The year was 2004. Swimmer Michael Phelps won his first gold medals in the Athens Olympics. Martha Stewart went to prison for insider trading. Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook in his Harvard dorm room. The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. And NASA’s Spirit rover landed on Mars.

2004 was also the year a small group of visionary leaders founded Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to support the park we love. And fittingly, it was the year when the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness was established on the islands to honor the Wisconsin Senator’s vital role in creating the national lakeshore.

Two decades later, as we look beyond the 20 year anniversary of Friends and begin our next decade of service, it is fitting to reflect on the growth and achievements of the organization. We’re working to fulfill our mission to promote an appreciation for, and preservation of, the natural environment and cultural heritage of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. And now, thanks to you, our Friends, we’ve reached a million dollar milestone.

Executive Director Jeff Rennicke says Friends has provided more than $1,073,000 to the park since our inception. He says, “This milestone represents more than just a number. Each dollar provided by Friends represents a child learning to love nature through the Junior Ranger program, safer boating through our Wave Watch efforts, a trail or a campsite more accessible because of our Access for All initiative. Every dollar means a safer, more accessible, more beautiful park and that is the real accomplishment of Friends.”

President Kennedy and Gaylord Nelson (right side of photo) at the Ashland, Wisconsin airport in 1963

Longtime Friends board member Mark Weller developed a friendship with Hanson during that era. Weller says, “I remember a conversation where he said every National Park unit has a group of supporters. Why doesn’t the Apostle Islands, because many, many people love this place and there’s no mechanism for them to become part of it.” Weller says Hanson thought not having a local group needed to be corrected, so he helped to organize Friends. An endowment in Hanson’s name continues to support Friends to this day.

Starting small

The fledgling organization started raising money and making small contributions to the park in 2004. In its first year, Friends contributed $9,200 for a historical study of the Rocky Island fishing community as its single donation. 

Friends members celebrate Meyers Beach grand opening in 2005 – NPS photo

Picking up speed

2005 Park Newsletter, funded by Friends
Read the full newsletter here (PDF)

Congressman Dave Obey and St. Sen. Bob Jauch present print to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

Friends has also funded rehabilitation of historic artifacts and buildings across the park, from the swing and flagpole at the Raspberry Island lighthouse to the restoration of the Raspberry Island boathouse and later in 2018, Friends helped pay for lead paint abatement and repainting of the old Michigan Island keepers quarters.

When conditions are right, the mainland ice caves draw massive crowds. In 2014, Friends provided financial support to ice cave operations at Meyers Beach. Friends also provides ongoing support for Island School, an effort to enable local children to experience the islands as a learning environment.

Accessibility efforts included funding an accessible viewing platform for the Little Sand Bay breakater in 2018, the accessible amphitheater on Stockton Island in 2020 and 2021, the Sand Island boardwalk in 2022, and now the accessible ramp at Meyers Beach, scheduled for construction in 2025.

In 2021, Friends also funded construction of a new flagpole outside the Little Sand Bay Visitor Center. There, the flag of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa flies permanently. Friends also celebrated and supported the 50th Anniversary of the national lakeshore. 

In the most-recent years, Friends launched Access for All, the organization’s largest fundraising effort to date. Thanks to generous donations, Friends raised more than $325,000 to match funding from the National Park Foundation and National Park Service Centennial fund. Money raised will pay for construction of a new accessible ramp and stairway with kayak slide at Meyers Beach and additional accessibility projects. Construction is scheduled for the summer. of 2025. About the achievement, Executive Director Rennicke says, “With your help the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is playing a leading role in accessibility within the National Park Service and, most importantly, making our park better, safer, and more accessible for all.”

Reflecting on how we’ve grown

Martin Hanson, founding member of Friends – Mark Weller photo

Friends Board of Directors Chair Bob Jauch says, “The Apostle Island National Lakeshore and Gaylord Nelson Wilderness is a magnificent area that deserves to be protected. Citizens of all walks of life and corporations recognize that each generation owes that responsibility to the next.”

Former Board Chair Erica Peterson says, “We made change positive, always focusing on what could be done if we put our minds, talents and intuitions to work together. There’s more coming, and it’s exciting!” Peterson looks back on some major milestones like the hiring of our first Executive Director, the park’s 50th Anniversary celebration and the record-setting Access for All campaign.

Working for a bright future

As we look to future priorities, Executive Director Jeff Rennicke says the four pillars of Friends are top of mind. Accessibility. Education. Service. Stewardship. Rennicke says, “Dollars raised is one important measurement of the role of Friends and hitting the million dollar mark is a proud moment. But it will always be the more unmeasurable things — heart, passion, love, creativity, and hard work – that will remain the true value that a group like Friends brings to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.”

At a higher level, he says, “Friends of the Apostle Islands is positioned to be a strong partner in whatever challenges and opportunities our park may face in the future. If the 150-plus year history of national parks has shown us anything it is that it is impossible to predict the issues that may arise but the solution to whatever the future throws at us will always involve a strong, dedicated, informed, and engaged public. Friends will always be an organization that helps people help the park.”

If you’ve contributed to our million dollar milestone and to our first 20 years of service, thank you. We appreciate your contributions of time, talent and treasure. If you would like to join us as a volunteer, as a donor and as a Friend in the new year, we invite you to explore your options on the Support Us page of our website.

Written by Jon Okerstrom. Jon is a Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore board member and digital and social media volunteer with a background in digital and television journalism, photography and graphic design.