2026 FOBSP Board Meetings (open to the public):

Thursday, January 15th, 1pm (in the Park Ranger Office)
TBD

Under a blanket of snow!

Playground progress paused, but not before the grading was done!

Christmas tree on the trail

Mikki's scarecrow!

FOBSP at the 2025 Fall Festival!

2025 FOBSP Board Meetings (open to the public):

Tuesday, January 14th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, February 18th 12pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, March 18th 3pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, April 16th 1pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, May 20th 1pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, June 17th 1pm (in the park shelter building) - DONE!
Thursday, July 17th,1pm (in the park shelter building) - DONE!
Thursday, Aug. 7th, 2pm (in the park shelter building) - DONE!
Wednesday., Sept. 10th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Annual Meeting (w/Potluck!): Tues., Sept. 30th, 12:00pm in the Park Ranger Office - DONE!
Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 1:00pm in the Park Ranger Office!
Due to the park being closed during playground construction there are no more Board meetings in 2025. See you in January 2026!

The Manistee Run Club will host a run/walk fundraiser for Orchard Beach State Park at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Manistee News Advocate 7/28/2025

Next on our wish-list:

Our park supervisor, Dan, borrowed a "Trackchair" for FOBSP Board members to test out. Mikki was the first volunteer to take it on our trail! A Trackchair is an all-terrain wheelchair which would allow a park visitor with mobility issues access our walking trails. Mikki reported that the controls were easy for her to use and Dan pointed out that the chair could also be controlled by a companion or caregiver! Our next wish list item for Orchard Beach State Park is our very own Trackchair! #AccessibilityMatters #orchardbeachstatepark

Mikki testing out the trackchair!

Snowman photo by Pat Heins. Wooded lighted path photo (above) courtesy of Crystal Harthun!

Photos from Mikki Pieper!

March 1, 2025

Lighted Winter Walk

Campground lights!

Winter Walks are scheduled!

Wed., Jan. 1, 2025; Fri., Jan. 17, 2025; Sat., Feb. 1, 2025; Sun., Feb. 16, 2025; &

Sat., March 1, 2025 from 6-8pm, save the dates! Here's another opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise, enjoy nature and the company of friends! Join us for a Winter Walk anytime between 6-8pm either: on the lighted walking trail through the woods OR the lighted, cleared, grass campground loop for better accessibility! Before or after your walk, come join some of the representatives for the Friends of Orchard Beach Park in the historic shelter for a cup of hot cocoa (donation appreciated) and/or to warm up by the roaring fireplaces! Hope to see you there!

*No fee for the walk, but any vehicle on park property needs to have a current park pass.

#FOBSP #OrchardBeachStatePark #lightedwinterwalk #getoutdoorsandwalk #whattodo #mymanistee #happeningfridayjanuary17th #January17 #freshAIR #roaringfireinthesheltertowarmyou #WinterWalk #MyMichigan #PUREmichigan #DNR See less

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 12-4PM

Come hear more about Orchard Beach State Park and learn about our non-profit Friends of Orchard Beach State Park organization that is making a difference here in Manistee County! Three of our finest Friends of Orchard Beach State Park Board members will be representing the park within the Manistee Inn & Marina parking lot off of River Street from noon to 4pm - with an added incentive for children to stop by between noon and 2pm for a caramel apple sucker!

Guided Haunted Walk through the Orchard Beach State Park forest - Sat., Oct. 26th

The Manistee High School National Honor Society students and the Friends of Orchard Beach Park are supporting the development of a food and clothing pantry at the elementary school with a guided haunted forest walk! One night only, rain or shine, 6:30pm-7:30pm recommended for "little spooks." 7:30pm to 9:30pm for anyone with a higher tolerance for fright! Admittance is by donation only! Meet in the historic Orchard Beach State Park shelter...if you dare!

2024 FOBSP Board Meetings (open to the public):

Wednesday, January 17th, 3pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Thursday, February 15, 2024, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
No March meeting
Wednesday, April 17th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Wednesday, May 15th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Wednesday, June 12th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Wednesday, July 17th, 2pm (in the Park Shelter) - DONE!
Tuesday, August 13th, 2pm (in the Park Shelter) - DONE!
Wednesday, September 11th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Tuesday, October 15th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office)! ANNUAL MEETING- DONE!
No November Meeting
Tuesday, December 10th, 3pm (in the Park Ranger Office)! - DONE!

Mark your Summer of 2024 calendar!

Wednesday, July 20th, 4:30pm (in the park shelter) the BIRTHDAY BASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even bigger and better than last year!

Mark your calendar! 2024 Winter Hike Dates:

Monday, January 1st - COMPLETE!
Saturday, January 13th - CANCELLED
Saturday, January 27th - COMPLETE!
Saturday, February 10th - COMPLETE!
Saturday, February 24th - COMPLETE!
Saturday, March 9th - COMPLETE!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at one, or more, of the 2024 Winter Walks!

2023 FOBSP Board Meetings (open to the public):

Sunday, January 15th, 4pm - DONE!
Saturday, February 25th, 4pm - DONE!
Saturday, March 11th, 5pm - DONE!
Saturday, April 22nd, 1pm - DONE!
Wednesday, May 17th, 7pm - DONE!
Friday, June 16th, 1pm - DONE!
Friday, July 14th, 6:45pm - DONE!
Wednesday, July 26th, 1pm (Birthday Bash meeting) - DONE!
Wednesday, Sept. 20th, 2pm (Annual Meeting)- DONE!
Wednesday, Oct. 4th, 3:30pm - DONE!
Wednesday, Nov. 8th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!
Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 2pm (in the Park Ranger Office) - DONE!

Nice thank you note!

from Ronald J. Stoneman

Guided Haunted Walk through the Orchard Beach State Park walking trail - Sat., Oct. 28th

The Manistee High School National Honor Society students and the Friends of Orchard Beach Park are supporting the Orchard Beach State Park Harvest Festival with a guided haunted walk! One night only, rain or shine. 6:30pm-7:30pm recommended for "little spooks." 7:30pm to 10:00pm for anyone with a higher tolerance for fright under the full moon at night! Admittance is by donation only and donations for entry will benefit the Manistee High School Fine Arts Department and the restoration of Interpretive Signs for the Orchard Beach State Park trails! Meet in the historic Orchard Beach State Park shelter...if you dare!

https://www.facebook.com/events/854355723003059/

This freestanding hammock could be yours! It is worth over $200, but raffle tickets are only $1 each! The winning hammock raffle ticket will be drawn at 9:30pm! (Must be present to win.)

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, August 5th!

Kicking off at 4:30pm, will be a children's bike parade through the campground and to the park shelter for the Birthday Bash! At the shelter, there will be lawn games; Bubbles-by-Becky; a video showing the park shelter being moved (from its original place on the bluff to where it is now); 50-50 raffle tickets for sale (*drawings at 7pm and 9pm); freshly popped popcorn; sandwiches, chips, ice cream, bottled water, pop, and lemonade for sale; and raffle tickets for sale to win a hammock worth over $200 (*drawing at 9:30pm)! But that's not all, we are going to have music by "Mickey McCain and the B-Team" from 5:30pm-7:00pm AND what's a birthday without singing and a cake? Yes, free cake at 7pm! But wait, there's even more, "The Blarney Bunch" will be playing starting shortly after 7pm! You won't want to miss any of it! Your host for this event is the Friends of Orchard Beach State Park, all donations and proceeds will go towards building the inclusive playground!

*Must be present to win raffles

#OrchardBeachStatePark #BirthdayBash #WhatToDoAugust5th #TheBlarneyBunch #MickeyMcClainandtheBteam #FOBSP

“Analogs to Artemis” by Brooke Edwards FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2023 AT 8 PM

This is a family friendly event hosted by Friends of Orchard Beach State Park (FOBSP) and featuring a presentation by Brooke Edwards, NASA Solar System Ambassador. Brooke will share her experience in an analog lunar mission and how it relates to Artemis. The event will be held in Orchard Beach State Park's historic shelter. Please bring your chairs and arrive promptly, so you don’t miss a word of this approximately 45-minute presentation which will start at 8pm sharp! Brooke will also take questions afterwards!

Over 50 participants!

The weather did not cooperate to view stars...

...but it was fun anyway!

The Friends of Orchard Beach State Park (FOBSP) are hosting a Dark Sky / Star Party event to Discover the Night and celebrate International Dark Sky Week on Friday, April 21, 2023 beginning at 8:30pm!

This educational event is open to anyone and will be led by Brooke Edwards (NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador) and Robyn Porteen (President of Dark Sky Michigan) in the historic Orchard Beach State Park shelter building. The night will consist of a short presentation regarding stars and planets viewable and will include information regarding light pollution and what we can do to help prevent it. Weather permitting, bring a chair and your binoculars, there will be a telescope available to view the sky from the parking lot! Want to know more? More details will be available via our Facebook Page (Friends of Orchard Beach State Park) and here on our website!

2023 Winter Events Dates:

Sunday, January 1st - Snowshoe Hike / Star Party! DONE!
Sunday, January 15th - Snowshoe Hike / Star Party! DONE!
Saturday, January 28th - Snowshoe Hike only! DONE!
*Saturday, February 11th -CANCELLED DUE TO UNSAFE, ICY CONDITIONS!
Saturday, February 25th - Snowshoe Hike only!
Saturday, March 11th - Snowshoe Hike only! ADDED! Please note the later start time below! DONE!

Meet at the Orchard Beach State Park Shelter where a warm fire will be available, as well as, coffee and hot cocoa! The Snowshoe Hikes are on lighted park trail or in the campground from 7PM to 9PM on each date. Star Parties are selected dates, clear sky permitting, and hosted by Brooke Edwards, our NASA Ambassador!

*NOTE: Originally, Sun., Feb. 12th was the date, but due to it being Super Bowl Sunday we moved it to Saturday, February 11th WHICH IS NOW CANCELLED

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