Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be hosting its barn restoration workshop June 12-16 at the Miller barn. This marks the 28th year the National Lakeshore has hosted and developed this series of hands-on workshops, which started in 1997. The park maintenance staff is providing the skilled labor; participants are not required to be skilled in the building trades. Topics include wood siding repair, barn floor joists, beams and floorboards, animal stall repair, door and window repair, loft repair, and more. This workshop is again able to provide a unique experience for all participants with park staff, who will demonstrate how to make the repairs with the materials and tools provided.

The workshop begins on site at 9am each day. There is no cost to participate. Participants should wear boots, gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend. Participants can sign up for any number of days. The workshop is designed to teach the techniques for restoration work on timber and frame structures.

The barn is four miles north of Glen Arbor off M-22. Turn onto Port Oneida Road and Miller Road and follow the signs. Camping will be allowed on site at the Miller barn during the workshop for all registered participants interested in doing so. Amenities will be provided on site, including access to showers at park campgrounds.

Interested parties should contact Park Historical Architect Kimberly Mann, at (231) 326-4771 or kimberly_mann@nps.gov to sign up for the workshop.
 

Photo: Dana Goodwin for Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear