FRIENDS OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS
The Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was founded in 2004 to help foster an appreciation and to build support for the national lakeshore. “The Apostle Islands are gemstones in Lake Superior, and we want to invite people to visit these special islands and to help protect them so that future generations may enjoy them as we do now,” said Martin Hanson of Mellen, WI. Hanson, a driving force in founding the Friends and its Board of Directors, worked to establish the national lakeshore in the 1960s. He was the personal tour guide of President John F. Kennedy who briefly visited the Apostles as he considered a push by former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson to designate the islands as national parkland.
Friends Mission:
To promote an appreciation for and preservation of the cultural and natural heritage and the natural environment of the Apostle Islands.
Friends Efforts:
· Connect people with the history, beauty, and adventure of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
· Increase community involvement with the Islands.
· Support the educational, recreational, and resource protection efforts of the National Park Service.
· Raise funds to support park projects and events.Learn more about the Friends of the Apostle Islands.