A group dedicated to enhancing the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park experience for all visitors was recognized as a Department of Natural Resources Partner in Conservation at yesterday's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Munising.

The Friends of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park was founded in 1998 to help promote, support and assist the efforts of the DNR to offer interpretative, scientific, historical, educational and related visitor services at Michigan's westernmost state park.

"Initially, the Friends of the Porkies started with smaller projects around special events at the park, but their enthusiasm has grown and now the group takes on very ambitious projects, such as the Porcupine Mountains Folk School and the park's Artist-in-Residence program," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries.

Among the many projects that the Friends of the Porkies have undertaken for the park include:

• New interpretative signs and trail improvements in 2004.
• Organizing the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in 2005, and now in its third year. In 2007, the festival attracted more than 900 people from 17 states. More than 800 volunteer hours are dedicated to the event each year.
• Creating the Porcupine Mountains Folk School in 2006, with 19 different classes offered in the 2006-07 season.
• Developing the park's Artist-in-Residence program at the park, which attracts artists around the country to come stay at the park in a rustic cabin and create a piece of public artwork for the park.
• Construction of a timber frame cabin with over 4,000 volunteer hours.
• Funding the park newspaper for the last two years, and will fund it again in 2008.
• From 2004 to 2007, the group contributed more than 500 hours for trail maintenance and repairs.
• Volunteering to assist the DNR in offering a "Beyond BOW" winter program that focused on teaching women winter survival skills.
• Creating an annual "mini grant" program to support environmental education programs at the park. In 2007, the grant was awarded to Ontonagon Area Schools to sponsor environmental education programs at the park for fourth graders.
• Purchasing 71 youth fishing licenses for youngsters from Ontonagon and Gogebic counties in conjunction with Michigan's Free Fishing Weekend.

"The Friends of the Porkies act as a catalyst to strengthen the relationship between the DNR, the park visitors and the local community," said DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson. "Their energy and enthusiasm for promoting and protecting the largest state park east of the Mississippi has resulted in many positive experiences for the park's visitors."

Persons or organizations receiving the DNR Partner in Conservation Award are nominated by employees of the DNR and are recognized at an NRC meeting by DNR Director Rebecca Humphries and NRC Chair Keith Charters.