MACKINAC STATE HISTORIC PARKS Volume XXXIX 2020 Issue 1 THANK YOU JEFF DYKEHOUSE s you chat with Jeff Dykehouse, Mackinac A State Historic Parks’ Curator of Natural History, he’ll mention how lucky he’s been. Lucky to have known the right people in the early 1980s when Old Mill Creek was being established. Lucky that Dave Armour, MSHP’s deputy director at the time, didn’t know any better naturalists. Lucky to have stuck around with the parks and raise a family in the Straits of Mackinac. However, as the tens of thousands of school kids he’s visited in classrooms since the early 1990s will tell you, and the few hundred staff he’s supervised over the years will tell you, and the 4,063,771 people who have paid admission Jeff Dykehouse is retiring after nearly 36 years with the Mackinac State Historic Parks. to visit a site managed by Dykehouse will tell you, it’s Mackinac State Historic Parks who’s been lucky to have him. Dykehouse, who joined the permanent staff From 1989–2003 he managed Mill Creek history of the MSHP parks and spinning a of MSHP in 1984, retired from the organization and Colonial Michilimackinac, adding Old web of life for students with taxidermy mounts, effective January 10, 2020. In his nearly 36 Mackinac Point Lighthouse to the list in stories and activities. He’s been to hundreds of years with the organization he has held the 2004, and managed all three until 2007. He classrooms in the past 27 years and has seen tens titles of Unit Supervisor and Park Naturalist, also oversaw staffing at the British Landing of thousands of students. Natural History Program Manager, Interpretive Nature Center on Mackinac Island for 14 years, “I was jealous of Dennis (Havlena) and Jim Specialist, Interpretation Supervisor and Chief managed the staff at the Mackinac Island State Evans’ program, when they tell me how much Naturalist, and, finally, Curator of Natural Park Visitor’s Center for a season, and oversaw fun they’d have,” Dykehouse said of “Historic History since 2007. He’s also had his own the final year of operation for the Welcome, Mackinac on Tour,” another education program education outreach program, “Water, Woods, in 1989. offered by MSHP and funded by Mackinac and Wildlife,” funded by Mackinac Associates, Plans had begun in the mid-2000s to add the Associates. “Laurie (Jeff’s wife) was teaching since 1992 that he’s presented every winter. Adventure Tour, a high ropes course funded third grade at the time, and I asked her if I could “It’s been a privilege. I’ve been lucky,” in part by Mackinac Associates that would experiment with her class. I tried it out, did one Dykehouse said in his typically humble manner. require additional supervision, to Historic Mill program, and the kids seemed to appreciate it. “I always loved this area but didn’t think I’d Creek. Dykehouse made the decision to focus It’s the most fun thing I do. It’s really fun to sit find full-time work here. I thought I’d be here his attention on that site, was given the title of down with kids and share my story. a few years then end up with a school district Curator of Natural History, and created a nice “I can’t thank Mackinac Associates enough. downstate. It was such a great opportunity to bookend to his career that saw him start and I couldn’t have done the education programs live up here and raise a family here. It was a finish at Mill Creek. without them,” Dykehouse continued. “I am dream come true.” The thing Dykehouse may be most proud very grateful.” He managed Historic Mill Creek Discovery of, though, is his education outreach program. “Jeff’s enthusiasm for the natural world was Park, first known as Old Mill Creek and Dykehouse brings Michigan’s diverse ecosystem infectious. He not only has the knowledge, later Historic Mill Creek, since its inception. to the classroom while teaching the natural Continued on page 2 2020 Members-Only Events n exciting calendar of members-only events is on tap for the 2020 season. A The kick-off to the season, as usual, is the G. Mennen Williams Mackinac Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, June 20. As a special treat, the cocktail hour will be held at the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of Mackinac Island State Park. Dinner will follow outside the Commanding Officer’s Home at Fort Mackinac. The annual Red, White & Blue Celebration will take place July 4 at the new Huron Road Rest Area and Pavilion next to Fort Mackinac. This patriotic celebration is free for members and a great way to kick off the holiday evening. Finally, the 2020 annual meeting will be on Mackinac Island on Saturday, August 15. The location is still being determined, so watch mackinacassociates.com or check the monthly e-newsletter for more information. The cocktail hour for the G. Mennen Williams Mackinac Celebration will be held at the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence. Curiosities 1 Jeff Dykehouse Continued from page 1 but is able to communicate it in an exciting and understandable way, to both his staff and our visitors,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks Deputy Director. “He is a star example of what a natural history interpreter should be and we were blessed to have him in charge of these programs.” Dykehouse graduated from Hope College in 1974 and earned additional credit hours from Central Michigan University in biology. He worked at various parks around Michigan in the early ‘80s, and it was a stop at the Gillette Jeff on site at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park with a visiting Cub Scout group. Nature Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon that proved especially valuable. “I had a connection there, a couple of for Mill Creek. He was there on opening enough to be here for the reopening of the naturalists near my home, near my high day, watched the construction of the British lighthouse,” Dykehouse said. “To reopen it school,” Dykehouse said. “I was working on AV workshop and American Millwright’s authentically was cool, and we developed a lot programs, and Dave Armour approached them Home in the 1980s and 1990s, watched of neat projects for kids. about an AV program for a new park MSHP was active archaeology at the site, developed the “When the Adventure Tour came, I needed to developing, and Sandy (one of the naturalists) interpretive nature trails, and dedicated his be there,” Dykehouse said. “I missed Colonial asked if I would help. time fully to the site with the opening of the Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point “I met with Phil Porter and Dave in Adventure Tour. Lighthouse, and I missed the visitors and staff September of 1983 at Kenville’s Restaurant “I’m proud I was there as long as I was,” there. But, I said to myself, ‘I get to begin and in Mackinaw City,” Dykehouse continued. Dykehouse says of Mill Creek. “We didn’t know end my career with Mill Creek, and I’m happy “I started part-time in October of 1983 and full at the time it would develop into what it became, with that.’” time in February, and Mill Creek opened on and hopefully I’ve helped encourage the history Looking back at a career that spans nearly four June 15, 1984. We had a ribbon cutting, and of the site while also highlighting the natural decades and choosing favorites, or things he’ll the Visitor’s Center and mill were constructed, history aspects of it. miss, is difficult. As he mentioned, he’s proud and bagpipes led us down to the mill.” “The Adventure Tour changed the site as it of his education outreach work and what’s been As he’s overseen the site since the very emphasized natural history more than we had accomplished at Historic Mill Creek Discovery beginning, Dykehouse has a special fondness been,” Dykehouse said. “We had the trails, Park. He can’t believe that he was paid to go out we had displays, we had a naturalist, but the and share his love of the outdoors and history Adventure Tour became a major attraction, a with people who paid to be there. He’ll miss the way to get people in the door. We were the first daily interaction with guests. But there was one zip line in northern Michigan, and ours was thing he kept circling back to when looking back unique. It’s a hike that emphasizes the layers at his career. of the forest. I’m proud of the fact it’s a nature “I want to thank all of the staff I’ve worked hike. It stays true to our mission.” with. I’ll miss these people,” Dykehouse said With his connection to the natural history with a tear forming in his eye. “And I’m sure of northern Michigan and his years at Mill they’ll miss me, too.” Creek, it’s almost easy to forget that Dykehouse spent nearly 20 years managing Colonial Editor’s Note: The board and staff of Mackinac Michilimackinac and that he oversaw the Associates would like to say thank you to Jeff for reopening of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse always being a great advocate and supporter of Jeff doing one of things he is most proud of – in 2004. Mackinac Associates, and we wish him well in his presenting his “Water, Woods, and Wildlife” “We had a lot of interesting projects at retirement.