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

Dark Sky Star Bright Festival

LEARN ABOUT OUR STARRY SKIES INITIATIVE

Save the dates: January 15 – 23, 2027

Bayfield’s second-annual Dark Sky Star Bright Festival

Nights in the Apostle Islands shine under some of the darkest, most beautiful dark skies left in the Midwest. Help us protect and celebrate those starry nights with a week of art, photography, programs, an indoor planetarium, outdoor stargazing, snowshoe hikes, sauna under the stars, fine food, fun, and more.

Be a star. Make plans to join us as the stars come out in Bayfield for the second annual Dark Sky Star Bright Festival January 15th – 23th, 2027. Check out the event guide coming soon. There’s something for everyone who loves the night sky. This event is brought to you by:

Bayfield Chamber of Commerce

Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Travel Wisconsin

This event is part of our Starry Skies Initiative, whose sponsors include:

John R. Flanagan

Island Gateway Gallery and Community

Apostle Islands Booksellers

Keeper of the Light

Silverwaves Jewelry

Good Flower Farm

To join as a sponsor and help the stars shine even brighter, click here.

Oak Island Mllky Way – Michael DeWitt photo

2027 Dark Sky Star Bright Festival Event Guide Coming Soon!

Dark Sky Star Bright Festival Coverage

Silent night, starry night: Photographer Travis Novitsky on the Lake Superior night sky

“Oftentimes the most notable quality of the night is the silence,” photographer Travis Novitsky told the crowd at a recent program in Bayfield. “To hear that silence you need to push everything out of your mind and let yourself truly be in that moment. That’s why I like the night sky so much.”

The stars aligned: After a successful Dark Sky Star Bright event, planning begins for next year

Well over 1,000 people attended one of the more than 50 events that made up our Dark Sky Star Bright festival this year – art exhibits, candlelit dinners, astronomy programs, author talks, film-screenings, saunas under the stars, and more.

How smart lighting choices can protect our precious night sky, save energy and money – a Dark Sky Star Bright Festival event

In my business. In my community. How do I help protect the night sky, one lightbulb at a time?” To answer that question, outdoor lighting expert, Electrical Engineer and Dark Sky advocate Scott Lind took a deep dive into the rapidly-evolving field of outdoor lighting science, technology and design.

Stories, songs and science fill day two of Bayfield’s Dark Sky Star Bright Festival

It was standing room only at Apostle Islands Booksellers on day two of the Dark Sky Star Bright Festival in Bayfield. The nine-day festival organized by the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore features more than 50 events...

First-ever Dark Sky Star Bright Festival is off to a stellar start in Bayfield

An indoor planetarium, night sky painting and other activites drew hundreds of people to Bayfield’s Lakeside Pavilion for the kick-off of the first Dark Sky Star Bright Festival. They came from as near as Bayfield, Washburn and Ashland to as far away as St. Paul, Duluth, Cloquet and Virginia, Minnesota.

Enjoy your weekend with the stars as the Dark Sky Star Bright Festival kicks off

The stars are aligning in Bayfield beginning this weekend (Jan. 17th) and running through Sunday, January 25th. Over fifty events for kids and adults, from films to food and fun to programs with astronomers and pizza with photographers.

A shared commitment to wonder: Apostle Islands Booksellers joins Starry Skies Initiative

For the Apostle Islands Booksellers, Dark Sky, Star Bright is not just an event. “It is,” they say, “a shared commitment to stewardship, wonder, and slowing down enough to notice what is easily lost. We’re proud to stand alongside Friends of the Apostle Islands in helping ensure that future generations can experience the profound beauty of a truly dark night sky.”

Reaching for the stars: Bayfield gallery sponsors Starry Skies Initiative

For Dale and Mary Whittaker, the inspiration to become major sponsors of our Starry Skies Initiative came from above, literally.“We lived for seven years in a small cabin on Madeline Island,” they said recently. “Most nights were silent except for wind, water, and...

Dark Sky Star Bright celebration schedule of events for January 17-25, 2026

From January 17–25, 2026, we’re inviting you to slow down, look up, and experience winter on Lake Superior in a whole new way. This nine-day event will bring together stargazing, photography, wellness, and night sky education — all designed to help you reconnect with nature and yourself in the calm beauty of Bayfield’s winter landscape.

The art of aurora: Local artist inspired by the northern lights

Inspired by that beauty, Flemming created a work of art of her own to be featured in the exhibit at our upcoming “Dark Sky Star Bright” event January 17-25th with 20% of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to be donated to Friends of the Apostle Islands.

Northern Lights over Lake Superior – Gerri Whitley video

Northern lights over ice and water – Carol Toepke photo

Starry sky over sea cave arch - Michael DeWitt photo

“Ancient” – Michael DeWitt photo

Outer Island Big Dipper – Michael DeWitt photo

Devils Island Milky Way – Michael DeWitt photo