PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Susan Pocklington I Executive Director
Email: susan@sleepingbearforever.org
Phone: 231-640-0148
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Becomes Sleeping Bear Forever
New Name Reflects Expanded Vision for Preservation, Experiences, and Historic Sites Reuse
GLEN ARBOR, MI —National park partner Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is proud to announce a new name and identity: Sleeping Bear Forever.
“Sleeping Bear Forever” reflects a lasting commitment to preserving the history, landscapes, and stories of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Entering this new chapter breathes new life into historic properties, connecting the community, and beyond, to this remarkable heritage.
“Our preservation mission remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Susan Pocklington, Executive Director. “But the name Sleeping Bear Forever better reflects how we have grown, and the direction we are going to preserve and reawaken these places through expanded interpretation, visitor experiences, community engagement, and stewardship – protecting these resources into the future.”
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear started as a grassroots advocacy group to save the deteriorating and significant collection of cultural resources in the park, primarily rural farm and maritime buildings. For nearly 30 years, in partnership with the national lakeshore, volunteers and contractors have done some heavy lifting—literally and figuratively—implementing over 100 projects to stabilize, restore, and preserve dozens of the park’s 366 historic structures and landscapes listed on or eligible for the National Register, ranging from log cabins and barns to remote cottages on North Manitou Island.
The organization’s impact also includes funding park needs, orchard restoration, removing invasive vegetation from historic landscapes and natural hiking trails; conducting heritage tours, and funding and co-planning park events such as the Port Oneida Fair and Maple Sugar Days.
Today, Sleeping Bear Forever looks to increase organizational capacity to move into the next phase of its mission bringing new ways to learn from and experience the heritage of Sleeping Bear through a variety of programs and events such as a speaker series, traditional trades classes, heritage hiking programs, new tours, farm to table dinners, a multi-faceted ParkART program, and the exciting phase of revitalizing additional historic properties.
“This evolution allows us to think bigger about how people experience Sleeping Bear,” said Tom Whitaker, Board President. “While creating more opportunities for people to engage directly with the stories, landscapes, and places that make this region so special, we’re preserving area heritage. Activating historic properties through meaningful public experiences is one of the strongest ways to ensure their long-term preservation.”
The new identity also reflects the organization’s long-term vision to grow support, partnerships, and philanthropic investment benefiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “Growing volunteer capacity and capital will enable us to take on larger preservation projects and investments based on park needs.”
Sleeping Bear Forever is headquartered at the historic Charles and Hattie Olsen farm/Port Oneida Heritage Center, the hub of their activities including horse and wagon, auto, and bike tours, and the annual Port Oneida Run.
The public transition will unfold throughout the summer. Check out all the opportunities to connect with the historic landscape under the new Sleeping Bear Forever identity. For more information, visit: sleepingbearforever.org
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Letter to our Supporters:
We are excited to share an important milestone in our organization’s journey:
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is now SLEEPING BEAR FOREVER!
After months of thoughtful exploration about who we are and how we can best fulfill our mission into the future, we officially began the process of changing our name last summer. The name was partly inspired by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore leadership who often reminds us that the National Park Service is in the “forever business.”
While our name has evolved, our mission remains the same.
Our new name reflects our lasting commitment to this extraordinary place as an official philanthropic park partner to preserve and share its landscapes, historic farms, stories, and the experiences that connect generations. It also reflects a new chapter in more fully realizing that mission – through reuse of historic properties, expanded programs, and experiences for visitors and community members to relate to this remarkable heritage.
“Forever” is about permanence, stewardship, and the idea that this place belongs to all of us—now and into the future. We are filled with gratitude and appreciation for the many generous and committed people who have brought us this far.
We will continue working to:
- Preserve and rehabilitate historic structures and landscapes
- Activate historic sites through educational programs
- Offer meaningful opportunities to connect with, learn from, and give back to this place through experiences such as farm-to-table dinners, new tours, a speaker series, traditional trades classes, and heritage hiking programs launching this summer.
- Build a stronger and more connected community of supporters around a shared vision for Sleeping Bear
We’ll be sharing more in the weeks ahead about upcoming programs, events, and our logo and website. We invite you to engage, and spread the word!
This is an exciting time to become a member or renew your membership with Sleeping Bear Forever!
Thank you for considering a donation in support of this next chapter.
With gratitude,
Susan Pocklington
Executive Director
Official Partner of the
