Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will host at training day for volunteers at the Lakeshore on Saturday, May 18, at the Empire Township hall.
Park-partner, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes (Friends), is hosting a training day from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Empire Township Hall. Following this training, NPS staff will be hosting a meet and greet for potential volunteers at the maritime museum in Glen Haven.
Training begins with a general orientation at 1 p.m., which is applicable for all volunteers both experienced and new. This training is a once-a-year chance for volunteers to hear the latest park news from Friends and NPS staff.
The general training will be followed by breakout sessions at 2 p.m. During these sessions, new and experienced volunteers can learn about various volunteer programs supported and managed by the Friends like the Adopt-A-Beach and Adopt-A-Trail programs or volunteer positions organized by NPS staff like Glen Haven docents and avian botulism monitoring. Whichever way volunteers choose to help, they will soon realize what a real and lasting difference they are making at their National Lakeshore!
Anyone interested in history or teaching others can also join Glen Haven volunteers at the maritime museum from 3 to 5 p.m.. for a meet and greet. Volunteers will talk one-on-one with anyone who wants to learn more about these exciting volunteering opportunities in the Historic Village of Glen Haven.
Another favorite site for families to visit in Glen Haven is a working blacksmith shop. The National Lakeshore also needs volunteers with blacksmithing experience to keep this living history alive for visitors. If you are interested in becoming a blacksmith, please reach out directly to Matt Mohrman, Volunteer Coordinator, at matthew_
There will be breakout session for the following programs: Adopt-A-Trail, Adopt-A-Beach, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail and Trail Crew, Preventative Search and Rescue, and the Track Chair/Duet Bike Accessibility programs. This year, members of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore team will be on hand to discuss additional opportunities to volunteer in the park, including the Bark Ranger and Piping Plover programs and as docents at Glen Haven or the park Visitor’s Center.
Additional information about Sleeping Bear Dunes’ volunteering opportunities can be found at www.nps.gov/slbe/getinvolved/ volunteer.htm. Also, information about Friends Sleeping Bear Dunes’ volunteering opportunities can be found at friendsofsleepingbear. org/volunteer/.
