Celebrate the U.P.!

at the three corners where Ridge and Front Sts. intersect in downtown Marquette, MI.

Schedule:

10:15-11:15 "An Author's Journey to Advocacy: A Memorable Hike Leads to a Regional Vision" with hiker and author Eric Hansen.

Eric will present a slide tour of the Upper Peninsula’s best hikes and offer his thoughts on the land, its compelling themes, and its almost mythic place in the imagination of people throughout the Midwest. Hansen walked 900 miles researching his best-selling guidebook for the U.P. He found miles of quiet Lake Superior shoreline, sparkling waterfalls, and high rock balconies with knock-your-socks-off views. Eric's talk on youtube.

11:30-12:30 "The Beaver Basin Wilderness Designation at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore" with park superintendent, Jim Northrup

Despite strong public support, protecting a small portion of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as a federally designated wilderness has been a long, sometimes arduous effort, filled with passion on both sides. Jim will share some of his thoughts and observations about that effort and why designating an area a wilderness can be such a lightning rod issue.

1:30-2:45 The Marquette premier film showing of "Fortunate Wilderness: The Wolf and Moose Study of Isle Royale" with documentary filmmaker, George Desort

Anchored in the northwest depths of Lake Superior, Isle Royale is one of America’s last remaining wild places. Fifty-six miles of inhospitable waters isolate the island from Michigan’s mainland. Explore this wilderness with wolf biologists Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich as they attempt to make sense of the delicate balance between wolf, moose, and climate.

Topics under discussion will include the Outreach Fund, a visit with Eric Hansen, the Environmental Education Grant program, the Keweenaw Sustainability Initiative, and the election of the 2009-2011 board.

Following the board meeting, we plan to adjourn to the Sweet Water Cafe for dinner (Dutch Treat) and socializing. Hope you can join us!
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Events will feature speakers and a panel discussion about ideas and things that make the U.P. special. Expect lots of great ideas and gorgeous slides!

Presentations will run concurrently from 10 AM to 3 PM, in a total of four rooms in the

Peter White Public Library, Women’s Federated Clubhouse, and Landmark Inn. Over a dozen speakers will be presenting. Following them, there will be a panel discussion, followed later by a social hour with wine, cheese, other beverages, and snacks. In addition, vendors will be showing their wares throughout the day.

All events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Here is the current list of speakers and panel members, and their topics, program titles, program descriptions, and bios if available at this time:

Eric Hansen

Writer / Advocate

“The Poetry and Practicalities of Hiking Michigan’s Upper Peninsula”

Author Eric Hansen will present a slide tour of the Upper Peninsula’s best hikes and offer his thoughts on the land, its compelling themes and its almost mythic place in the imagination of people throughout the Midwest. Hansen walked 900 miles researching his best-selling guidebook for the U.P. He found miles of quiet Lake Superior shoreline, sparkling waterfalls, and high rock balconies with knock-your-socks-off views.

Eric Hansen is an award-winning environmental essayist, author, outdoor writer, adventurer, public speaker and pulpit guest. He has highlighted the U.P.’s natural heritage in adventure features in Backpacker Magazine, the op-ed pages of our region’s leading newspapers, and in numerous public radio interviews. Widely traveled, he’s a veteran of 28 treks to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, successful ascents of most of the high peaks of Glacier National Park, and a mellow and memorable telemark-style ski descent of Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert.
http://www.eric-hansen.com/

Karl Bohnak

Meteorologist, Author

“U.P. History From a Weatherman’s Perspective”

Karl celebrates the hardy men and women who settled this rugged, beautiful environment with stories that examine our history with an emphasis on weather and climate. 

Weather has been Karl Bohnak’s passion since his youth.  He studied meteorology at the University of Wisconsin and has worked in broadcasting for over 30 years.  A fondness of snow led Karl to one of the snowiest regions in the country – the U.P.  He has been broadcasting weather here for over 20 years. 
 

George Desort

Documentary Filmmaker

George will show his film “Fortunate Wilderness: filming the Isle Royale Wolf/Moose study,”

Anchored in the northwest depths of Lake Superior, Isle Royale is one of America's last remaining wild places. Fifty-six miles of inhospitable waters isolate the island from Michigan's mainland. Explore this wilderness with wolf biologists Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich as they attempt to make sense of the delicate balance between wolf, moose, and climate.

George is an independent documentary filmmaker. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Columbia College in Chicago, he has spent the last four years shadowing wolf biologists Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich for a behind-the-scenes look into the longest running single predator-single prey study in the world - the wolf and moose study of Isle Royale.

Nita Engle (Can not attend due to health reasons)

Watercolor artist
 

Rep from the Noquemanon Trail Network

Jan Schultz

Botanist

Dave Dempsey

“The Last Authentic Place”

The Upper Peninsula is one of the few remaining places in America where landscape and climate define an entire people, its history, and its destiny. The conservation history of the U.P. has much to tell us about how America can regenerate itself.

Dave will also be part of the panel discussion.

Sam Crowley

Kayaker, Sea Kayak Specialists

  “Defined by Water”

As a peninsula, the U.P. is defined by water.  It was water that made up the ancient highways that Native Americans, European explorers and early settlers traveled.  Paddling a kayak one sees the land, wildlife and history from a unique perspective.  Join Sam as he brings a view of the Lake Superior, Michigan, and Huron shorelines as seen from the water. 

Sam is a massage therapist and kayak instructor based out of Marquette.  He has paddled Lake Superior extensively as well as British Columbia, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland.  After traveling, returning to the U.P. shoreline reaffirms it as a place of beauty, community, and wilderness. 
 

Russell Magnaghi

Professor of History, Northern Michigan University

“A Historian Looks at the U.P.”

Join Russell as he shares personal insights into viewing, gathering, and writing the history of the U.P.

A resident of the Upper Peninsula since 1969, I have taught at Northern Michigan University where I have focused on the history of the region.  I am proud to be one of a number of people who have brought a new and wider perspective in studying the region.  The history of the region is more than merely copper and iron mining, but it is the history of the people, the ethnic groups, and the environment that they live in. 

Earl Meshigaud, Sr.

Cultural Director, Spiritual Leader, and Tribal Council Member

Hannahville Indian Community

“Native American Presence – Spiritual Overview”

Aiesha Meshigaud will open this session with a description and singing of traditional Native American music.  Earl will follow with an invocation paying tribute to those who have occupied or passed through the area and then speak about the meanings of what is described as the Indian Way of Life.

Earl and his wife, Aiesha Meshigaud, have both been dedicated to helping and healing the people that have sought help through traditional healing and ceremonies.  They both have helped to bring greater understanding to both Native and Non-native people by continuously having an open door policy to their home, lodges, and ceremonies. 
 

Jim Northrup

Superintendent, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

“The Beaver Basin Wilderness Designation at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.”

Despite strong public support, protecting a small portion of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as federally designated wilderness has been a long and sometimes arduous effort, filled with passion on both sides.  Jim will share some of his thoughts and observations about the effort at Pictured Rocks and why wilderness is such a lightning rod issue.

Jim Northrup is a National Park Ranger who currently serves as Superintendent at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Over the course of a 29 year National Park Service (NPS) career, Jim has worked at Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks;  Cape Hatteras and Fire Island National Seashores and at the Buffalo National River.  Prior to working for the NPS, Jim served as a Course Director and Lead Instructor for Discovery, an outdoor education organization similar to Outward Bound.  He holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Education and has done graduate level work in public administration, and environmental law and policy. Over the course of his career and life, Jim has been very involved in managing designated wilderness and has found strong personal value in the spiritual renewal and physical challenge involved in wilderness travel. 
 

Scot Stewart

Educator, Photographer

“From Here to a Beach That’s Almost in Paradise”

The Upper Peninsula’s boreal forests, remnant forests, old growth forests and Great Lakes shores offer fabulous scenery, biodiversity, and birding no matter the season. The U.P. offers visitors and residents some of the best of all three.

For nearly 40 years, Scot Stewart has been exploring the U.P.’s well-known and more secretive wild places as a photographer, educator, and writer.  He’s found a home in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Marge Forslin - Vice President, North Country Trail Hikers Chapter

Marge will present an overview of the North Country National Scenic Trail, followed by highlights of the trail as it traverses the central U.P. from western Alger Co. to eastern Baraga Co.

Marge serves as the office manager of the Northern Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the board of the Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy.

Lorena Jinkerson - Member, National Board of Directors of the North Country Trail Association

Lorena will present an overview of the North Country National Scenic Trail, followed by highlights of the trail as it traverses the central U.P. from western Alger County into eastern Baraga County.

Besides being a member of the National Board of Directors of the NCTA, Lorena also serves on the local North Country Trial Hikers Board and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Western U.P. Citizens Advisory Council. She is a retired professor of education technology.

Doug Welker

President, Peter Wolfe Chapter, North Country Trail Association

“Exploring the Wild and Spectacular Trap Hills of Ontonagon County”

Doug uses loads of photos and maps to show how high rock cliffs, wild and scenic rivers, waterfalls, a rich copper mining history, and spectacular views from the North Country National Trail make the Trap Hills special, and why some of us are proposing an National Recreation Area there.

Doug is the President of the Peter Wolfe Chapter of NCTA, is on the UPEC board, and the steering committee of FOLK, and is active in other groups.  Now retired he has worked as an educator, Forest Service Wilderness Ranger, geologist, and much more.  He and his wife Marjory Johnston reside in Alston but have a second “town” home in Atlantic Mine. 

For more info on the Trap Hills and on the NCT in the western U.P., check out http://www.northcountrytrail.org/pwf/
 

Panel Members

Christine (Tina) Hall

Director of Conservation Programs, Michigan Chapter, The Nature Conservancy

Christine directs all easement, conservation, and stewardship management in the Michigan Chapter as well as running the U.P. Regional Program.  Christine’s background is in forest management and has researched and written on working forest easements for several years.  Christine received a double B.A. (magna cum laude, 1983) in Biology and Environmental Studies from American University, and a M.S. and Ph. D. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Maryland (1986, 1989).  She has been with The Nature Conservancy since 1989.

Dave Dempsey (can not attend due to weather/flight)

Environmental Historian, Author

Dave Dempsey is the author of five books, including one on Michigan’s Conservation history.  He has been active in environmental policy and communications since 1982 and served as Governor Blanchard’s environmental advisor from 1982 – 1989.  He is currently communications director for

Conservation Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Marvin Roberson

Forest Policy Specialist, Mackinac Chapter, Sierra Club