From family hikes and beach days, to stargazing nights and peaceful snowy mornings, Sleeping Bear Dunes is where unforgettable moments happen. This Giving Tuesday, you can help the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to continue our efforts to support the park by donating $24 in 2024! Your $24 donation can go twice as far, thanks to Cherry Republic’s generous match of up to $2,024! Help us preserve the trails, dunes, and wildlife that make this Lakeshore special. Together, we can ensure it remains a beautiful space for adventures and memories for generations to come. To donate, click on the photo or visit https://friendsofsleepingbear.org/donate-now/.

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is hosting several open house events, in partnership with the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, in July and August. Come join us in Glen Haven at the Heritage Trail to talk about the trail and learn more about the Pathway to Good Harbor!

Open Houses will be held:
Saturday, July 20 from noon to 2 p.m.
Thursday, August 1  from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday, September 5 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Did you miss our annual volunteer orientation? Don’t worry as you can watch it right here!

As a volunteer, or someone who is interested in volunteering, for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you’ll want to watch this year’s session to catch important information about the Park, the Friends, the best safety practices and updates and volunteer opportunities. By watching this, you’ll have a chance to discover where volunteers are needed and how you can help. You’ll hear from the Friends as well as NPS staff on important information for this upcoming season. 

For additional information on the orientation or on volunteering, visit our Volunteer web page here.

Campground offices and the Visitor Center are staffed and will be open daily throughout the summer. These locations will be CASHLESS. Meaning the park will only be accepting credit cards or checks for payment.  

Due to staffing issues, the entrance stations at Scenic Drive and Dune Climb will be open periodically throughout the summer when staffing allows. 

Iron Rangers (self-pay pipe safes) are located throughout the lakeshore and visitors can pay with cash, credit card or check. 

• • North of Empire
    • North Bar
    • Maritime Museum
    • DH Day Campground
    • 669 Beach 
    • 651 Beach
  • South of Empire
    • Esch Beach
    • Peterson Beach
    • Platte Picnic Area
    • VenTek Automated Fee Machine at the end of Lake Michigan Rd. (Credit only)
• Local Vendors also sell park passes and do accept cash and credit cards.  
  • North of Empire
    • Indigo Bluffs RV Park and Resort
    • Crystal River Outfitters
    • The Homestead Resort
    • Manitou Island Transit
    • Leland Lodge
  • South of Empire
    • Honor Trading Post

Join our communications team for a unique opportunity to work with a National Park’s non-profit partner organization (Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes) to help document happenings around the park during the busiest time of year to capture and share the National Lakeshore with all. We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, creative intern for FOSBD this summer to help take photos, conduct interviews, post on social media, help with promotions and other related projects.  Please submit cover letter and resume to Laura Ann Johnson comm@friendsofsleepingbear.org by Friday April, 22nd 2022.

Summary of Position: 

The communications and social media intern will work with the communications committee and the Director of Communication to document park happenings throughout the summer.  The candidate will be expected to assist with: photography, social media posting, content creation, and other such related projects. This is a unique opportunity to work with a National Park’s non profit partner organization to help document happenings around the park during the busiest time of year to capture and share the National Lakeshore with all. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Documentation of park and Friends events by taking photos, interviewing, and creating content around the event
• Promotion of special happenings 
• Photo cataloging
• Content creation and social media scheduling
• Represent Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes and educate visitors

Necessary Skills: 

•  Excellent organizational skills. 
•  Excellent communication skills. 
•  Strong sense of initiative and willingness to take on and create your own projects
•  Ability to multitask and prioritize various projects. 
•  Strong attention to detail. 
•  Excellent critical thinking and problem solving skills. 
•  Interested in learning about the National Lakeshore and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. 

Qualifications for the Job:​ To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability you are required to possess. Reasonable accommodations may be made, should you have a disability, to allow you to perform the essential functions. 

Position:​ Communications and Social Media Intern

Reports To​: Communications Committee 

Employment Duration:​ June 20th – August 12th 2022 

Seasonal Position: ​32-40 hours / wk 

Location:​ Empire, MI

Compensation: $15 /hr

Earth day reminds us to pause and reflect on the important role our natural world plays in our lives.
What are some ways you can protect natural resources while visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes?

• Carry a reusable water bottle.
• Carry out your waste.
•  Pick up litter when you come across it.
•  Take only pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

Learn more about how you can Recreate responsibly on the Park’s Website.

And, we always encourage more Friends to join us when they can by donating their time by volunteering with community favorite programs like Adopt-a-Trail, Adopt-a-Beach, Adopt-a-River, and our Trail Ambassadors program, or donating funds to a specific project or the Park’s General Fund. 

Together we can protect the resources found within the Park. Let’s make earth day, every day!