>> THE UNITS HAS A NATIONAL TREASURE.

IT EXISTS IN EVERY STATE AND IS FOUND IN URBAN, WILDERNESS AND RURAL AREAS.

IF THERE WERE 272 MILLION VISITS TO OUR NATIONAL TREASURY.

PERHAPS YOU WERE ONE THE VISITORS.

WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS DATA FOUND ON THE NATIONAL PARK SITE THERE ARE 391 UNITS OF LAND McED, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

LET'S BREAK IT DOWN.

>> THERE ARE 120 NATIONAL HISTORIC PARKS, 74 NATIONAL MONUMENTS, 54 WILDERNESS AREAS, 28 NATIONAL MEMORIALS A.18 NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS, 15 NATIONAL RIVERS AND WILD SCENIC RIVER WAYS, 4 NATIONAL LAKESHORES AND THREE NATIONAL TRAILS.

AT 84.6 MILLION-ACRES OF LAND.

THIS IS THE AREA OF MICHIGAN, CONNECTICUT, AND WEST VIRGINIA COMBINED.

>> MY NAME IS KRISTEN, AND MY ADVENTURE CREW SHOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME ALONG WITH US AND SEE WHAT EXCITING, FUN, ADVENTUROUS THINGS YOU CAN DO HERE WHILE VISITING SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE.

MIEW MUSE.

>> WE'RE AT THE WGV YOU ADVENTURE CREW.

>> WE ARE THE TEAM TAKING IT TO THE EXTREME.

>> HI, ADVENTURE CREW, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

>> GOOD.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE READY FOR A FUN-FILLED DAY.

I SEE THAT YOU BROUGHT NUTS.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE CATCHING SOME FISH?

>> YEAH.

>> AND FROGS?

>> AND MANY DIFFERENT BIRD SPECIES, DEER, PORCUPINE, SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMMUNITY TO SEE WILDLIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE INLAND LAKES WE'RE GOING TO VISIT TODAY.

ANTHONY, WHAT DID YOU BRING TODAY?

A SLED.

YOU CAN CLIMB THE DUNE CLIMB IN THE WINTERTIME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THAT HERE AT SLEEPING BEAR DUNES YOU CAN RECREATE DURING THE WINTER, DURING THE SPRING AS WELL AS DURING THE FALL.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT ALONG.

NATALIE AND SOPHIE, ARE YOU READY TO GO?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE READY TO EXPLORE THE 35-MILES OF COASTLINE, BOOGIE BOARDING, SKIM BOARDING, I THINK WE'RE ALL SET TO GO.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO HAVE A GREAT DAY HERE AT SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL SHORE LINE.

ARE YOU READY?

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S GO.

>> HI, FOLKS.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

>> OUR FIRST STOP IS TO THE VISITOR CENTER.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE PARK.

WE TALKED TO THE RANGER WHO TOLD US ABOUT THE JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM.

KIDS GET A SPECIAL ACTIVITY BOOK TO FILL OUT.

IT HAS SCAVENGER HUNT BOOKLET.

ALL OF THE NATIONAL PARK SITES GIVE OUT DIFFERENT PATCHES SO YOU CAN EARN ONE AT EVERY SITE YOU VISIT.

THE DISPLAY AREA HAS A NUMBER OF EXHIBITS.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SOFT WATER DUNES.

THE EXHIBIT AREA IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE GEOLOGIC, CULTURE AND NATURAL HISTORY OF SLEEPING BEAR DUNES.

>> IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE ACTIVITIES YOU WANT TO DO FOR THE DAY.

>> I LIKE TO BE A PARK RANGER.

>> LET'S SEE.

WHAT DO I WANT TO DO TODAY?

OH, I KNOW.

I'LL TAKE A HIKE IN THE WOODS.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

>> I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I TRIED TO SLED TODAY?

HMM.

PROBABLY WOULDN'T WORK.

I'LL SAVE SLEDDING FOR THE WINTER.

>> ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING?

>> I AM IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT GOING KAYAKING.

>> OH, YEAH, YOU KNOW IT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WE'D FIRST START OUT KAYAKING ALONG THE PLATTE RIVER.

>> YOU READ OUR MINDS.

YEAH.

KAYAKING.

WHOO-HOO.

KAYAKING.

>> WE GOT SOME KAYAKS FROM RIVERSIDE CANOE COMPANY AND HEADED DOWN THE PLATTE RIVER TOWARD LAKE MICHIGAN.

OUR TRIP IS MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF SHALLOW CLEAR WATERS.

THE PLATTE RIVER TRAVELS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PART OF SLEEPING BEAR NATIONAL LAKESHORE, WHILE A SECOND RIVER, CRYSTAL RIVER GOES THROUGH THE NORTHERN PART.

BOTH ARE FULL OF BEAUTIFUL SCENERY ALONG THE WAY.

[ MUSIC ] >> THERE'S PLENTY OF WILDLIFE AT SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL SHORE LINE.

BALD EAGLES, HAWKS AND OTHER BIRDS ARE FOUND IN THE FORESTS, OPEN MEADOWS AND ALONG THE LAKESHORE.

WE SPOTTED A COUPLE OF GREAT BLUE HERONS.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] AS YOU APPROACH LAKE MICHIGAN, IF THERE IS A STRONG WIND THE PADDLING CAN BECOME A BIT MORE CHALLENGING, BUT OF COURSE WHEN TRAVELING WITH THE WGVU ADVENTURE CREW, A CHALLENGE IS PART OF THE FUN.

[ MUSIC ] >> THE NEXT PART OF OUR ADVENTURE TAKES US TO THE MARITIME MUSEUM FOR THE HEROS OF THE STORM.

>> I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MINUTE AND IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE ON A SHIP 100 YEARS AGO OUT ON LAKE MICHIGAN.

WHEN THESE SHIPS WOULD PASS BY THIS AREA HERE, THEY WOULD SOMETIMES GET BLOWN EITHER INTO THE SHORE OR OUT INTO THE ISLANDS.

THEY WOULD SHIPWRECK.

BACK IN 1871 IT WAS QUITE HORRIFIC.

SHIPS WOULD WRECK, SAILORS WOULD DROWN AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO TO SAVE THEM.

ENOUGH PEOPLE WROTE TO CONGRESS THAT CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE U.S. LIFE SAVING SERVICE.

THESE MEN WERE THE FIRST ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE TRAINED TO GO OUT AND RESCUE SHIPS.

>> DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, THERE ONGOING PROGRAM IS HELD DAILY.

IT USE VOLUNTEER RESCUERS.

THEY ESTABLISH A SIMULATED RESCUE LINE BETWEEN A STRANDED SHIP AND THE SHORE.

THE PARK RANGER LEADS THE GROUP IN SETTING UP AND EXPLAINS THE PROCESS AND THE FIRING OF A THE CANNON KNOWN AS THE LYLE GUN.

>> 1, 2, 3, KABOOM.

OUT GO PROJECT I'LLS OVER THE SHIP.

>> NOW WE HAVE A LINE FROM THE SHORE TO THE SHIP, AND THEN WE WE WAVE AND SIGNAL THE CAPTAIN, THE CAPTAIN WILL PULL ON THE SHOT LINE HERE.

THE LINE IS ACTUALLY A CONTINUOUS LOOP.

>> THE VOLUNTEER HEROS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO RESCUE THE SAILORS, IN THIS CASE, RAGGEDY ANN AND RAGGEDY ANDY.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL RESCUE, MEMBERS OF THE CREW RECEIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM THE PARK RANGER.

EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES AN HONORARY SURF MAN CERTIFICATE.

AFTERWARDS WE GOT A CHANCE TO GO TO THE BOATHOUSE AND SEE THE BOATS THE U.S. LIFE SAVING SERVICE ALSO USED FOR RESCUES, AND LEARNED OF THE BRAVE GROUP'S MOTTO, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT, U DO NOT HAVE TO COME BACK.

WE ALSO GOT TO SEE AND HEAR ABOUT THE ACTUAL ITEMS USED IN A LAND TO SHIP RESCUE LIKED ONE DEMONSTRATED.

THIS WAS A TREAT AND REALLY ALLOWS US TO APPRECIATE WHAT AN ACTUAL RESCUE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY ON THE TRAILS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE CAN DESTROY VEGETATION OFF THE TRAIL.

, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC RECREATIONAL DUNE TO CLIMB WHERE YOU CAN CLIMB ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK AND EVENTUALLY GET TO LAKE MICHIGAN.

SO, ARE YOU READY TO GO?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE CLIMBING.

GO!

[ MUSIC ] >> AFTER STARTING OUT AT A SPLINT, THE PACE GOING UP USUALLY SLOWS AND YOU CAN LOOK BACK FOR A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF GLEN LAKE BEFORE HEADING UP THE SECOND LEVEL OF DUNES.

YOU GET TO THE SUMMIT OF ONE DUNE AND THEN THERE'S A FLAT SPOT LIKE A VALLEY, AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER SUMMIT.

YOU GOT TO CLIMB THAT DUNE AND THEN YOU GET TO THE TOP, AND THERE'S ANOTHER DUNE THAT YOU GET TO CLIMB TOO.

SO YOU CLIMB ACTUALLY A SERIES OF DUNES.

WHEN WE GET TO THE TOP OF THIS HILL, THERE ACTUALLY MIGHT BE MORE DUNES TO CLIMB BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO LAKE MICHIGAN.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS A LOT, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> UH-HUH.

>> THIS VEGETATION IS CALLED GRASS.

WITHOUT IT, THESE DUNES WOULD NOT EXIST TEMPERATURE IT'S A PIONEER PLANT THAT THRIVING IN A CHANGING AND HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

IT STABILIZES THE DO YOU KNOW BY SENDING OUT RYZOMES.

THE STEM OF THE GRASS ELONGATES TO PREVENT BURIAL SOME DUNES MIGRATE AND THE SHIFTING SAND CAN BURY THE TREES.

AS THE DUNE MOVES ON, THE DEAD TREES ARE EXPOSED.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INTERPRETER TRAIL YOU CAN SEE A WOODEN BEAM THAT WAS USED TO TRACK THE SHIFTING.

>> AS WE LAX ON TOP OF THE DUNE CLIMB, I POINT OUT THE WAY TO WALK TO LAKE MICHIGAN WHICH WE CAN SEE IN THE DISTANCE.

WE ARE HERE ON A COOL DAY, SO BARE FEET ARE OKAY.

BUT ON A HOT DAY, TEMPERATURES ON THE SAND CAN BE 120 DEGREES.

OF COURSE, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO GET DOWN THE DUNE CLIMB.

[ MUSIC ] >> WHOO-HOO.

WELL, WE MADE IT TO THE BEACH.

AS WE LOOKED ACROSS THE WATER, WE SEE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH, IT LOOKS LIKE A BEAR SITTING ON THE HILLSIDE LOOKING ACROSS THE WATER.

THE CHIPPEWA INDIAN LEGEND TELLS HOUSE THE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES WERE CREATED AND WHY THEY HAVE THEIR NAMES.

LONG AGO A MOTHER BEAR IN WISCONSIN AND HER CUBS WERE FORCED INTO LAKE ACCOMPLISH.

THEY SWAM AND SWAM.

MOTHER BEAR FINALLY REACHED THE OPPOSITE SHORE AND CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF A BLUFF TO WATCH AND WAIT FOR OUR OFFSPRING, BUT THE CUBS DROWNED.

TODAY, SLEEPING BEAR, A SOLITARY DUNE MARKS THE SPOT WHERE MOTHER BEAR WAITED.

HER HAPLESS CUBS ARE THE MANITOU ISLANDS.

THE NEXT STOP IS EMPIRE BLUFF TRAILS.

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF HIKING TRAILS.

THESE TRAILS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THE ADVENTURE CREW AND I TO EXPLORE AND MAKE DISCOVERIES.

>> OH, LOOK, THERE'S A SIDE TRAIL.

CAN WE TAKE IT?

>> SURE, LET'S GO.

WE COME ACROSS SOME OLD FARMING EQUIPMENT ALONG THE TRAIL.

WE SPECULATE THIS EQUIPMENT WAS USED BACK IN THE 1800S.

AS MODERN EQUIPMENT WAS DEVELOPED, FARMERS JUST LEFT THEIR OLD EQUIPMENT LAYING IN THE FIELD.

NOW THEY'RE HISTORIC ARTIFACTS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT OUR PAST.

WE DISCOVER A BOULDER WHICH POSSIBLY CAME FROM CANADA OR THE UPPER PENINSULA WHEN A GLACIERER CAME ACROSS.

>> YOU SEE ALL THE TREE CANOPIES?

NOT A LOT OF LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE FOREST, RIGHT?

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE STANDING IN A MATURE OAK, MAPLE FOREST.

DO YOU SEE THE TREES THAT ARE MARKED, THE BLUE AND YELLOW AND ORANGE THIS THESE TREES YOU'VE GOT MAPLE TREES, YOU HAVE AMERICAN BEECH TREES, AND THIS PAMPHLET ENTITLESSED WHAT IS KILLING OUR TREES TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE DISEASES THAT ARE KILLING THE TREES, AND ALSO OUR INSECT, SOME INSECT, LIKE THE EMERALD ASH BORE IS LITERALLY WIPING OUT THE ASH TREES.

SO THE PARK SERVICE THAT IS MARKED OFF THE TREES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THESE DISEASES OR INSECTS.

SO IMAGINE, JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND, AT ALL THESE MARKED TREES AND IMAGINE WHAT THIS FOREST WOULD BE LIKE IF THESE TREES WERE DEAD.

FOR ONE, THERE WOULD BE MORE SUNLIGHT COMING THROUGH THE CANOPY PLAYER.

WHEN THAT SUNLIGHT COMES THROUGH, THE FOREST DYNAMIC IS NEVERLOWING DOWN.

IT'S CONTINUALLY CHANGING AND MOVING.

YOU SEE ALL THIS MATERIAL IN THE SOIL HERE?

WE'VE GOT LEAF MATTER AND TWIGS AND NEEDLES.

ALL OF THIS IS FORMED BY VEGETATION DYING.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE MOISTURE AND IF YOU FEEL, IF WE WALK ALONG, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FEEL SOME OF THE LOGS AND THEY'LL BE SOFT, ALL RIGHT, AND LIKE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS PRETTY SOFT AND THIS IS ALREADY STARTING TO BREAK DOWN INTO REALLY GOOD SOIL MATTER.

>> THIS TYPE OF TOPSOIL IS CALLED HUMUS AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS MOIST AND FULL OF NUTRIENTS.

>> SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN FIND PLANTS THAT ARE GROWING IN A LOG AND YOU CAN SEE THESE SMALL PLANTS RIGHT HERE ARE BEGINNING TO GROW, SO IT'S A CONTINUAL PROCESS OF LIFE AND DEATH AND MORE LIFE AGAIN.

OH, WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

ANOTHER WONDERFUL ELEMENT OF EM BUYER BLUFF TRAILS ARE THE FABULOUS VIEWS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE, SUCH AS THIS ONE.

WE TOOK SOME TIME TO JUST SIT QUIETLY AND SOAK IT ALL IN AND LET OUR SPIRITS RECONNECT WITH NATURE AND ALL ITS BEAUTY.

[ MUSIC ] >> TO EXPERIENCE MORE WONDERFUL VIEWS, TAKING A DRIVE UP THE SCENIC DRIVE IS A MUST.

THE ROAD FIRST TAKES YOU THROUGH THIS COVERED BRIDGE AND HAS NUMEROUS SCENIC STOPS ALONG THE WAY FOR YOU TO STOP AND ENJOY.

DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY YOU GO, YOU HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD CHANCE OF SEE BEING SOME WILDLIFE AS WELL.

>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

AS A JUNIOR RANGER -- >> WE STOPPED BACK AT THE VISITOR CENTER SO SOPHIE AND NATALIE CAN BE SWORN IN AS JUNIOR RANGERS.

>> NORTH BEACH IS OUR FINAL DESTINATION OF THE DAY.

TO CATCH SOME MINNOWS, SKIP A FEW ROCKS, AND DO A LITTLE SKIM BOARDING.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> THIS DOESN'T LOOK SO HARD.

HMM, I GUESS IT'S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO SLEEPING BEAR NATIONAL LAKESHORE.

HOPEFULLY YOU'LL WANT TO PLAN YOUR OWN VISIT HERE OR TO ANOTHER AREA IN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

MICHIGAN IS ALSO HOME TO PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, APOSTLE ISLAND LAKESHORE, ISLE ROYAL E. BE SURE TO TAKE HOME THE POSITIVE MEMORIES AND PICTURES OF YOUR TRIP, AND PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE OF YOUR TRIP.

ENJOY AND PRESERVE OUR NATIONAL TREASURES FOR THE MANY YEARS TO COME.

I'M KRISTEN HINTZ WISHING YOU AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

[ MUSIC ] >> PORCUPINES, RACCOONS SO KEEP A LOOKOUT.

>> HERE SOME BOOGIE BOARDING.

LET'S DO IT ONE MORE TIME.

>> TAKING IT TO THE EXTREME.

>> THREE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS, OH, HOLD ON A SECOND.

I FORGOT.

THE NATIONAL -- ALL RIGHT.

DON'T WORRY.

272 MILLION VISITS TO OUR NATIONAL -- ARRRGGGHHH-MY FAULT.

AT SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE -- WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?

I COULDN'T SEE IT.

[LAUGHING]