Partner Programs

How do we enrich our education programs and initiatives? We partner with local schools, not-for-profits, and other organizations to make our programs dynamic and community-based.

Keweenaw Heritage Sites

The twenty-one Keweenaw Heritage Sites are operated independently of Keweenaw National Historical Park. They contain significant cultural and/or natural resources and make a unique contribution to the copper mining story. Embodying stories of hardship, ingenuity, struggle and success, each site allows you to explore the role mining played in people’s lives here and afar.

Transportation reimbursements are available from the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission for field trips to any of the Keweenaw Heritage Sites.

TRIO Upward Bound

Hosted by Finlandia University, this program is designed to stimulate and motivate high school students to pursue a program of post-secondary education who come from modest income backgrounds and / or families where their parents do not have a bachelor's degree. During the summer, students attend a 6 week residential program where they take classes to excel in their next year of school, learn what it is like to be a college student, attend a major cultural and educational field trip, and complete weekly community service projects.

In 2019, students participated in community service projects and workshops exploring Keweenaw National Historical Park's partner sites, the Keweenaw Heritage Sites. They visited the Adventure Mine, Sand Point Restoration Site at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Cliff Mine site, Quincy Smelter, and stamp sands at Gay. After volunteering, students completed workshop activities with Keweenaw National Historical Park rangers, exploring how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) concepts relate to sites and National Park Service careers.

Youth Historians

This partnership program between Keweenaw National Historical Park and Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Elementary School is held twice a month at the Calumet Visitor Center in downtown Calumet throughout the school year. The purpose of the program is to provide third graders with a fun place to learn about the National Park Service and explore local history while doing hands-on activities, games, and projects. Afternoons are spent in many ways. Students learn about their neighborhoods by reading historic maps, dance to historic music, talk to senior citizens about what life was like in the past, and many more fun activities.

Portage Lake District Library

The Portage Lake District Library, located along the canal in Houghton, serves the residents of Houghton, Chassell Township, Portage Township, and fee-paying individuals. Throughout the year, both Keweenaw National Historical Park and Isle Royale National Park rangers host national park family programs that are free and available to anyone. The programs feature hands-on, engaging activities that are fun for the entire family. Visit the Portage Lake District Library Calendar of Events for more information.

Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative

The Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI) is part of a statewide Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) launched by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust with financial support from the Wege Foundation and several community foundations. The goal of the GLSI is to increase understanding and active stewardship of the Great Lakes by K-12 teachers and students working in partnership with local units of government and community organizations. The LSSI seeks to prepare K-12 students to become knowledgeable citizens engaged in activities that enhance their school, community, and the Lake Superior watershed.

Keweenaw National Historical Park has collaborated with LSSI on the following projects:

• Develop a curriculum that helps students and their families make healthier and more sustainable food choices that conserve energy and protect the Lake Superior watershed. (CLK Elementary - Grades K-5)

• Integrate Lake Superior stewardship across the curriculum, expand current Adopt-a-Beach and school forest programs. (Washington Middle School - Grade 7)

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national organization that protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. The Center accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people across the country every year. Keweenaw National Historical Park incorporates Leave No Trace resource messaging into all programs and services it develops.

Portage Health Foundation

The Portage Health Foundation (PHF) has been a supporter and sponsor of healthy snacks for the Youth Historian program since 2017. Funding from PHF also supports the Decolonization Cooking Program that takes place each November. In this program, Youth Historians prepare and eat a meal using recipes from the Decolonizing Diet Project Cookbook by April Lindala, Marty Reinhardt, and Leora Lancaster. All ingredients used in the meal are native to the Great Lakes Region. Thank you to the Portage Health Foundation for their support of healthy foods for local youth.