Our Work
JOIN USOn this page: Our Pillars | Our Projects
Our Pillars
As diverse as the islands themselves and the people who love them, our work at Friends reaches across a wide spectrum of projects and issues all focused on the four guiding pillars of our organization.
Accessibility
National parks belong to all of us. Our strong partnership with the National Park Service, business partners, and organizations is removing barriers for people of all abilities to explore the Apostle Islands. Our Access for All fund is helping to leverage funds and support in a variety of ways, from the creation of the all-accessible Stockton Island amphitheater to captioning videos and alt-text features on our internet offerings. The need to enhance park accessibility for all is a major goal of Friends and the National Park Service and an important focus of our work.
Education
The heart of our parks is the people who explore them, learn about them, love them, and then work to protect them. If the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is to thrive in the face of changing times, we must work to keep (or make) the park relevant to both current and future generations. Friends works to connect with all demographics including those who have yet to experience our national parks to ensure a strong base of park users, park supporters, and park lovers through our support of programs like Stewards of Tomorrow, and Island School. We also offer adult education through programs, publications, outreach, podcasts, and more.
Service
To love a place is to give back. Friends offers our members a wide variety of ways to give back to the islands. Plant beach grass on the Raspberry Island sandspits or mainland beaches to prevent erosion, tend the historic gardens at the Michigan Island Lighthouse or the Gaylord A. Nelson garden on the headquarters grounds, build bat houses, participate in litter pickups to keep trash out of the lake and off our islands, educate beach walkers about the fragility of nesting piping plovers, help with public outreach at events, all of these and more help you help the islands you love.
Stewardship
How do we preserve history in the park? How do we ensure that others can experience the dark skies or diversity of wildlife for generations to come? We become stewards of this place. Friends works with the park to provide funding for projects like the restoration of historic structures, purchasing bear boxes to keep both campers and wildlife safe, exploring the role of Citizen Science projects in the park, purchasing solar shares for the new Visitor Center at Little Sand Bay to lower its carbon footprint, and considering a Dark Sky designation to keep the stars shining bright. We all have a hand in the future. Help us use it wisely.
Access for All!
Want to make a donation that goes straight to work as soon as you send it?
Each year, Friends features one important project and this year it is our Access for All campaign. Support the park’s efforts to build boardwalks, accessible campsites, include accessibility features on interpretative signs and websites, and make our park accessible to all. Make a difference now.
Our Projects
Friends works closely with the staff of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to coordinate projects that most benefit the park and with the help of members like you ensure the quality of our park far into the future.
Click each of the tabs displayed below to learn more about projects related to our four pillars.
Accessibility
Park visitors praise Stockton Island amphitheater and ongoing accessibility initiatives
With tears in her eyes she expressed her gratitude for the amphitheater…
The ribbon is cut: Stockton Island’s accessible amphitheater is now officially open to all
With a snip of an over-sized red scissors and a flourish of breeze off of Lake Superior, Friends Board Chair Erica Peterson and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Superintendent Lynne Dominy cut a red ribbon on Friday, August 13, 2021 signifying the grand opening of...
Project Update: Accessible Amphitheater Construction Nears Completion on Stockton Island
National Park Service crews are assembling the new accessible amphitheater on Stockton Island, helping to make the islands experience more accessible for all.
Investing in local beauty and history: “Friends” passes fundraising milestone for Apostle Islands
Together, we can do great things for the park we love. Join us in celebrating this major achievement as we work to do even more in the years to come.
Show your support on Giving Tuesday 2020
Removing barriers for people of all abilities to explore the Apostle Islands is a core mission of the Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Achieving that mission takes many forms and your donation can play an important role. We encourage all park lovers to “unleash your generosity” on Giving Tuesday 2020.
Exciting news! Friends update – Summer 2020
We’ve got some exciting news to share about the park, its 50th Anniversary celebration and the Friends.
Education
Under the surface and Zaaga’igan Ma’iinganag (lakewolves)
In this presentation, program directors Ian Karl and Toben Lafrançois highlight the photos and reflections from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore’s next generation of water protectors in celebration of it’s 50th anniversary.
Through the eyes of 4th graders
Through the Eyes of Fourth Graders is a book written and illustrated by students about their experiences in the natural environments of the area.
Island School in 32nd Year
It is hard to determine who benefits most from every year’s Island School experience – 3 days of wilderness camping on Stockton Island in May. The 6-8th graders give up classroom learning and social media for a hands-on, once–in–a lifetime experience with Lake...
Fourth Graders Take in Field Trip to the Islands
The Lake always reminds us that she is the boss. Area 4th graders, their teachers, and all involved recentparticipated in a field trip to the islands that has been rescheduled four times. “The 4th time was the charm,” says one of the organizers, Erica Peterson with...
Giving a Voice to Water: Grant Funds Field Trips for 4th Graders
Thanks to our partnership with the APIS National Lakeshore, FAINL was one of fourteen awardees (out of 127 applicants) to receive a National Marine Sanctuary Foundation grant for $12,521. The funds will pay for bus and boat transportation for seven coastal community...
Stewardship
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Service
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