Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Great Lakes Seminar Series: Green Roof Technology

June 27, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Event Date:

June 10th, 2014, 7:00pm

Green Roof Technology: Environmental and Economic Benefits

Casey Conn and Jud Downer of Green Roof Jungle and Nathan Griswold of Inhabitect will speak about the positive impacts of low-impact development. They will share pictures, information and resources on how to develop your property with the environment in mind. More information.

Every year Inland Seas Education Association hosts the Great Lakes Seminar Series. This monthly seminar series includes presentations about environmental issues important to the Grand Traverse Bay Region. Presentations range from underwater video, to research presentations, to stories, and much, much more! These seminars are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

All presentations are in our Education Center. If you would like to receive our e-invites, please contact Emily Shaw, Education Coordinator, by e-mail or phone 231-271-3077 to be added!

If you would be interested in becoming a seminar speaker, contact Emily Shaw, Education Coordinator, by e-mail or phone 231-271-3077.

Info provided by: www.schoolship.org

Great Lakes Discovery Sail

June 27, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Event Date:

June 19th - August 22nd, 2014
Great Lakes Discovery Sail (Full Schedule)

A unique hands-on experience for the entire family aboard our 77' schooner Inland Seas. On our Great Lakes Discovery Sails, "students" of all ages become Great Lakes scientists for the day, learning more about the Great Lakes ecosystem by trawling for fish, collecting plankton, sampling the lake bottom, and completing water quality tests.

(Ages 5 and up; $35/person, $25/children under 18)

Become part of the maritime sailing tradition by raising the anchor, hoisting the sails, and steering the schooner. While the schooner is under sail, small groups move through a series of learning stations. These stations feature hands-on activities built around the samples collected earlier in the trip. At each learning station the ecology of the Great Lakes is stressed and related to the history and culture of the area. You will see and understand your place within the ecosystem.

As the ship returns to the dock, participants have an opportunity to reflect about their experiences aboard the Schoolship and to consider their role in protecting the Great Lakes. Each sail is 3 hours in length. Please arrive at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay (or other designated location) one half hour before sailing time.

2014 Schedule for Great Lakes Discovery Sail

All morning (AM) sails are from 9am to 12pm, all afternoon (PM) sails are from 2pm to 5pm unless otherwise stated.

June 19, (PM) Traverse City
June 25, (PM) Escanaba
July 3, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
July 7, (PM) Traverse City (DTE Sponsored)
July 10, (PM) Traverse City (DTE Sponsored)
July 11, (PM) Traverse City (DTE Sponsored)
July 17, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
July 19, (AM & PM) Charlevoix, Venetian Festival
July 20, (AM) Charlevoix Venetian Fest
July 28, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
July 29, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
July 31, (PM) Elk Rapids, Harbor Days
August 1, (AM & PM) Elk Rapids, Harbor Days
August 2, (PM) Elk Rapids, Harbor Days
August 5, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
August 6, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay
August 14, (AM & PM) Frankfort
August 15, (PM) Frankfort
August 19-22, (AM & PM) Suttons Bay

Info provided by: www.schoolship.org

Family Science Day

June 27, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Event Date:

September 21st, 2014, 10:00am-Noon
October 19th, 2014, 10:00am-Noon
November 16th, 2014, 10:00am-Noon

Family Science Day is where families come together and discover Great Lakes Science. These discovery sessions are filled with Family Friendly hands-on science activities! Each day has a theme that will focus on an aspect of the Great Lakes. There are stories, crafts, and experiments sure to evoke the young scientist in everyone. The program itself is geared toward children 5-12 years old but families of all ages are free to enjoy our Education Center. Family science day is from 10 AM to Noon. An adult is asked to stay with children. Cost per class is $5.00.

Upcoming Family Science Days

September 21: What's for Lunch in the Great Lakes?
Learn about the the web of life in the Great Lakes. Young scientist will create their own food chain and even be apart of one!

October 19th: Fall into Science
Learn all about autumn and the changing seasons.

November 16th: The Legend of the Loon
Discover the majestic loons and other water fowl that call the Great Lakes home.

Info provided by: www.schoolship.org

Astronomy Under Sail

June 26, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Event Date:

July 27th, 2014, 9:00pm
August 22nd, 2014, 9:00pm

Astronomy Under Sail is a public sailing program in Suttons Bay, Michigan that is organized by the Inland Seas Education Association several times per year.

The night sky is a vast, beautiful region that not many have the privilege of enjoying—from the shore it can be difficult to view. On the Astronomy Under Sail program, you can view the stars and new moon, uninhibited.

During the sail, Astronomer Dick Cookman will help you identify constellations as well as discuss their legends. Cost is $45 per person.

Info provided by: www.schoolship.org

50th Anniversary at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

June 20, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Wood carving demonstrations!

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and BBQ for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and a BBQ with brats and hot dogs!

Join us for the July 8, 2014 official celebration of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th anniversary. Book a site or cabin and enjoy a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats.

Then see live wood-carving demonstrations, live musical performances, ribbon cutting with the Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce, and a BBQ brats, hot dogs and refreshments.

The Grand Marshals of the parade will feature the very first campers to check in when the camp opened on July 1, 1964 - Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia Michigan.

The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band will be performing for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary.

Start the celebration with a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats.

UPDATE: The Cheboygan Daily Tribune published an article covering our 50th Anniversary Celebration!

The first brochure for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964, then called "Mackinaw Campgrounds."

Here is the campground's first card. The name of the park was originally "Mackinaw Campground." Dad changed the name of the park to "Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping" when a park opened it town using our same name. Then the park opened down the street and called themselves Tee Pee so we had to remove the Tee Pee from all of our cards, posters and bumper stickers. Primitive camping was $1.00 a night in 1964. $1.75 for Modern camping, and $2.00 a night if you wanted newfangled electricity!

One of the original cabins at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964.

This cabin still exists, it has been remodeled and you can rent it! Our family of 5 (later to be 6) lived here for the first couple years. Two of the boys in diapers (the years before disposables) and no indoor plumbing.

The very first gusts at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964, then known as "Mackinaw Campground." From left to right: David Smith, Phyllis Smith (holding Denise Smith) and Vince Rogala (background).

Here is our very first camper Phyllis Smith. Her husband Malcolm is probably taking the photo. Both will return on July 8, 2014 to be Grand Marshals of our 50th anniversary parade. She holds her daughter Denise and her son David looks on. In later years both Denise and David worked at the campground. Lurking in the background pumping the camp's first well is 3 year old Vince Rogala, now General Manager of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping and The Mackinaw Club Golf Course.

For Immediate Release
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, 9730 Us Hwy 23, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Contact: (231) 436-5584

Michigan's Favorite - Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Family owned Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping celebrates it's 50th year of operation this July with a parade through the park, and other special events.

On July 8, 2014 campers will enjoy the official celebration of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th anniversary. The party starts off with a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats. Other events include wood carving demonstrations, live musical performances, ribbon cutting with the Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce, and a BBQ. The Grand Marshals of the parade will feature the very first campers to check in when the camp opened on July 1, 1964 - Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia, Michigan.

"We did a lot of planning to make sure our 50th anniversary is special. We wanted to honor the memory of our parents. They dreamed of creating a campground in a beautiful natural setting where people could come to reconnect with nature and each other. The camp opened with just 17 sites renting at $2.00 a night. From the start, campers liked mom and dad's little place on the lake with a sandy beach. With a lot of work, little by little, year after year, our family has built the park into one of the largest and most popular campgrounds in the Great Lakes region," explained Vince Rogala.

Recipient of numerous awards and most recently named as The Favorite Campground in Michigan by viewers of TV 9 & 10, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping features a mile of shoreline with campsites and cabins viewing the Mackinac Bridge, and Mackinac Island. Amenities include a heated pool, park store, arcade, modern restroom and shower facilities as well as sites for all types of campers (including the only Mackinac bridge-view campsites available anywhere). The campground operates Mackinac Lakefront Cabin Rentals, and gives guests discounts for it's 310 acre, 18 hole Mackinaw Club Golf Course.

To learn more about Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping visit www.CampMackinaw.com.

About Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping:

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping was opened by Richard and Rose Rogala on July 1, 1964 and today is still operated by their sons, Frank, Chris, Vince and Edward Rogala. To learn more about the history of the camp visit: The History of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/06/prweb11963574.htm

The Cheboygan Daily Tribune covers the 50th Anniversary celebration at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

The Cheboygan Daily Tribune covered our 50th Anniversary celebration here at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. An excerpt from the article:

... The celebration kicked off with a parade featuring the Lutheran Vanguard Marching Band, antique vehicles, floats, and Grand Marshals Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia, the first campers to check in when the campground opened on July 1, 1964.

The parade made its way down to the waterfront, where campers enjoyed music by Denny Beach and Sam King, hot dogs and refreshments, log carving, and a demonstration by the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show.

Quinn Rogala, granddaughter of the campground's founders Richard and Rose Rogala, made a heartfelt speech, and the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce was on hand for a ribbon cutting and the presentation of a plaque commemorating 50 years of camping.

"We did a lot of planning to make sure our 50th anniversary is special. We wanted to honor the memory of our parents," said Vince Rogala, general manager of the campground. "They dreamed of creating a campground in a beautiful natural setting where people could come to reconnect with nature and each other. ...

Read the full story here, or by clicking the image above.