The Bow Lakes area is a detached section of the National Lakeshore, created when a 1982 amendment of the National Lakeshore’s enabling legislation authorized a boundary revision that added the area to the park.  There are currently no developments in this area.

The project concept is to develop a trail system for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, a small parking area, adequate signing, and interpretive information.

Planning for the Kettles Trail is just beginning and, as part of this planning process, the National Lakeshore welcomes your ideas and input regarding issues or concerns relevant to you.  They are especially interested in things you would like them to consider as they plan the project.  Please provide your comments electronically through a link on the National Lakeshore’s website at www.nps.gov/slbe/.  Comments may also be mailed to the National Lakeshore (Superintendent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front Street, Empire, Michigan, 49630).

The National Lakeshore requests that you provide your comments to them by May 20, 2013.  The comments you submit during this “scoping” phase of planning will be evaluated and considered during the development of alternatives and analysis of impacts.  The EA is scheduled for release in late summer and will then be made available for further public review.  At that time, the National Lakeshore will again solicit public input.

For Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this amounts to a $234,000 reduction from a budget of $4,676,000. The park cut travel, training, overtime, and supply purchases, and reduced the number and length of seasonal employee positions to meet the required spending reduction. The park was not given the option of furloughing permanent employees.

While the National Lakeshore takes the actions necessary to comply with sequestration, Superintendent Dusty Shultz noted that, “The park remains open, welcoming visitors and continuing to protect the resources entrusted to our care.”

Following are the major actions being taken to implement the cut:

Staffing
(Note: About 98 percent of the park’s budget pays for salaries and fixed costs like utilities)

• Shortened Seasonal Positions:  22
• Cut Seasonal Positions:  5

Park Operations
Reduced staffing will reduce park operations in the following ways:

Visitor Services and Facilities:

• Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive will not open until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day.
• Ranger programs, including environmental education programs for school groups, will not be available until Memorial Day Weekend and will cease after Labor Day.
• Other than those at the visitor center and campgrounds, restrooms and trash cans will not be available until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. This includes the Manitou Islands.
• Mowing of picnic areas and historic farmsteads will be sharply reduced.
• These actions are expected to affect over 250,000 visitors to the park, including 10,000 school children.

Resource Protection:

• Protection and monitoring of the endangered Piping Plover will be sharply reduced.

Follow-up control of invasive plants such as black locust will be sharply reduced

For snow conditions, find us on Facebook or click here for more information.

Building Beach Access Stairs

From a purely financial standpoint, the Friends provided grants or purchased equipment for the benefit of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore of almost $90,000 in the past fiscal year! That number includes over $47,000 which was used to purchase equipment to maintain the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Those funds came to the Friends from the SBHT fundraising. We also installed signs for the first segment and hired an intern this summer to help us set up our Trail Ambassador program, through the Active Trails Grant from the National Parks Foundation funded by the Coca Cola Foundation.

Click here to see the summary of all the 2012 projects.

You can see much more detail on each of our projects by clicking on the Projects Tab on this web site and browsing through each of the project pages.

Down Tree Removal

While we were out installing signs, we came across a large beech tree that fell across the trail. fortunately, some of us were on the Trail Crew and were trained in chainsaw safety, so we used some of the logs from the tree to create a place to sit and rest along the trail. You’ll find these new “benches” about 1/4 mile from Glen Arbor.

Groomer is being set-up

The cross-country ski grooming equipment is here and is being set-up for the first season. The gator is in the shop having the wheels replaced by tracks and electrical wiring done to be able to control the groomer from the cab of the gator. Now all we need is SNOW! I’ve been told not to wish for snow too early, but I can’t wait to get my skis out and give this new groomed trail a try!

Raffle Drawing by Marc Schollett of TV 7&4

Marc Schollett of TV 7&4 emceed the celebration and drew the winning ticket from the drum. Mr. Janis said he intends to do a free drawing among all of the employees at his Traverse City-based company, Century Inc, and donate the Volt to one lucky worker. Special thanks to the Cherry Republic, all of the ticket sellers, everyone that purchased a raffle ticket, and the event planners that made the Volt raffle such a success.

The first four-mile section of trail connecting Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb was completed in June, providing easy, car-free access to amenities and attractions including the DH Day Campground, and Glen Haven. Since opening, counts conducted by Friends of Sleeping Bear estimate more than 30,000 people of all ages and abilities visited the trail. Fundraising continues with a focus on raising the remaining $213,000 needed to construct the next four-mile segment from the Dune Climb to Empire. Donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized at a permanent donor plaza located at the Dune Climb. Well-known local artist Glenn Wolff created an illustrated map of the trail and donors of $5,000 or more will receive a limited edition signed print.

To donate or learn more about the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail please visit www.sleepingbeartrail.org or contact Pam Darling, Development Director for TART Trails (pam@traversetrails.org or 231-941-4300).

In addition to pledges and cash donations, here are some other ways you can support the SBHT:

The Inaudible Auction: Each week Cherry Republic auctions off a highly desired item or experience. Sign up to receive the weekly Orchard Report e-mail to learn about that week’s auction.

Sleeping Bear Heritage Blend: Great Lakes Tea & Spice created a special seasoning blend based on a 1930′s recipe from the Peter Van Nort family. A portioin of each sale goes to the SBHT. It can be purchased online or at the Great Lakes Tea & Spice headquarters at 6610 Western Avenue in Glen Arbor.

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Stickers: Stop in at one of the following retailers to get your SBHT sticker for a donation of only $10. The stickers are a great way to show your support of the trail.

• Anderson’s Beach Shop
• Brick Wheels
• City Bike Shop
• The Cyclery
• Crystal River Outfitters
• MacBeth and Co.
• Miser’s Hoard
• M-22
• Northwoods Hardware

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Hats: Support the trail in style! The new SBHT cadet style hats are available for $20 donation at Anderson’s Beach Shop, The Cyclery, and Empire Surf!

Animal-proof Food Storage Locker

Bears, raccoons, and chipmunks all enjoy eating your food. We have experienced more animal encounters during the past couple of years at the Platte River Campground, which prompted Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to install several Food Storage Lockers throughout the campground. Now if you don’t have a safe area to lock your food, you can store it in one of these animal-proof lockers. This is especially helpful to tent campers. We’ve had great reviews from our campers this summer. Thought you’d like to know that the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes has been working to make your camping stay safe and enjoyable!

Friday, August 24, 2012 – Glen Haven

“Hear ye, hear ye.  The Federal Court for the Western District of Michigan is now in session.  The Honorable Ellen S. Carmody, presiding.”

Judge Carmody, Clerk Foster, Director Dedvukaj, Superintendent Shultz

These words rang out across the dunes, as the first-ever US Citizen Naturalization Ceremony began at the Life-Saving Station, near Glen Haven.

Twenty-seven individuals from 20 countries were administred their oath by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ellen S. Carmody.  Following the oath and her remarks to the new citizens, a spectacular, low-level fly-by was performed by a flight crew from the US Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.

In addition to Judge Carmody, Mick Dedvukaj, District Director for the Detroit District of  the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, welcomed the new citizens and presented them with their certificates.

Park Superintendent Dusty Shultz

Park Superintendent, Dusty Shultz, also welcomed them.  In her address she challenged the new citizens: “These Parks, Monuments, Memorials, Battlefields, Historic Sites and yes, Lakeshores are all yours to experience!  I encourage you to seek them out, visit them to recreate, be inspired by their natural beauty and serenity, and to establish family memories.

“Know, too, that your national parks symbolize  democracy, sacrifice, and heroism and are the perfect places to learn and reflect about what America is, and who Americans are.”This was the first time such a ceremony was conducted at the Lakeshore.  Superintendent Shultz remarked that she hopes this will be a regular, future event.

New citizens being sworn in

Also participating in the ceremony were Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 115 (Acme), Girl Scout Troop 440 (Traverse City), and Susan Pocklington of Empire, who sang our National Anthem and America, the Beautiful.

Everyone - new citizens, family members, and guests - enjoyed refreshments provided by Central United Methodist and Grace Episcopal churches of Traverse City, and the Presbyterian and United Methodist churches of Leland.

Thanks to all the Park staff and volunteers who helped make this event such a success!

Three generations bike together on the SBHT

The $18,000 grant is being used to purchase and install signs for the first segment of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT) and to develop a Trail Ambassador program for volunteers to patrol and maintain the trail. The Ambassador program has begun and you will soon see our Ambassadors on the trail with distinctive orange vests. Please stop and thank them for their service in keeping the trail safe and clean. The interpretive and way-finding signs for the first segment of the trail have been ordered and will be installed this fall. Safety and STOP signs were installed before the trail opened on June 20.

As part of the grant, usage surveys and counts will be conducted to provide a baseline of trail use. Surveys will be done in all seasons each year to monitor trends in use. You will also see a new logo for the trail on signs and stickers this summer. It is a cool, fun visual of the trail into the Sleeping Bear.

We would like to thank the Coca Cola Foundation for supporting the National Parks Foundation Active Trails Program and making this grant possible.