Annual Board Meeting
Annual Meeting was a great success to showcase out programs. Our annual meeting minutes and reports will be forthcoming. We want to thank all our members, our volunteers, and our donors for a successful year.
Happy Birthday Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 1945-2025.
Thank you to local Businesses for your support through our business membership:
- Porkies Outpost
- UPPCO
- Rainbow Lodging
Giving Tuesday
We were selected again by Copper Shores Community Health Foundation for their Giving Tuesday event. By giving via Copper Shores our donations are boosted by donations from other organizations. Donations will be accepted November 11th until December 2nd. Click the link to their website and scroll down to Friends of the Porkies.
Artists-in-Residence
Coming up in early December – Artist-in-Residence applications will be received for 2026 residencies until February 14th, 2026. Application and guidelines to be posted soon.
Our self-guided tour of Dan’s cabin, the Visitor Center and the ski chalet was a huge success. Visitors were greeted by volunteers at Dan’s cabin by artist David Berg and volunteers Cynthia Allen and Geri Hawley. Traffic was non-stop to see the cabin, meet the artist, take in the awesome view and get an idea of what it’s like to be out in the park in a beautiful cabin built by the Friends. Visitors also stopped at the newly renovated Visitor Center where art is displayed on a rotating basis. Ski hill traffic was non-stop because the chair lift was running for fall colors. Visitors saw additional art from the donated collection on recently purchased art panels. Volunteer Lu Opperman and Holly Page/Communications Coordinator welcomed visitors and explained what the Friends is all about. We plan to do this next year with more art showcased.
The Friends of the Porkies has deep roots. Local citizens interested in the land that would become the Porkies started the movement to create the park in the early 1940’s. In 1945, support by the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold led to the creation of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Today, The Friends of the Porkies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is connecting people to the magic of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
From its beginnings as the Porcupine Mountains Ski Club, the Friends has evolved into a volunteer organization that continues to grow and take on projects at the Porkies. You can follow our progress in our newsletter, the Quill, on our website, and on our Facebook page.
The Friends of the Porkies wants to inspire appreciation of wilderness for youth and visitor experiences all year round at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Contact us at: P. O. Box 221, Ontonagon, MI 49953; phone 906-884-7663; email [email protected]
