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PartnershipsPark Partners: Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear PartnersPARK PARTNERS The work needing to be done in National Parks across the country is more than can be accomplished with Park resources alone. Today, the National Park Service and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore encourage partnerships as one viable method of preserving these timeless cultural and natural resources. Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear – a Park Partner Preserve has two partnerships with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The first allows Preserve to raise funds and sponsor work projects on behalf of the Park specifically for preservation of its historic resources. The second is an adaptive-use partnership for the Charles and Hattie Olsen House. Preserve rehabilitated the house in 2004 for office use, interpretive displays and a partnership incubator which provides space and resources to partners needing assistance in their start-up period. What is an Adaptive Use Partner? Adaptive-use partners become caretakers of a structure or landscape by using it for a purpose conducive to Park goals. Typically a non-profit, the partner has an agreement with the Park whereby the partner is responsible for restoration and maintenance of the resource. Inquiries about becoming an adaptive-use partner should be directed to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134. Other Adaptive-Use Partners at Sleeping Bear: Shielding Tree Nature Center—Although no longer occupying the farm, the Center was the first adaptive-use partner to sign an agreement with the Lakeshore in 1999. The Center completed some rehabilitation and restoration projects of its historic structures while offering year round programs that nurtured an awareness and appreciation of the environment. Glen Arbor Art Association—The GAAA is dedicated to the nurturing of art in the community. While their adaptive-use agreement is pending, they have been granted yearly permits for hosting concerts, art classes and artist-in-residence programs at the farm. The art association has put many volunteer hours into the restoration and rehabilitation of the historic Thoreson Farm. Other Park Partners Friends of Sleeping Bear—Founded in 1994, to help the Park in a number of ways including trail maintenance, dune grass planting, and raising money to purchase needed items such as interpretive staffing, picnic tables, spotting scopes and wheelchairs. They also currently serve as the fiduciary of the Port Oneida Fair. Manitou Islands Memorial Society (MIMS)–Initially an organization of island families, they have recently broadened their scope to help preserve the history and cultural traditions of North and South Manitou Islands. They distribute educational and interpretive materials and programs, keep records of burials and gravesites of original settlers and promote the proper care and maintenance of the Islands' historic and cultural assets. Other - Several other groups occasionally volunteer for the Park. The Sierra Club, Michigan WORKS!, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, area schools and the Hostelling International- USA are examples. PRESERVE’S PARTNERS To be most effective, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear looks to collaborate with a variety of groups and generous donors in accomplishing our goals. As examples, organizations such as the Manitou Islands Memorial Society have contributed to matching funds for Preserve grants, and Preserve has performed policy and project tasks on behalf of the Society. The Seitz family initiated the David Seitz Memorial Fund with Preserve for the restoration of the Martin Basch Farmstead and Cherry Republic has partnered with Preserve to restore historic agricultural landscapes. We also rely heavily on in-kind donations from local businesses for project materials, food, and equipment. The Park also shares its resources whenever possible to assist Preserve's projects through donation of materials or equipment. In the future, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear would like to collaborate more with existing partners. At present, we offer "incubator" space to potential partners needing office space until they become fully operational. We would also like to assist in encouraging and facilitating adaptive-use partnerships with the Park. Adopt-a-Building/Adopt-a-Landscape Preserve is in the development stage of a new adoption program. The potential of this opportunity is exciting. The concept, as yet untested in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, is for an organization or company to adopt a building much like the state's adopt-a-highway program. The organization would be recognized for its commitment to stabilizing, restoring or maintaining an historic building without the intent to occupy it. For more information on this alternative please contact us. Go Back :: Home Page |