Celebrate Lake Superior Day in Copper Harbor July 21

COPPER HARBOR -- Celebrate the beauty and bounty of Lake Superior in Copper Harbor! Thanks to Copper Harbor community volunteers, along with the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, the 7th annual Lake Superior Day Festival will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, in Copper Harbor.

Here are some special activities to be held at the 6th Street Dock along the Copper Harbor Boardwalk (near Isle Royale Queen boat dock):

• Fish stew (Kalamojakka), homemade pies, rieska (Finnish flatbread), and more at a community picnic ($5 donation suggested).
• Canoe races and kayak demonstrations
• Interactive art (paint the model freighter!)
• Presentation on Lake Superior’s geoheritage by Dr. Erika Vye from Michigan Tech’s Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
• Celebration of the beauty of Lake Superior with photographer George Bailey
• Log rolling demonstration from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. by the Michigan Tech Log Rolling Club.

A canoe race offers excitement at a previous Lake Superior Day celebration in Eagle Harbor. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

From 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. a special highlight is the opportunity for festival attendees to find out how scientists study the Great Lakes by taking a 40-minute scientific excursion in the harbor aboard Michigan Tech’s research vessel the Agassiz. These excursions will be led by chief scientist Kenny Larsen (PhD student in Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech). The excursions are offered as part of the Ride the Waves Program funded by a grant from General Motors.

Visitors board Michigan Tech's Research Vessel Agassiz for an educational excursion during a previous Lake Superior Day celebration. Checking names of passengers (who reserved seats in advance) is Lloyd Wescoat, third from right, Copper Harbor resident and education programming advisor for Michigan Tech's Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative program. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Agassiz will depart every 45 minutes from the Isle Royale Queen dock beginning at 1 p.m. Participants must be at least 7 years old, and children must be accompanied by an adult. All participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Space is limited. Interested participants may pre-register for a scientific excursion aboard the Agassiz by calling (906) 487-3341 or email Lloyd Wescoat at lwescoat@mtu.edu. You may also register online using this link.

For more information about the event, contact lead organizer, Don Kilpela, Captain of the Isle Royale Queen, at (906) 289-4735.

Lake Superior Day is celebrated throughout the Lake Superior basin on or close to the 3rd Sunday in July in many communities around Lake Superior. The event highlights the special connections people have to this unique world treasure. All residents who live, work, play, and worship around the lake are invited to organize events in their communities or take action in their homes, at their places of employment or in community groups to help protect Lake Superior.

To learn more about Lake Superior Day events around the lake, visit https://www.lakesuperior.com/topics/lake_superior_day/. Or learn more about the Great Lakes by visiting EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes .