Friends News & Events
The transformative power of nature: A new business member profile
Research has long shown that time spent in nature is good for us, body and soul. The American Heart Association, among others, suggests that two hours a week in nature optimizes mental and physical health, but even shorter 5-to-20 minute exposures can trigger a...
Most Wave Watch buoys pulled for 2026 boating season, planning for 2027 and beyond begins
On this misson, a team of five from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Friends of the Apostle Islands traveled many miles aboard the NPS Ajijaak to retrieve buoys from the flats between Long and Madeline Islands, from near the Stockton Island tombolo, from near Red Cliff Point and from near the mainland sea caves.
Friends Executive Directors attend National Park Friends Alliance Fall Meeting
The annual National Park Friends Alliance Conference brought together 390 National Park partners and National Park Service staff to discuss a wide range of topics from the park housing crisis to accessibility issues and more.
New horizons: 2026 Access Opportunity scholarship winners explore the Apostle Islands and new possibilities
Far out on the blue horizons of Lake Superior, Whitney Martens got a surprise visit. Martens lives with Cerebral Palsy which can affect her balance, mobility, and energy levels. As part of a Wilderness Inquiry trip made possible by the Access Opportunity program of...
Real Time Wave Watch
The 2026 boating season is coming to an end! Click to get real-time wave information 24/7.
Meyers Beach accessibility project under way
With a turn of the shovel, the long-awaited Meyers Beach accessible path project has begun. A partnership between the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and Friends of the Apostle Islands, the $690,000 project will replace the 47-step stairway down a...
Support Safe Boating
Most Wave Watch buoys pulled for 2026 boating season, planning for 2027 and beyond begins
We saw it in the first hints of crimson and gold in the mainland treeline. We felt it when the water temperature dropped 20 degrees and the air temperature followed as we approached the mainland sea caves. And we appreciated it, as we enjoyed relatively calm seas and...
Discover the Park
Twenty-one islands spread out over 750 square miles of Lake Superior, twelve miles of mainland shoreline, lighthouses, historic fisheries, sixty-six campsites, bears, beaches, sea caves, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a rich and complex landscape.
Explore the human and natural history of the lakeshore, explore each island, and start planning your next island adventure.
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Islands
Our Work
Friends of the Apostle Islands is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of park visitors and supporting the priorities of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore staff. Founded in 2002, we undertake a wide variety of efforts, from fundraising for accessibility to tending historic gardens and supporting youth engagement programs.
Our priorities fall under four pillars. Learn more about them and how you can make a difference.
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Accessibility
Our strong partnerships with the National Park Service, the community, and park user groups are helping to identify and remove barriers for people of all abilities – from accessible campsites and audio-enhanced interpretive displays to stability pads at kayak launching sites. Click here to learn what your donations can help achieve as we plan for even bigger, exciting opportunities ahead.
Education
From youth engagement programs to symposiums and a podcast, lifelong learning is a key part of your park experience. You can support life-changing educational experiences for adults as well as the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates by exploring our online library.
Stewardship
Our parks are a legacy. To protect that legacy, Friends and its members work to preserve history through helping to fund the creation of a lighthouse tender now housed at Raspberry Island Light, installing bat houses and bear boxes to protect wildlife, working to fund the restoration of historic buildings and seeking the protection of our dark skies. Learn how you can help protect the legacy of your park through your support of Friends.
Service
Roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Our volunteers tend the flower gardens at the historic Michigan Island Light, plant beach grass to protect fragile sandscapes, clear trails, participate in beach cleanup and trail clearing. Are you ready to help out? Click here to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Why We Give
I support Friends because …
“Silence does not protect, nor educate so I add my voice to protecting and celebrating the islands and the water and the communities in which they exist.”