Friends Of The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Inc

A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE.

ACCESSIBILITY:ACCESSIBLE AMPHITHEATER. THIS NEW RAISED-DECK AMPHITHEATER IS NEAR THE STOCKTON ISLAND VISITOR CENTER ON THE SAME GENTLE HILLSIDE WHERE AGING BENCHES AND FIRE RING HAD BEEN LOCATED. THE SITE IS NEAR THE PRESQUE ISLE BAY DOCK AND AN ACCESSIBLE CAMPSITE, ALL OF WHICH ARE CONNECTED BY A BOARDWALK. ALTHOUGH THIS PROJECT CREATES A BETTER MEETING SPACE FOR ALL USERS, IT WAS DESIGNED TO ENABLE VISITORS IN WHEELCHAIRS, USING WALKERSOR WITH MOBILITY ISSUES TO MOVE FROM THE DOCK OR ALREADY ACCESSIBLE CAMPSITE UP TO THE CONTACT STATION AND ON TO THE RAISED-DECK AMPHITHEATER.EDUCATION:HIRED TWO CO-DIRECTORS. FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE HIRED EDUCATOR, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TRAVEL WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER JEFF RENNICKE AS ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HIS WIFE JILL RENNICKE AS CO-DIRECTOR. JEFF LEADS THE FUNDRAISING, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION ASPECTS OF THE POSITION WHILE JILL, A CERTIFIED GREEN MEETING PLANNER, FOCUSES ON THE LOGISTICS AND EVENTS.CREATED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY LOGO. THE LOGO FEATURED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF COLLECTIBLE KEEPSAKES, MANY CREATED BY LOCAL ARTISANS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, WITH A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS BENEFITING THE PARK. THE LOGO WAS CREATED BY JON OKERSTROM."LAKESHORE LOGBOOK" A COLLECTION OF MEMORIES PROVIDED BY 35 FORMER NATIONAL PARK SERVICE EMPLOYEES. LIVING AND WORKING IN THE PARK ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, THEY'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT TO BE SURE. AS PART OF OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, WE ARE COLLECTING AND SHARING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE ISLANDS, WHETHER THEY ARE PARK GUESTS, FORMER RESIDENTS OR FORMER PARK EMPLOYEES.ORGANIZED TEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTSWISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S SIMPLY SUPERIOR PROGRAM RECAPPING THE STEWARDSHIP SYMPOSIUM. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES AUDIO EXCERPTS FROM SOME OF THE SESSIONS, MOST OF WHICH FOCUS ON SCIENCE AND ELEMENTS OF THE PARK THAT MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT AT: HTTPS://WWW.WPR.ORG/LISTEN/1784426?FBCLID=IWAR2ZTPY_FUBILT8ZSYKKZGW6UXOOGA4ZQ9UNC2LCF9IULUZN0R8KH0F0E3OEARTH DAY CELEBRATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAKE SUPERIOR BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA THE FRIENDS CREATED AN ONLINE PROGRAM CELEBRATING EARTH DAY AND THE ISLANDS. AS PART OF THE TINY TENT SHOW SERIES, THIS EPISODE AIRED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021. THE SHOW FEATURED AN INTERVIEW WITH FRIENDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF RENNICKE, A PRESENTATION ON THE DARK SKY LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PRESENTED BY PHOTOGRAPHER MARK WELLER, AND A BREATHTAKING DISPLAY OF APOSTLE ISLANDS PHOTOGRAPHY SET TO ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY THE BIGTOP'S OWN ED WILLETT. SENSE OF ADVENTURE PROGRAMS OFFERED ONLINE AND AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON YOUTUBE. THE THREE PROGRAMS WERE SENSE OF ADVENTURE: PADDLING, SAILING, AND INSPIRE!APOSTLE ISLAND HISTORY MYSTERIES. CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARK BY EXPLORING HISTORY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM SOME FRIENDS: LARGE, NEARLY LIFE-SIZED STANDING POSTER BOARD IMAGES OF LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS, SAILORS, SHIP CAPTAINS, FISHERS, ISLAND LOVERS AND MORE. EACH CUTOUT ASKS A QUESTION, PRESENTS A MYSTERY OF ISLAND HISTORY, AND OFFERS A QR CODE. SCAN THE QR CODE WITH A CELL PHONE ON THE SIGN AND FOLLOW THE LINK TO LEARN THE ANSWER TO THAT HISTORY MYSTERY.APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE: MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. BORN OUT OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEDICATED FOURTH GRADE TEACHERS AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RANGERS, THE "MOST IMPORTANT THINGS" PROJECT SAW SEVERAL CLASSES OF EXUBERANT, CREATIVE BAYFIELD FOURTH GRADERS TRAVELING TO STOCKTON ISLAND AND LITTLE SAND BAY IN THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, AS WELL AS BEAVER HOLLOW NATURE PRESERVE, AND THE FROG BAY TRIBAL NATIONAL PARK. THERE, THESE YOUNG ARTISTS, EXPLORERS, AND NATURALISTS WERE ASKED "LISTEN TO THE LEAVES FALL AND COUNT WAVES, TO IDENTIFY ANIMAL TRACKS ON THE BEACH, TO MAKE A ROPE MODEL OF LAKE SUPERIOR TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND ITS IMMENSE SIZE. EACH STUDENT WAS ASKED TO OBSERVE NATURE CLOSELY, TAUGHT THE OJIBWE NAMES AND MEANINGS OF THE THINGS AROUND THEM, AND TO RECORD THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF IT ALL IN THEIR OWN WORDS AND DRAWINGS.STEWARDS OF TOMORROW PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR YOUTH TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE IN THEIR LIVES, AND IN PARTICULAR WHAT THE NATIONAL LAKESHORE MEANS TO THEM AS WE CELEBRATE THE PARK'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY.CANDLELIGHT COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, WRAPPING UP THE YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION WITH A COMMUNITY GATHERING AND FLAGS DESIGNED BY STEWARDS OF TOMORROW YOUTH, AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY CUPCAKES.LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE AWARDED ITS 2021 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE. MAGAZINE EDITOR KONNIE LEMAY WRITES IN THE NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE, "THE FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE PROVIDES A CAN-DO ROLE MODEL FOR OTHERS, AND EVEN MORE, IT HAS CONNECTED A NATIONAL TREASURE TO ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT ENERGIZES COMMITMENTS AND COMMUNICATION." THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED ITS SELECTION OF FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF RENNICKE TO JOIN ITS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CLASS OF 2023. THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS "AN INTENSIVE 15-MONTH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT COHORTS OF LEADERS WITHIN NATIONAL PARK PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. MORE THAN A TRAINING PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTE IS A PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP STYLE, BUILD FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS, AND RECEIVE TARGETED FEEDBACK FROM THEIR PEERS AND THE FACILITATORS."SERVICE:BEACH GRASS PLANTING. IN LATE MAY, TRAYS AND TRAYS OF HEALTHY PLANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE PARK WHERE A TEAM OF NPS STAFF AND FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS REPLANTED 4,000 PLUGS OF BEACH GRASS (AMMOPHILA BREVILIGULATA) AND HAIRGRASS (DESCHAMPSIA FLEXUOSA) ON DAMAGED AREAS OF SANDSCAPE AT LITTLE SAND BAY AND RASPBERRY ISLAND.HELPED MAINTAIN HISTORIC GARDENS ON MICHIGAN ISLAND AND THE GAYLORD NELSON MEMORIAL GARDEN AT PARK HEADQUARTERS IN BAYFIELD.STEWARDSHIP:RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP SYMPOSIUM ON MARCH 30-31, 2021. THE 2-DAY ONLINE SYMPOSIUM BROUGHT TOGETHER EXPERTS IN EACH FIELD OF STUDY TO OFFER THE PUBLIC BOTH A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED IN THESE ISLANDS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS AND TO SET THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT HALF CENTURY IN THE PARK. 600 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THE SYMPOSIUM. THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE RICH CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL AND NATURAL TREASURES WITHIN THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE FROM WATER QUALITY, FISHERIES, AND UNDERWATER LANDSCAPES; TO WETLANDS, PLANTS, BIRDS, AND MAMMALS; TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE, OJIBWE CULTURE AND FIRE, AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE. THE SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS WERE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE FRIENDS WEBSITE AS A PERMANENT RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS. THE PROGRAMS CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://FRIENDSOFTHEAPOSTLEISLANDS.ORG/2021/04/07/WATCH-NOW-CELEBRATING-SCIENCE-ARTS-AND-THE-FUTURE-OF-THE-APOSTLE-ISLANDS/FRIENDS DONATIONS TO THE PARK TOPS $500,000. FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, BORN AND NURTURED IN THE CHEQUAMEGON BAY AREA, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD PASSED THE $500,000 MARK IN MONIES GENERATED AND DONATED TO OUR LOCAL NATIONAL LAKESHORE SINCE IT BEGAN THESE EFFORTS IN 2002. IT HAS RAISED FUNDS TO REHABILITATE HISTORIC STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE RASPBERRY ISLAND BOAT HOUSE AND THE MANITOU FISH CAMP. PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE APOSTLE ISLAND HISTORIC CONSERVANCY TO PRESERVE THE WEST BAY CLUB ON SAND ISLAND AND WITH THE BAYFIELD MARITIME MUSEUM TO CONSTRUCT A LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S BOAT REPLICA FOR RASPBERRY ISLAND HAVE PROVED INVALUABLE. FUNDS HAVE PROMOTED EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS IN AND AROUND THE ISLANDS SUCH AS EXHIBITS AND SIGNAGE, PUBLICATIONS, AND ISLAND EXCURSIONS FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE THREE-DAY "ISLAND SCHOOL" FOR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS CONDUCTED EVERY SPRING FOR MANY YEARS.RECEIVED NPF GRANT. FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE IS ONE OF 36 PARK PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE A STRONG PARKS, STRONG COMMUNITIES CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION, THE OFFICIAL NONPROFIT PARTNER TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THIS GRANT ENABLED FRIENDS TO FACILITATE A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANT ROLE LOCAL BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, TRIBES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE IN STEWARDING THIS PARK'S FUTURE.RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA FLAG WAS PERMANENTLY RAISED OVER THE PARK ON JUNE 23RD, 2021. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE JOINED THE RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS IN RAISING THE FLAGS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE RED CLIFF BAND OUTSIDE OF THE LITTLE SAND BAY VISITOR CENTER. FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE FLAG POLE AND PARTICIPATED IN THE FESTIVITIES.