During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting the national lakeshore for future generations. That’s the goal of our series entitled “Love our Lakeshore.”
In this report Friends of the Apostle Islands board member and former NPS ranger Neil Howk continues his work as a National Park Service volunteer stationed on Sand Island. Neil talks with the next generation of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore visitors about their connections with nature and with the Lakeshore We Love.
I met an impressive group of 15 and 16 year old young women from Camp Mishawaka at the lighthouse yesterday.
They were attentive during the lighthouse tour, especially when I told them about Ella Luick, the 16 year old bride who joined her 29 year old lighthouse keeper husband at the lighthouse in 1895.
They asked a lot of good questions and told me about their camp experiences. I stopped at their campsite after dinner to continue the conversation.
Neil: Let’s start with your names and where you are from.
Answer: Tess from Illinois, Via from Virginia, Kiersten – California, Lilly – Virginia, Lorelei – Missouri, Anna – Oklahoma, Alissa – Texas.
Photo of Ella and Emmanuel Luick
Neil : Do you all feel comfortable being in nature?
Answer: Yes, except for the bugs.
Neil: why?
Answer: “I feel comfortable because I have been taught by others how to be comfortable.”
“Being in nature gives me a brain break.”
“Being in nature helps me to see the big picture and feel at peace.”
“It makes me feel small, but in a good way.”
Camp Mishiwaka campers – Neil Howk photo
Neil: Tell me about Camp Mishawaka.
Answer: It’s a camp in northern Minnesota that offers 2, 4, 6, or 8 week sessions for kids from 8 to 15, and a Counselor in Training session for returning campers who’ve finished 10 th grade. We’re all CITs (Counselors in Training) doing an 8 week session.
Neil: what do your friends back home think about your camp experiences?
Answer: Many of them wonder how we can go so long without having phones or technology.
Neil: Do you think they would be comfortable doing something like this?
Answer: Maybe one or two, but mostly no.
Time is not real at camp. Each day seems really long, but then 8 weeks goes by in a blink. Some of us have been doing this for seven years. It’s hard to believe it is coming to an end.
Neil: What do you think of the Apostle Islands?
Answer: “They are beautiful, awesome!”
“I like being able to explore them, they are all so different.”
“Being here is such an adventure!”
Camp Mishawaka girls kayaking – Neil Howk photo
Neil: Have you been to other National Parks?
Answer: Yes. (They mentioned Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Shenandoah, the Arch in St. Louis, Lincoln’s Home, the Oklahoma City Memorial…)
Neil: Why do you think these places are important?
Answer: “It’s important to preserve nature.”
“We need outdoor spaces that are accessible.”
“People aren’t the only creatures, we need to save habitat for other animals.”
“They are amazing resources to view, but it’s important not to mess them up.”
Campers: Why do you think National Parks are important, Neil?
Neil: The author Wallace Stegner once said that National Parks were one of the best ideas America ever had. I agree. They protect the most spectacular landscapes. They are real. They show America at its best…and its worst. If you don’t know where you’ve been, it’s hard to know where you are going and you are likely to make the same mistakes.
My time in the parks is coming to an end. Yours is just beginning. It is up to your generation to carry the idea forward.
Neil Howk paddling the Sand Island sea caves
During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting...
During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting...
During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting...
During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting...
Neil Howk began working as a park ranger/interpreter for the National Park Service in 1978. He worked at a number of different parks over the years and served as the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1993-2016. He now serves as a board member of Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Map of Sand Island campsites and trails – NPS map – click to enlarge
Visitors to Sand Island often arrive at the public dock in East Bay. They may camp at one of the 6 individual campsites or 3 group campsites. Most of the sites are near the dock. Some sites have wooden accessible platforms.
Boats often anchor at East Bay, Justice Bay, and Lighthouse Bay, depending on wind conditions. Paddlers sometimes come ashore by beaching their kayaks on a rock ledge beneath the lighthouse at the northern end of the island.
To learn more about your next adventure on Sand Island, visit the Discover the Park section of our website. You can also see current alerts, advisories and additional information about Sand Island campsites on the National Park Service website. You can also search our archives for stories about Sand Island’s rich history and more.
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