NMU Program Partners with Thunder Bay Inn

Northern Michigan University students helped to create environmental education programs for the Historic Thunder Bay Inn in Big Bay. NMU's Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management program's partnership with the inn will result in an Environmental Education Center (EEC) on the hotel property and related educational programs and activities. This aligns with owners Mark and Sue Bevins' goals to expand access to outdoor recreation and educate people about the local culture and history.

After the Bevins family purchased the inn in 2021, they wanted to expand its impact on the local community by building an EEC on the property that would offer guided environmental education programs to promote community building and outdoor experiences in Big Bay. They then created a unique internship opportunity for an NMU outdoor recreation student, who was tasked with developing the initial environmental education programs and itineraries for the EEC.

"We wanted to involve students because we share values regarding wildlife conservation and the environment," Mark Bevins explained. "We have lots of young, ambitious Northern students who want to plant that seed to propagate the value of outdoor recreation in the local community."

In 2024, the inn received a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with additional help from Innovate Marquette SmartZone and Friends of the Historic Thunder Bay Inn to begin the implementation of the EEC. The Bevins then brought on NMU outdoor recreation leadership and management alumna Michaline Dutkiewicz to help create the EEC on the property.

The EEC will be a multi-use space that offers wilderness adventure, navigation, and survival skills training; free or reduced price outdoor equipment rentals; and a space for farmers' markets and community horticulture workshops. Construction of the EEC is ongoing and it is expected to be completed and open to the public in mid-to-late 2026.

"Overall, we're just hoping to host a lot of fun programs to keep the community active and engaged with each other so that they understand where their food is coming from and the ecology of the land they live on through our horticulture and recreation programs," Dutkiewicz stated.

The inn also aims to expand NMU student involvement with the EEC, offering students a collaborative internship opportunity to create and promote their own outdoor recreation programs and businesses that can be developed during their time at NMU and implemented following their graduation.

"I imagine that we'll find students to work with Mark and Michaline to develop programming for outdoor recreation, and eventually possibly turn it into their own business," NMU College of Health and Human Performance Professor Scott Jordan stated. "This opportunity could be long-term for not only the student, but also for Big Bay and the Thunder Bay Inn."

"We're envisioning a partnership where NMU graduate and undergraduate students can come in and develop a business that they run through the Inn, whether it's being a kayak guide or a hiking guide," Dutkiewicz added. "There's a lot of great business ideas that come from NMU outdoor recreation students' research projects and we'd love to take as many ideas as possible."