What's New in 2009?

ADVENTURE TOUR Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park When you experience the park naturalist-guided Adventure Tour at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, you’ll appreciate nature in a way that you never have before. You’ll trek through the forest canopy on the 165-foot long Forest Canopy Bridge, feel the rush of wind on your face as you soar over Mill Creek on the 425-foot Eagle’s Flight Zip Line, and then venture up the 40-foot high Nature Trail Climbing Wall. You’ll never think of nature the same way again. The Forest Canopy Bridge is sponsored by Mackinac Associates.
		NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM Colonial Michilimackinac Partially funded by Mackinac Associates Enter a waginogan, smell fish cooking over an open fire, and immerse yourself in demonstrations of Woodland Indian material culture, foodways, and crafts. A Native American interpreter focuses on the interdependence and diversity of the peoples who converged on this Great Lakes gathering place that was once called “Pe-quod-e-nonge” or “headland” by the Odawa and Ojibway.
KIDS' RENDEZVOUS INTERPRETIVE PLAYGROUND Colonial Michilimackinac Sponsored by Mackinac Associates Younger visitors can explore and learn in this interpretive playground containing a giant ground map of the Great Lakes, miniature palisade and cannon, multiple climbing structures that explore the route of the fur traders, and much more. Now Open. Learn more		Kids' Rendezvous Interpretive Playground
		SHIPWRECK VIDEO Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Sponsored by Mackinac Associates Explore the haunting world of shipwrecks with the Straits of Mackinac shipwreck audiovisual program at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Many vessels have sunk in the straits over the years due to collision, fog, ice and mariner error. This video looks at a number of the wrecks and includes underwater footage, interviews with survivors of the Cedarville, and historic images to tell the stories of these ill-fated last voyages and the men who lost their lives while on them. Now showing.
OTTER SLIDE Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park Sponsored by Mackinac Associates This slide, which depicts an otter, will be part of the Forest Friends Play Area at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. Look forward to even more fun in this interactive play and learning center. Learn more about the Forest Friends Play Area. Due to be completed late summer.
		OUTDOOR BREAD OVEN Colonial Michilimackinac This is the first full season for the outdoor bread oven at Colonial Michilimackinac. Watch bread baked as it was in the past, and then taste it yourself! Historic maps of Fort Michilimackinac indicate ovens in outside areas of the fort, and so we know with certainty that such ovens were used here. The oven is made of clay, which was built up over a wooden frame on a base of brick. The fire then burned out the wooden frame, leaving what you now see.
COLONIAL KIDS' DAY Colonial Michilimackinac June 27; July 15; August 22 These are days dedicated to children. Participate in children’s games, hands-on open hearth cooking, 18th century- crafts, and dress in historical costumes, among many other activities. The walking tours will be specially tailored to children. Included in admission to the park.
The Great Lakes map is pictured in the center with the play structure to the left. The play fort is located within the white bar near the top. The toddlers' play area (tan) is drawn to the center right with the gazebo (white) attached. All elements will eventually be included, with the first phase available in early June 2009.		MICHILIMACKINAC CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Michilimackinac State Park and Colonial Michilimackinac July 23 Celebrate the centennial anniversary of Michilimackinac State Park with the dedication of the new marker; followed by the dedication of the new Colonial Michilimackinac Kid’s Rendezvous Interpretive Playground. Children and adults will have the opportunity to experience this unique play area for the first time.
DIGGING HISTORY EVENT Colonial Michilimackinac August 4; 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. This event is held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of continuous archaeology at Colonial Michilimackinac. It's still on-going! By purchasing a timed ticket, you and your family are allowed to screen and search for real artifacts as professional archaeologists do. Pricing
		KIDS' FUR TRADERS DAYS Colonial Michilimackinac August 8-9 These are special days just for kids to learn about the fur trade at Colonial Michilimackinac. Focus will be brought to fur traders, a voyageur (French fur trader) reenactment, and other special events. This is also the weekend of the Compagine Franche de la Marine Michilimackinac (Michilimackinac Marines) Encampment. These reenactors from around Michigan and the Midwest will portray both French and British colonists from the French and Indian War period. Included in admission to the park.