Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Wetland Restoration – A permanent deer exclosure fence was built around the perimeter of an artificial wetland used to remove excess nutrients from effluent generated from a closed-loop fish cleaning station the park maintains for visitor use at the Platte River Picnic Area. In addition to construction of the fence, this project involves re-establishing targeted wetland plant species in the wetland. This project was made possible through a grant from the National Parks Foundation. Donation: $9,450

NPS Roads & Trails crew on new stairs

Port Oneida Lake MI Access Stairs – Volunteers from Cherry Republic and the Friends worked in support of a construction team from the Roads and Trails staff from the park to build these access stairs at the end of the access road about a mile north of Lane Road in Port Oneida. The new stairs provide safe access to Lake Michigan and dramatically reduce erosion of the bank. This project was made possible through a donation from Cherry Republic. Donation: $2,689

Aloha Platform Viewing Scope – A new viewing deck was built around the Lake Michigan fishing tug Aloha near the Cannery Boat Museum in Glen Haven. Standing on the deck offers a good view inside the boat but also a beautiful view of Sleeping Bear Bay. In response to a request by Park Management, the Friends purchased a viewing scope for visitors to watch passing ships, look at the lighthouses (South Manitou Island and North Manitou Island Shoal), and look for birds on the beach or Lake Michigan. The scope has been purchased and will be installed on the deck in the spring of 2013. Donation: $2,300

Oral History – Tom Van Zoeren has been collecting interviews with people who lived in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District and around the Glen Lake area. In addition, SLBE Historical Architect, Kim Mann, hired an intern to conduct oral history interviews this summer. Friends helped pay for her housing. These interviews need to be transcribed and indexed to make them more accessible for researchers and Park Interpretive Rangers. Donation: $2,500

Animal-resistant food storage locker

Food Storage Lockers (Bear and Raccoon Resistant) – Campers who do not have adequate food storage facilities invite late night visits from wild animals. This is especially true in the Platte River Campground. Park Staff requested the Friends purchase additional animal-resistant food storage lockers for the campground. Donation: $1,963

Platte Point Cell Phone Booster – Cell phone coverage is poor at the Platte River Point parking lot. Due to the large number of visitors at this point during the summer, Park Management felt providing a booster signal would provide an improved safety capability for their staff and visitors. Donation: $700

Crystal River Signs – Signs were fabricated and installed at the four primary Crystal River access points, including two liveries, to indicate current water levels and associated boating precautions to protect the river environment. The signs characterize the effects and experience of floating the river at different water levels, guide use toward lower draft boats at low levels, and discourage use at critically low levels. Donation: $763

Orchard Pruning Workshop – Each year the Park’s Historic Architect, Kim Mann organizes a workshop to teach people how to care for historic orchards. Most farms in what is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – especially in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District – had orchards. Most of these orchards haven’t been managed for many years. This year the Friends bought a variety of hand tools to be used in the workshop and by volunteers who care for gardens and orchards within the Park. $762

Barn Workshop – Each year the Park’s Historic Architect, Kim Mann organizes a Barn Restoration Workshop to rebuild a historic structure and teach area craftsmen and volunteers rehabilitation techniques. This year, the group worked on the August Beck Farm on South Manitou Island. The Friends provided materials for the workshop. Donation: $890

Engine Restoration Project

Old Engine Restoration – Several old engines were brought off South Manitou Island in 2011. One of our volunteers is working to restore a running model from the salvaged parts and some replacement parts. We have also purchased a working engine, which was on display at the Port Oneida Fair along with an exhibit showing how the engines worked and what they were used for on the Islands and on farms in Port Oneida. Donation: $876

Trail Trekker Challenge – Two students from Glen Lake Schools worked with the Interpretive Division of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to develop a new hiking program. The challenge is to hike all 100 miles of mainland trails in one season. They developed a brochure/record book to describe the program and keep track of trails hiked. The Friends printed 200 color copies for the program in 2011 and another 1,000 copies in 2012. Donation: $254