicated Friends members who protect the resources and enhance visitor experiences at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore each year.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has officially issued a 40-year lease to Balancing Environment and Rehabilitation (BEAR) for the historic Sleeping Bear Inn and Garage in Glen Haven. The lease allows the Inn to be rehabilitated and opened as a premier bed and breakfast lodge. A public open house of the buildings will take place on Friday, April 8, at 1 p.m., following a short ceremony. The open house will provide the public the opportunity to see the buildings as they are before their rehabilitation.
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is always looking for new volunteers. If you enjoy being outdoors and being part of a group of dedicated park volunteers, this is the place for you. Some volunteer positions like Adopt-A-Beach, Adopt-A-Trail and Adopt-A-River can be completed on your own or with family and friends, when you are here and when you have time. Other positions provide the opportunity to meet and learn from park professionals and trained volunteers in a group setting.
Through a delightful collection of photographs, the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes’ new book Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear: A History in Photos from National Lakeshore Visitors showcases the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes, which has enchanted people for centuries. Hundreds of pictures and personal stories submitted by visitors and residents of the area tell the story. It shows the area as it was when settlers came here to lumber and farm. And, it explores how Sleeping Bear Dunes has been preserved, protected, and enjoyed since the National Lakeshore was established 50 years ago. Join the Friends book team and many of the photo and story submitters at the book launch party at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor on July 11, from 2-4 pm. Refreshments will be provided by Cherry Republic.
Are you home with children/students during the pandemic lockdown and wondering how to have a positive, educational experience that is fun for the whole family? The Life of the Sleeping Bear provides hours of entertaining and educational reading. Filled with iconic photos, little-known facts, and stories, it is both delightful and engaging. Its artistry makes it a wonderful book for casual enjoyment, as well as for more educational purposes.