CCD Tall Ship Coastal Tourism Education -- Project Revision/No-Cost Extension Proposal Request

Requesting program funding no-cost extension to remaining, unspent funding to be applied toward

delivering re-focused shipboard programming out of East Tawas and Alpena ports, scheduled for summer

2011.

Funds remaining due to unplanned cost savings and program partner contract cancellations, specifically

back-to-back years of cancellations by tall ship schooner vessel partner and cost savings due to partner

funding contributions (e.g., ship-time contributions from City of East Tawas NOAA Coastal Management

Program project). Due to multiple tall ship cancellations, we were unable to deliver several planned

community development education programs; and planning partners have concluded it is not reliable feasible

to count on visiting tall ships as platforms for delivering scheduled community education programs.

Proposing to re-focus project and deliver already planned vessel-based community development

education programs during summer 2011 utilizing two new tourism vessel-based business platforms (as

an alternate to visiting tall ships) newly established and operating out of two northeast Michigan ports, East

Tawas and Alpena. In addition to delivering proposed educational programs on a rescheduled timeline, this

requested modification also allows us to capitalize on an opportunity to provide direct funding and

interpretive program development support toward two new, local coastal tourism businesses looking to

operate in these northeast Michigan ports during their critical start-up periods.

Accomplished programming to date:

Planning Session February 2009, Alpena, MI (Appendix A): 18 partners participating including

community and agency partners (NOAA TBNMS, USFWS, MDNR, Alpena Community College),

education partners (Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District, Alpena Schools, 4-H

Youth Programs), vessel-based operators (S/V Denis Sullivan), and Great Lakes Sea Grant

presenters with vessel-based education experience (Stewart, Schomberg)

Additional follow-up, consultation and exploration with partners in two other NE MI Ports:

Cheboygan County (U.S. 23 Heritage Route Tourism Committee), Iosco County partners (City of

East Tawas, Develop Iosco, etc.), and three other vessel-based operators (Bay Sail tall ships, Charity

Island Dinner Cruise operator, and Alpena Glass Bottom Boat tour operator)

Alpena community “Great Lakes Discovery” education programs developed, marketed (but

canceled): Two different pilot programs developed for Alpena area, targeting community/tourist

adult and family “free-choice learners”. In partnership with Alpena Community College Adult

Lifelong Learning (ACC ALL) program and resource agency partners, we developed and scheduled

with tall ship S/V Denis Sullivan, offered and filled registration for two community “discovery

education programs” out of Alpena, including:

o Life of Lake Huron (Partners: USFWS, MDNR Fisheries, MI Sea Grant): Offered May

2009 (Appendix B)

o Maritime Heritage (Partners: NOAA TBNMS, MI Sea Grant): Offered May 2009 and

September 2010 (Appendix C)

Tawas to Caseville Port-to-Port Tour (Appendix D) developed, delivered in partnership with City of

East Tawas and NOAA Coastal Management Program project, designed as added-value extension to

their cruise ship feasibility study. Participation by 29 community leaders, exploring feasibility of

offering port-to-port vessel tourism services –Sea Grant facilitated networking/learning among

coastal tourism partners of Iosco County (Appendix E: Media Coverage),

2010/2011 Program Coordination, Future Planning with East Tawas and Alpena, designed

around providing coastal tourism education programming for community officials and leaders in

Tawas area with Charity Island Dinner Cruise Operator new to East Tawas in 2010 (Appendix F)

and “be a tourist in your own town” cruises with glass bottom boat operator starting in spring 2011.

Planned programming that did not occur due to unanticipated events:

Vessel cancelations, education program cancelations: canceled planned ACC ALL “Life of Lake

Huron” and “Maritime Heritage” programs both years (May 2009 and September 2010).While

sessions were all full or nearly full in participant registration, in both years visiting shipboard

platform partner – the S/V Denis Sullivan – canceled and did not arrive in Alpena as intended. This

resulted in not spending funds allocated for shipboard time ($3000 Budgeted)

Lost MSUE Regional Land use planning education consultant: Mary Ann Heidemann, left MSU

Extension, therefore unable to develop a landuse planning program; education program development

contract funding allocated for her time instead shifted to support involvement of Jesse Schomberg,

MN Sea Grant, in sharing their experience with “View from the Lake” during planning process.

Cost-savings in programming: No costs for shipboard time for East Tawas-partnered Port-to-Port

tourism education cruise, this covered by City’s NOAA CMP grant; and funds were not required in

support of Huron Pines AmeriCorps member serving with NOAA TBNMS.

Proposed Programming Revisions, 2011 opportunities resulting from accomplished program activities:

Tawas Area Programming: Provide a second, 2011 summer coastal tourism networking and

education program, adapting from a port-to-port exploration pilot and instead offering participants

the same education program while experiencing the tour/visitor experience offered by Charity Island

Dinner Cruise Business, a new operator in East Tawas.

Deliverable: One summer trip, targeting community development leaders and officials, budgeted

cost of $2850 for trip with dinner. Point program partners: Bob Wiltse, Charity Island Dinner

Cruises; and Helen Pasakarnis, City of East Tawas

Alpena Area Programming: Cooperating with newly starting glass-bottom boat businesses,

launching business in Alpena in spring 2011. Educational programs would deliver already

developed but previously canceled “Life of Lake Huron” and “Maritime Heritage” educational

programs. Added-value opportunity for funding to provided funding support to a entrepreneurial,

emerging business who is looking for start-up support, partners, and program opportunities in first

year of operation.

Deliverable: Offering 3-5 summer trips coordinated with ACC ALL, targeting community

adult/family “free choice learners,” budgeted cost of $3000. Point program partners: John Madigan,

Alpena Glass-bottom Boat Tours; and Jeff Gray, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Budget Modification Request:

Estimated Remaining in Account: $6530.70

Proposed programming revisions would result in allocating remaining funds as follows:

2,850.00 Shipboard contract: Iosco with Charity Island Dinner Cruises

3,000.00 Shipboard contract: Alpena Glass-bottom boat tours (alternative to tall ship)

680.70 Remaining amount to remain in Travel & Meeting Supplies/Coordination

Tallship Educational Programs: A Regional Planning & Development Opportunity

February 18, 2009 – Alpena, MI Agenda 10:00 Welcome & Introductions (Sea Grant)

Background & Purpose

Opportunity & Overview of Day

10:30 Current efforts and programming with tallships visiting NE MI.

NOAA TBNMS: History working with tallships & types of programs offered in past.

S/V Denis Sullivan staff : Types of programming ship and crew are capable of supporting.

11:15 Examples and Lessons learned from far off lands!

Steve Stewart, Michigan Sea Grant: GLEP, Discovery Cruises, and COSEE connections

Jesse Schomberg, Minnesota Sea Grant: “View from the Lake” CCD Landuse Planning

….discussion regarding their programs (audience, marketing, delivery), partnerships, funding/sustainability, and other challenges (and how addressed)

12:30 Lunch [working lunch] 1:00 Open planning discussion:

Interest and Opportunity?

Dates/Windows for programming – Spring (May) and Fall (Sept)

Potential Audiences/Programs: a. Youth Education b. Adult/Family/”Free Choice” learners:

i. ACC ALL ii. Elderhostel iii. Events (e.g. Maritime Festival) iv. “Be a tourist in your own hometown!”

c. CCD programming – local governmental Leaders/decision-maker education (NEMCOG/MSUE)

Partnership/Process a. NOAA TBNMS is “ambassador” for these types of vessels, working with

several. b. Programming partners – levels of commitment? c. Can we coordinate and offer these types of programs more regularly? Maybe

a planning meeting, such as this, each winter/spring?

Funding/Sustainability

3:00 Adjourn

Appendix A

Alpena Lifelong Learners (ALL),

offered in Partnership with Alpena Community College

Classes (offered in 2009, tallship platform cancelled)

ACC ALL-OFFERED SHIPBOARD COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AS OFFERED AND PROMOTED:

Friday, May 22, 2009

“The Life of the Lakes: Exploring Lake Huron’s Aquatic Life”

Presented by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries, Michigan

State University Extension, and Michigan Sea Grant

Session Description:

Voyage aboard the S/V Denis Sullivan, a 137 foot 3-masted schooner, and experience first-hand the aquatic

ecosystem of life hidden beneath the waters of Lake Huron. While sailing on this historic Great Lakes schooner

replica, you will explore the diversity of Great Lakes fish, both large and small, found swimming in the waters of

Lake Huron, Thunder Bay, and our inland waterways. In your research journey, you will collect water samples,

conduct plankton tows, and grab samples of Lake Huron's bottom environments in exploring water habitats and

the tiniest of aquatic organisms that support this thriving Lake Huron ecosystem of life.

We are intrinsically tied to our Lake Huron coastline and these living resources. Learn about the recreational

and economic value of northern Lake Huron’s sport and commercial fisheries; as well as emerging issues and

challenges facing these aquatic ecosystems, such as negative impacts of aquatic invasive species. Interact with

fisheries biologists and learn about research methods and equipment used to conduct the Lake Huron fisheries

studies that provide important contributions to management of these valuable aquatic resources.

Session Details:

Lunch provided

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Cost: $40.00 (includes lunch and class materials)

Pre-registration required by May 8th

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

“An Afternoon Sail through Great Lakes Maritime History”

Presented by: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Michigan Sea Grant.

Session Description:

Sail into yesteryear on board the S/V Denis Sullivan, a 137-foot 3-masted Great Lakes schooner. While sailing on

Lake Huron, learn about Northeast Michigan’s rich maritime history as well. Test your seamanship skills or learn

new ones with opportunities to set sail, tie knots, and lend a hand at the wheel…or just sit back on deck, watch

Appendix B

the crew at work and learn how lake schooners like the S/V Denis Sullivan, were used to transport goods

throughout the region. The fresh-water highways were and remain important avenues for transportation,

linking the Great Lakes region with the rest of the world. Keep in mind that the lakes can also be a volatile

environment and throughout history Lake Huron has claimed many ships. As you sail over the shipwrecks of

Thunder Bay, learn about the risks taken by Great Lakes sailors and the story of our history told in the

shipwrecks that lie on the bottom of Lake Huron.

Start your journey onshore at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s Great Lakes Maritime Heritage

Center. Learn about current archeological research and ongoing underwater investigations that help tell the

stories of our history and our connections with the Great Lakes. The shore session preceding this 2-hour sail on

the S/V Denis Sullivan features sanctuary historian C. Patrick Labadie, who will talk about the colorful era of

passenger ships on the Great Lakes.

Session Details:

Lunch provided

12 noon to 4:00 pm

Cost: $40.00 (includes lunch and class materials)

Pre-registration required by May 8th

Bios:

The S/V Denis Sullivan, a 137-foot re-creation of a three-masted, 19th century Great Lakes schooner, is owned

and operated by Pier Wisconsin as an educational platform and scientific research vessel. Today, the Denis

Sullivan is Pier Wisconsin's ambassador for freshwater exploration. Used for both science education and nautical

training, she sails each year to ports-of-call throughout the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean and the tropical

waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Charles “Pat” Labadie is a Detroit native. He studied Civil Engineering at the University of Detroit, dropped out

of college to take his first museum job in 1960 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and served as Exhibits

Preparator there for the next eight years. In 1968 he was appointed Director of the Saugatuck Maritime

Museum on board the retired passenger steamer Keewatin. In 1972 he earned a Master’s license for tugs and

worked briefly for the Gaelic Tugboat Company of Detroit. The following year he moved to Duluth, Minnesota

to become Director of the Corps of Engineers’ Canal Park Marine Museum (now the Lake Superior Maritime

Visitors Center), which was then under construction. He served there for the next 28 years, retiring in

2000. During his tenure at Duluth he contributed to numerous journals and scholarly works and participated in

archaeological field work at several locations around the upper Great Lakes. Labadie was invited to work as a

consultant for the new Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena during the Robert Ballard exploratory

project in 2002, and subsequently relocated there in March 2003 to become Sanctuary Historian. Pat and his

wife, artist June Perry, have since contributed their maritime research collection to the Sanctuary, and it is now

housed at Alpena Public Library.

Appendix B

Appendix C

Iosco Coastal Lake Huron Tourism Cruise: A View from Lake Huron A Shipboard Coastal Community Development Fact Finding Tour

August 20, 2010 – East Tawas State Dock Join us on Lake Huron as a tourist in your own town! We invite you to join us on August 20th for a shipboard coastal tourism exploration excursion from Tawas to Caseville. While out on Lake Huron’s waters, explore the diversity of coastal Lake Huron tourism opportunities and assets, partners and programs that define our sense of place, contribute to our quality of life, and provide significant community and economic development values in Iosco County.

Date: Friday, August 20, 2010 Location: Lake Huron! …departing East Tawas State Dock Time: 10 a.m. to 5/6 p.m. [Lunch Provided]

Experience our valuable Great Lakes and coastal resources, and gain a valuable understanding about the ecological and economic values and contributions of these Great Lakes coastal resources. Facilitated by Michigan Sea Grant Extension, you will network with and learn from community partners and local businesses about programs and efforts designed in support of these coastal Lake Huron tourism opportunities, businesses, and economic development contributions to our community. During your journey across Saginaw Bay, learn about the ecological values of Lake Huron’s fisheries and wildlife, highlighting an economically valuable recreational fishery and wildlife watching opportunities accented by our Tawas Point Birding Festival. These complemented by the historic tourism opportunities of Lake Huron, such as historic lighthouses and archeologically rich Charity Island. Learn about coastal access opportunities ranging from our shore side state parks to marinas and recreational boating opportunities on Lake Huron. In Caseville, learn about coastal tourism partners and efforts of partners working in our Huron County destination; and enjoy a wonderful whitefish lunch, straight from the waters of Saginaw Bay. Over lunch learn about historic (and still operating today) commercial fisheries of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Tentative Cruise Itinerary:

10 a.m. Welcome, Boarding, Departure from East Tawas State Dock (travel) Lake Huron Cruise: Coastal Tourism Resources and County Partners Programming 1 p.m. Caseville Arrival: Enjoy a Lake Huron whitefish lunch [provided] with Saginaw Bay

Commercial Fisheries and visit with Huron County Tourism Partners 3 p.m. Departure, return to East Tawas (travel) Networking, Sharing YOUR Ideas 5/6 p.m. Arriving back in East Tawas! Thank You and Goodbyes!

Reserve Your Spot on the Tour Today!

Space is limited. So please reserve your spot as quickly as possible by emailing or calling Helen Pasakarnis at East Tawas City Hall (hpasakarnis@easttawas.com or 362-2492).

Appendix D

by John MorrisEAST TAWAS – As part of the

Port of Call Cruise Ship Feasibil-ity Study, about 30 municipal and business leaders took part Friday in a port-to-port boat excursion to Caseville.

According to Helen Pasakarnis, East Tawas Tax Increment Finance Authority director, the Port of Call study is approaching its conclu-sion on the feasibility of bring-ing cruise ships and port-to-port excursion boats to the East Tawas State Dock. She said paramount to the study is the evaluation of two tours – the irst of which took place Friday.

The group left the East Tawas State Dock Friday morning aboard the Miss Charity Isle for the 24.8 nautical mile trip across Saginaw Bay to Caseville, located in the Thumb’s Huron County.

During the journey across Saginaw Bay, the group learned about the ecological values of Lake Huron’s isheries and wild-life, the economically valuable recreational ishery and wildlife watching opportunities including the Tawas Point Birding Festival. The group was also told of the his-toric tourism opportunities such as area lighthouses and archeologi-cally rich Charity Island as well as coastal access sports ranging from shore side state parks to marinas and recreational boating.

In Caseville, the Tawas group met with oficials from the city and Huron County, ate a Lake Hu-ron whiteish lunch provided by a Saginaw Bay commercial ishery company and toured the city’s 12th annual Cheeseburger Festival before departing for the two-hour boat ride back to East Tawas.

Dan McCole, an assistant pro-fessor at Michigan State Univer-sity’s Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Re-source Studies, told the group that tourism is changing in Michigan. He said the state lost a half million residents between 2002 to 2008 due to the economy.

“The people who are here have less money to spend,” McCole

said, “but they’re still traveling around.”

He said a Michigan State Uni-versity study found that tourists are spending about 14 percent less than in the past and are making more last-minute travel decisions.

“People are still prioritizing ex-periences,” he said. “They are ig-uring a way to get more happiness for their money.”

Chuck Allen, Department of Natural Resources and Environ-ment park recreation supervisor in charge of Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas State Dock and the state’s boating access sites in

Iosco County, said camper nights at the state park are up by about 2,500 for the year.

“That’s really big,” he said. “We’re seeing numbers we haven’t seen since 2003.”

Allen also said boating slip rentals have increased at the state dock this year as he’s seeing more seasonal and monthly rentals.

Additionally, Allen said in the next “couple of years,” the state plans to spend about $5 million for structural repairs at the state dock and for upgrades to accommodate cruise ships.

Pasakarnis said preliminary talks are underway with a Great Lakes cruise ship company to make East Tawas a port of call stop.

“Our harbor is doing well this year,” said Caseville Mayor Patri-cia DesJardins.

“Port-to-port is a great idea,” said Huron County Commissioner Ron Wruble. “How can we share our harbors?”

“The plan is to reciprocate,” Pasakarnis said. “We can share tourists.”

While the Lake Huron salmon ishery has collapsed, oficials said that doesn’t mean the lake is a dead ishery.

Gene Kirvan, one of just four charter boat operations in Oscoda, said the Lake Huron ishery has become more diversiied due to in-vasive species and ish plants. He said at one time were 37 charter boats operating out of Oscoda.

“We have to take advantage of the ishery,” he said. “The ishery is there and we have to promote it as a valuable resource.”

Kirvan said while there are fewer chinook salmon, there are other plentiful species such as lake trout, Atlantic salmon, wall-eye and whiteish.

Brandon Schroeder, extension educator for the Michigan Sea Grant program’s northeast district agreed.

“It’s a different ishery than it was 10 years ago,” he said. “Just because one species is in decline

Iosco County News-Herald and Oscoda PressSECTION B

AUGUST 25, 2010

Photo by John MorrisMEET THE MAYOR – Caseville Mayor Patricia DesJardins, left, meets with Helen Pasakarnis, East Tawas Tax Increment Finance Authority director, right, during a lunch break in the Thumb port city.

Photo by John MorrisONBOARD SPEAKER – Brandon Schroeder of the Michigan State University Extension Sea Grant program, center, speaks to oficials en route to Caseville.

Photo by John MorrisHARBOR’S EDGE – A walkway along the Caseville harbor is a popular area for visitors to the post city located along Michigan’s Thumb area.

Photo by John MorrisALL ABOARD – About 30 municipal and business leaders boarded the Miss Charity Isle at the East Tawas State Dock Friday morning to a port-to-port visit to Caseville as part of the Port of Call study.

See PORT, Page 2B

Cruise ship study includes port-to-port excursion

Appendix E

Iosco Coastal Tourism Tour: A Perspective from the Lake A Coastal Community Development Field Trip/Workshop Proposal

Project Summary: Proposing a field trip event this summer, conducting a shipboard “be a tourist in your own town” field trip and program for community and public opinion leaders focusing on coastal, Lake Huron tourism partners and opportunities in Iosco County. Getting participants out on Lake Huron! Cooperating with Charity Island Dinner Cruise operation, will host a roughly 4-5 hour dinner cruise on Lake Huron exploring, experiencing and learning about Iosco’s coastal tourism assets – from a water-based perspective. Similar to and building around Develop Iosco’s networking work, session would engage tourism partners in sharing about their respective coastal tourism interests and programs, describing how these enhance quality of life and economy in Iosco County, and some discussion about how community can better support coastal tourism development in northeast Michigan. Workshop funding support and program facilitation would be provided through Michigan Sea Grant Extension. Objectives:

Networking and relationship building among coastal tourism partners operating in Iosco County

Increasing knowledge and awareness of coastal tourism asset, partners and operations working out of Iosco County (Be a Tourist in your Own Town)

Complement and add-value to existing Iosco County efforts (e.g. Develop Iosco, US 23 Heritage Route, Port to Port scoping, county tourism bus tour)

Program Stakeholders/Audience: No workshop cost to participants. Community and public opinion leaders, tourism industry partners, and other stakeholders engaged in enhancing and promoting tourism in Iosco County and northeast Michigan, including: Develop Iosco, Iosco U.S. 23 Heritage Route Committee, Port-to-Port NOAA CMP project partners, Chambers, CVB, and interested County, City, Township Officials. Possible Program Educational Elements:

Feature/vessel platform: Charity Island Lighthouse and Dinner (Bob Wiltse, newly operating out of East Tawas)

While on Charity Island…. o About Charity Island Dinner Cruise Operation o Threatened and Endangered Species (Steve Kahl, USFWS) o Commercial Fishery – eating Lake Huron whitefish for dinner (Brandon Schroeder,

Legends of Lake Whitefish Marketing Initiative, local commercial fisheries) o History/Archeology: Lighthouses/Native American artifacts

During Boat trip out and back in, cover partners/topics… o Tawas Pointe Birding Festival (Peg Ridgeway, AuSable Audubon) o U.S. 23 Heritage Route (Dave Wentworth) o DNR State Parks (Chuck Allen, Tawas Point State Park) o Harbors, marinas, boat launches – boating (Chuck Allen?) o Sportfishery (Gene Kirvan, Calypso Charters, Oscoda or Jim Baker, MDNR Fisheries, Bay

City) o Port to Port (Helen P.) o Supporting coastal tourism businesses – Discover NE MI website(Brandon Schroeder,

Michigan Sea grant) o Others?

Appendix F