Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Privacy Policy

At Friends of the Apostle Islands, your privacy matters to us. Whether you are donating, asking a question, joining our mailing list, or signing up for an event, Friends works to honor and respect your privacy.

Personally Identifiable Information: Friends of the Apostle Islands receives your specific data only when you provide that information voluntarily through filling out a form to be added to our mailing lists, donating, signing up to volunteer, or requesting more information from us. We promise you that this information will be used only to fulfill your specific request, to keep you informed about Friends projects and events, or to make you aware of important information regarding the islands or our organization.

Friends will never sell or trade your personal information to any other company, organization, or government agency.

Donation Information: Your generous donations to our organization are vital to our success. Because we honor your donation, we often recognize gifts in such places as our Annual Report using only your name and the general category of the gift. No contact information is released through our Annual Report. You have the right to opt out of such recognition by simply requesting that your donation and your name not be made public.

Your information is collected in our database for internal use only so that we may keep you informed of such things as upcoming events, fundraising opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and special projects. Friends will never sell or trade your personal information to any other company, organization, or government agency.

Please note that with respect to on-line donations made via credit card, we receive only the name of the donor, their address (if provided), the amount of the donation and the purpose for which it was made. No credit card information, i.e., the name on the card, the number, expiration date, issuing company, etc., is provided to us. Such information is strictly a matter between the donor and our processing agent, PayPal.

Non-personal (Generic) Information: Friends of the Apostle Islands does gather some generic, non-personal information automatically from users of our website. This generic information does not reveal the identity of the visitor. It usually includes information about the number and frequency of visitors to our website, which web pages were visited, and the type of browser used to reach the site. Friends gathers this information for the limited purpose of monitoring website traffic, page usage, and determining customer service and website improvements.

Exceptions and Limitations: Notwithstanding the foregoing and in compliance with applicable laws, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (i) cooperates fully with state, local, and federal officials in any investigation relating to any content (including personal or private electronic communications transmitted to Friends) or purported unlawful activities of any user of the website, and (ii) takes reasonable measures to protect its proprietary rights. For the limited purposes of accomplishing such cooperation and measures and in compliance with applicable laws, Friends could be required to disclose personally identifiable information.

Because of our privacy policy, we hope you can enjoy our website, sign up for our newsletter, join our organization, shop, and make donations with confidence that Friends of the Apostle Islands respects and honors your privacy to the fullest extent possible. We are glad that you are here and care about the islands. We will do all we can to make your online experience safe, enjoyable, and private.

This policy may change from time to time without notice, so please check back periodically to review this information.

Your Friends at Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Access Opportunity

Apply for an Access Opportunity Scholarship

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore belongs to all of us

In keeping with our long-term commitment to accessibility, Friends of the Apostle Islands is proud to announce Access Opportunity, a new program made possible by the Daniel & Helen R. Wilczek Memorial Fund.

Access Opportunity is the next logical step in our organization’s commitment to accessibility through our Access for All Initiative. It seeks to provide opportunities for those with accessibility needs to experience the beauty, history, and adventure of the islands – opportunities that might not otherwise be within their reach.

What is Access Opportunity?

Access Opportunity is a kind of scholarship program offering individuals with specific accessibility needs financial and logistical assistance in booking various adventure experiences in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

What sort of trips are offered?

Access Opportunity works with licensed outfitters within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to offer a variety of experiences tailored to individual needs: day-long or multi-day sea kayaking trips, day or overnight sailing trips, basecamp experiences, excursions aboard the Apostle Islands Cruise Service fleet, custom adventures with a motorized water taxi provider, and more. Through the application process, a limited number of participants will be selected each year to receive an Access Opportunity scholarship. Friends of the Apostle Islands will then work with each scholarship recipient to select the best adventure option, outfitters, and dates to fit their needs.

Access Opportunity: kayak, sailboat, cruise boat, water taxi

Who is eligible to apply?

Access Opportunity is looking for adventurous people with accessibility needs who can most benefit from the expertise and resources of licensed, trained, and experienced outfitters, and the many accessibility projects undertaken by the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We are also seeking those who may have a financial need for assistance in making such a trip possible. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or be in the company of parents or legal guardians. Successful applicants will be asked to share their stories and photographs on our website, social media, and other outlets to inspire others to seek opportunities to fulfill their dreams of experiencing the outdoors.

What does the Access Opportunity scholarship cover?

Scholarships typically cover the full cost of the chosen experience for the applicant (and a caregiver if required). Additional members of the trip (unless the caregiver) will be responsible for their own costs. Travel and lodging costs are the responsibility of the applicant although Friends of the Apostle Islands can assist in finding appropriate lodging depending upon the needs of the participant.

When are applications accepted?

Planning the adventure of a lifetime takes time. Our rolling application process means that individuals can apply at any time for upcoming adventure opportunities although Friends of the Apostle Islands suggests applying at least three to six months prior to your desired adventure. We will then work as quickly as possible to review applications and inform applicants in a timely manner to allow sufficient time for planning trip logistics.