People need access to nature, and they need access within reaching distance of their homes, whether it's a walk or a bike because that helps with mental health and connection to community.
The post Greenspace starts with grassroots first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/17/greenspace-starts-with-grassroots-2/
Improving green space equity means increasing the amount and accessibility of green spaces, especially in areas otherwise lacking them.
The post Greenspace starts with grassroots first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/15/greenspace-starts-with-grassroots/
The program offers free seven-day entry passes for state parks. The passes can be checked out from participating local libraries and eliminate the cost associated with entering state parks.
The post Free library program increases access to Minnesota state parks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/14/free-library-program-increases-access-to-minnesota-state-parks/
Cities like Detroit and Flint are moving to provide more recreation facilities available to the public.
The post Outdoor equity heading in the right direction first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/13/outdoor-equity-heading-in-the-right-direction/
Editor’s Note: Look for coverage of Great Lakes recreation and adventure in this new monthly feature. The author, Ian Solomon, founded Amplify Outside, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access and representation by Black people in the outdoors, starting in the Great Lakes region. Find more about him HERE.
As the age old saying goes, “you never know what you have until it’s gone.” And while winter is technically here, the season we knew as children seems long gone.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/01/ian-outside-winning-winter/
In addition, the pandemic sparked individual decisions to spend more time outside.
The post National park attendance, student activities, reflect outdoor habits adopted in the pandemic first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/24/national-park-attendance-student-activities-reflect-outdoor-habits-adopted-in-the-pandemic/
As noted in the nomination, the lighthouse represents four areas of significance: its maritime history, architecture, engineering and transportation.
The post Wisconsin lighthouse added to the National Register of Historic Places first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/12/wisconsin-lighthouse-added-to-the-national-register-of-historic-places/
Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, but I couldn’t have felt farther from the Great ones.
The post The Great Lakes live in my soul first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/30/the-great-lakes-live-in-my-soul/
On Christmas Eve, up to 20-foot waves are expected on all five of the Great Lakes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns of high winds, big waves and freezing spray across all coastlines.
The post Joyous Noel: Great Lakes’ great waves give surfers a gift first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/23/joyous-noel-great-lakes-great-waves-give-surfers-a-gift/
Going back home is so much more than reuniting with my family – it’s reuniting with the environment I grew up in.
The post Commentary: Walking through change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/21/commentary-walking-through-change/
Rock climbing might be a new tool for conserving the public land that bolsters Michigan’s annual $20 billion tourism industry. The sport is gaining traction as outdoor enthusiasts look to experience nature differently, especially after indoor climbing gyms closed during the pandemic.
The post A growing fad in the “flat” Midwest: Rock climbing. first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/21/a-growing-fad-in-the-flat-midwest-rock-climbing/
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has been accepted into the International Dark-Sky Association, the third dark sky park in the state. Such areas are becoming more popular in the United States as people become more interested in ecotourism experiences.
The post Northern Michigan resort promotes dark skies first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/18/northern-michigan-resort-promotes-dark-skies/
The National Park Foundation has given $1.7 million to 41 nonprofits across the country, including in the Great Lake Basin states, to help parks meet their current needs and become stronger and more resilient in the future.
The post National Park Foundation boosts North Country Trail hikers, Minnesota students first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/10/24/national-park-foundation-boosts-north-country-trail-hikers-minnesota-students/
Located on a strip of land that separates two of Michigan’s largest lakes, Elk and Torch, Maplehurst Natural Area is an unexpected delight to anybody who stumbles across it. The former summer camp is now a protected area of land thanks to a collaboration between Milton Township and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
The post Camp Maplehurst’s enduring legacy first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/09/30/camp-maplehursts-enduring-legacy/
Two Great Lakes cities are among “The World’s 50 Greatest Places of 2022” as compiled by Time magazine.
Detroit and Toronto made the list along with destinations on all the continents and in outer space. The magazine said the list came from its “international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those (destinations) offering new and exciting experiences.”
What puts these key Great Lakes cities in such company?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/07/detroit-toronto-time-50-greatest-places/
By Harm Venhuizen, Associated Press/Report for America
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Conservatives on the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled June 30 that a conservation group couldn’t challenge an agency’s decision to sell state park land for the construction of a high-end golf course along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Opponents said the ruling will make it much harder for the public to challenge decisions of state agencies.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/07/ap-wisconsin-court-kohler-golf-course/
Starting this year, hunters in Michigan will have to report their deer harvest online. Wildlife officials presented the plan to the state Natural Resources Commission and said online reporting will provide more accurate information about what kinds of deer are being taken and provide it more quickly.
The post Deer kill count moves online first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/07/deer-kill-count-moves-online/
Academic research increasingly documents how interaction with green space has a positive impact on mental health. But not everybody has access to quality green space.
The post Commentary: A green outlook on mental health is a privilege not all can access first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/11/commentary-a-green-outlook-on-mental-health-is-a-privilege-not-all-can-access/
There are debates on social media about the harm of disclosing favorite hiking locations: Does sharing favorite locations on social media cause more harm than good? Turns out, there's a lot to consider.
The post Commentary: Does social media threaten our special places? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/28/commentary-does-social-media-threaten-our-special-places/
Suburban ponds are experiencing ecosystem changes due to fertilizers, lawn treatments, and human waste and population. Climate change could also play a role.
The post Commentary: Suburban ponds threaten dog walkers and water quality first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/26/commentary-suburban-ponds-threaten-dog-walkers-and-water-quality/
The lifeguard shortage is expected to continue this summer, leading many local recreation leaders to combat inadequate staffing with increased wages or other incentives.
The post Lifeguard staffing struggles to stay afloat in 2022 first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/14/lifeguard-staffing-struggles-to-stay-afloat-in-2022/
After a two-year hiatus, Great Lakes cruise ships are back, and the industry is trying to prepare itself. Cruise companies will start expeditions in May and end them in October.
The post Cruise ships return to the Great Lakes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/13/cruise-ships-return-to-the-great-lakes/
Some trails break out of the woods at a lake. Some climb a dune to a sweeping view. And many – more than you probably thought – lead to a shipwreck with a story on a beach.
The post Shoreline shipwreck viewing predicted to be excellent first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/11/shoreline-shipwreck-viewing-predicted-to-be-excellent/
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there wasn’t much for many people to do other than sit at home. But as restrictions slowly lifted toward the end of spring 2020, many people turned, or returned, to a popular sport – golf – to fill their time. Since then, its popularity has increased.
The post Golf management jobs on upswing first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/04/golf-management-jobs-on-upswing/
On a cool fall day in 2007, Robin Pacquing slipped on a wetsuit, grabbed a surfboard and headed into Lake Ontario.
As a teenager, Pacquing had been a huge Baywatch fan and learned to love surfing during a family trip to Hawaii. As an adult, she went on to surf the waves off Tofino, British Colombia, never dreaming she might do the same just outside her door.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/03/surfing-great-lakes/
New legislation in Ontario can result in a fine if boats are not cleaned properly when they are moved from one body of water and into another. Boaters are now required to drain water from their boat and equipment and remove aquatic plants, animals and algae from boats, equipment, vehicles and trailers, according to the new rules. It is now illegal to place a boat in any body of water if there are aquatic weeds, animals or algae still on it.
The post New Ontario watercraft regulations fight invasive species first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/03/new-ontario-watercraft-regulations-fight-invasive-species/
Last year, the U.S. ski industry had its fifth-busiest season, according to the National Ski Areas Association, and interest in the slopes shows no signs of slowing down in Michigan for the 2021-22 season.
The post Downhill ski business booming in Michigan first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/28/downhill-ski-business-booming-in-michigan/
Reports of wildlife crime have reached their highest levels on record while related arrests are trending downward, according to new data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The post Illegal hunting complaints reach record numbers during pandemic, arrests down first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/13/illegal-hunting-complaints-reach-record-numbers-during-pandemic-arrests-down/
Some trails are just better in the winter.
The post Some trails are better with snow first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/13/some-trails-are-better-with-snow/
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the number of hunters is down this year about 4.5% compared to 2020. But at the Buck Pole in Mancelona, the turnout was better than last year.
The post Mancelona Buck Pole more than just a competition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/18/mancelona-buck-pole-more-than-just-a-competition/
Increased attention to parks as a result of the pandemic is demonstrated by Windsor's recent $1 million (USD $801,705) investment in 14 parks.
The post Windsor invests in parks lighting first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/16/windsor-invests-in-parks-lighting/
Parks Canada and Windsor are exploring the possibilities of turning some of the city’s most ecologically sensitive areas into a new national urban park.
The post Parks Canada and Windsor explore possible new national urban park first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/11/parks-canada-and-windsor-explore-possible-new-national-urban-park/
More than 49,000 hunters applied to hunt Michigan elk in 2021, a record that is part of a steady decade-long rise, state wildlife officials say.
The post Record elk hunting applications fuel conservation efforts first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/04/record-elk-hunting-applications-fuel-conservation-efforts/
National declines of hunting license sales and the need for additional wildlife conservation funding have prompted proposals to fill the fiscal gap, including one that’s stalled in Congress despite bipartisan support.
The post Wildlife habitat projects look for new funding as hunting licenses decline first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/29/wildlife-habitat-projects-look-for-new-funding-as-hunting-licenses-decline/
The salmon run is a popular time for anglers in Michigan. Snagging isn't allowed, but some think it should be.
The post Salmon run in northern Michigan highlights differing views on snagging first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/22/salmon-run-in-northern-michigan-highlights-differing-views-on-snagging/
Off-road vehicle and snowmobile riders who are claustrophobic would not have to wear a helmet if a series of bills are passed by the Michigan Legislature.
The post Snowmobile helmet exemption proposed just in time for winter first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/13/snowmobile-helmet-exemption-proposed-just-in-time-for-winter/
Trails that can accommodate strollers, wheelchairs with tank treads and baby changing stations in men’s bathrooms are part of a push to accommodate a surge of new visitors at Michigan state parks.
The post Michigan DNR expanding accessibility for more visitors first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/01/michigan-dnr-expanding-accessibility-for-more-visitors/
2020 was a record year for visitors at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. But this year hasn't kept up.
The post Sleeping Bear Dunes visitation down for July and August first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/09/27/sleeping-bear-dunes-visitation-down-for-july-and-august/
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, millions of Americans suddenly found themselves out of work or working remotely, their recreational options severely limited with the closure of bars, eateries, gyms and countless public spaces.
So what better way to spend time with family while remaining socially distanced than buying a boat and hitting the water?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/09/great-lakes-boat-tow-affordable-expensive/
Parks around the Great Lakes are expecting a spike in visitation this season as the United States and Canada continue to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
The post Second Spike: Great Lakes parks anticipate increased visitation this summer first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/07/28/second-spike-great-lakes-parks-anticipate-increased-visitation-this-summer/
A look at Peninsula Point in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The post Butterflies, beaches & a lighthouse first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/06/09/butterflies-beaches-a-lighthouse/
MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — The largest city in the Upper Peninsula is getting 1,000 feet of valuable shoreline along Lake Superior.
The Marquette City Commission recently voted to accept the land at no cost from We Energies, a utility, the Mining Journal reported.
“There’s no contamination that we’re aware of and we’re not taking on a problem area.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/ap-marquette-1000-feet-great-lakes-beach/
MICHIGAMME TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A conservation corridor with links to existing protected areas is planned for a remote region in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula.
The nonprofit Nature Conservancy said the 6,172-acre (2,497-hectare) Wilderness Lakes Reserve in the Michigamme Highlands area is being expanded by 4,854 acres (1,964 hectares) of forest and wetlands.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/ap-conservation-corridor-planned-michigan/
This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.
By Jim DuFresne, Great Lakes Echo
At some point in our lives, we all can use a little help down the trail — aging baby boomers, a toddler, a parent pushing a stroller, an expectant mother, somebody who walks with a cane, somebody else who suffers from asthma.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/great-lakes-trails-friendlier-disabilities/
Canada has nine sailors heading to the Olympics, six of which hail from the Great Lakes. Sarah Douglas is one of them.
“I’m excited, you know, I’m trying to treat it like any other competition,” Douglas said, “I think with the restrictions that we have, it’s going to be easier, the less distractions, but I’m just going out there to race.”
Douglas, a Toronto native who grew up in Barbados, will be competing in the Laser class in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/douglas-lake-ontario-tokyo-olympics/
A little more than a year ago the nation’s media outlets, including Great Lakes Now, were reporting on the widespread closures and restrictions being enacted across Great Lakes states. There were complete or partial closures and restrictions at nearly all public parks, preserves and other lakes-related facilities. Bars, restaurants and many stores and businesses were locking their doors.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/great-lakes-tourism-recreation-covid-19-2021/
More fishing trips could cause more damage to native fish populations in the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes than aquatic invasive species, according to a recent study.
The post New anglers could depress Great Lakes fish populations more than invasive species first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/25/new-anglers-could-depress-great-lakes-fish-populations-more-than-invasive-species/
Organizations are striving to make nature accessible to everyone.
The post Trails become friendlier for users with disabilities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/20/trails-become-friendlier-for-users-with-disabilities/
Demand for mountain bikes has skyrocketed.
The post Mountain biking sees popularity climb during pandemic first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/18/mountain-biking-sees-popularity-climb-during-pandemic/
As pandemic restrictions pushed people outdoors in 2020, visitors sought refuge in the National Parks System.
The post Great Lakes National Parks see record visitors in 2020 first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/04/great-lakes-national-parks-see-record-visitors-in-2020/
