Pulling invasive plants is one of the restoration efforts at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area.
Edited from a news release. All photos courtesy of Leave No Trace.
FREE SOIL – The Leave No Trace organization has selected the 3,500-acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area as a 2024 Spotlight site. This new initiative from Leave No Trace (LNT) shines a light on communities across the country which will rise to meet the LNT challenge with multi-day, onsite, “engaging and family-friendly” education and restoration initiatives.
From July 18 to July 20, a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team will be at Nordhouse Dunes with representatives of the Huron-Manistee National Forest to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as to partner on restoration and stewardship projects with interested community members.
“This is a small wilderness with something for everyone, and the continued existence of this area depends on protecting and preserving the area’s unique resources, geologic features, and wildlife,” said Scott Cichoracki, HMNF recreation management specialist. “The three-day Leave No Trace Spotlight event is an effective way to seek partners willing to help conserve Nordhouse; educate visitors regarding the value of the resource, wilderness regulations, and Leave No Trace Ethics; and to engage in stewardship work to ensure the longevity of this unique area for future generations.”
The goal of the initiative is to equip Spotlight areas with relevant Leave No Trace tools that address the impacts the site is facing and, ultimately, to foster healthy lands and people.
Sites are nominated for the Leave No Trace Spotlight initiative by local land agencies or community groups. The diverse sites chosen in 2024 span the country, each with unique environmental challenges.
“The Spotlight program is an amazing way to highlight the power of community and the difference people can make when they unite to protect the outdoors,” Dana Watts, the executive director of Leave No Trace, said.
The following events are free and open to the public, and LNT and its partners encourage people of all ages to attend.
Friday, July 19, 1-5 p.m., Leave No Trace Pop-up Education & Nordhouse Dunes Outreach
Meet at the Nurnberg Trailhead and Lake Michigan Recreation Area Beach Access. Join Leave No Trace and the U.S. Forest Service for engaging and family-friendly outreach and education, meet the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team and play quick games to learn more about Leave No Trace and how to protect Nordhouse Dunes and all your favorite outdoor spaces.
Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Leave No Trace Restoration Project at Nordhouse Dunes
Meet at the Nurnberg Trailhead. Join the Cadillac/Manistee Ranger District’s Recreation and Botany Technicians and Leave No Trace at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness area as we complete restoration projects along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Advance sign up is encouraged HERE.
Saturday, July 20, 7-8:30 p.m. Campground Amphitheater Program
Meet at the Lake Michigan Amphitheater. Join Leave No Trace and the staff of Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area for a discussion on the dunes’ tribal history, how they became a designated wilderness area and how we can all become better stewards of the land for generations to come.
For more information, visit: https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-nordhouse-dunes-wilderness-area/
Leave No Trace uses the power of science and research, education for all, and stewardship to support and protect nature. Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The Spotlight program is the newest educational offering from Leave No Trace. Follow them on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
