Michigan state parks news - August 2024

The DNR Summer Youth Employment Program, now in its 12th year, provides summer employment, job skills training and potential career opportunities for young people in Detroit, Saginaw, Flint and Pontiac.

The program has provided hundreds of students ages 16 to 19 with opportunities to experience work centered on the outdoors and our state’s natural resources. Last summer alone, some 230 students worked more than 30,300 hours on projects throughout the state that allowed them to acquire and sharpen valuable life, workplace and employability skills.

The youth program is the result of ongoing support in the state budget presented to the Michigan Legislature by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Learn more in our Showcasing the DNR story.

Photo: Daijha Ross, 16, (left) and Naomi Parker, 19, both from Detroit, examine the macroinvertebrates they found on Belle Isle as part of their internship.

Taking place twice a year, Free ORV Weekend is a great time to see, experience and test out Michigan’s off-road vehicle trails.

Residents and out-of-state visitors legally can ride Michigan's 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and the state’s six scramble areas on two back-to-back days without an ORV license or trail permit. 

The entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Oakland County also will be waived. 

Fall ushers in cooler temperatures, stunning foliage and the chance to wear your favorite cozy clothes. It’s also a season packed with fun things to do:

• Harvests and Haunts: Hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails and nature programs are just some of the family-friendly activities taking place each September and October in state parks.
• A Paranormal Event at Fayette Historic State Park: Learn the skills of a paranormal investigator and put them to the test in an investigation Sept. 20 or 21. Multiple time slots are available either Sept. 20 or 21. Preregistration is required.
• Fall color chairlift rides in the Porkies: Get a bird's-eye view of Michigan's stunning fall foliage on a chairlift ride to the top of the ski hill in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The dates have been tentatively set for Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 21 through Oct. 12; however, keep your eyes on the website for updates. 

If your Labor Day weekend travel plans include crossing the Mighty Mac Monday, Sept. 2, please keep in mind that the Mackinac Bridge Authority closes the bridge 6:30 a.m. to noon for the Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk.

If you're looking for things to fill your time, participating in the Mackinac Bridge Walk is free (and registration isn't required). There's also lots to do on both sides of the bridge, such as visiting Mackinaw City or Ocqueoc Falls in the Lower Peninsula or exploring St. Ignace or Fayette Historic State Park in the Upper Peninsula.

Photo courtesy of Michigan State Park Photo Ambassador Ryan Burger. See more photo ambassadors images at Instagram.com/MiStateParks.