Meeting and tourism professionals from across Michigan will once again roll up their sleeves this fall at Grand Rapids-based Michigan Cares for Tourism’s annual volunteer event, set for Sept. 14–15 at the scenic Tawas Point State Park in East Tawas.
Known for its hands-on restoration work and community engagement, Michigan Cares for Tourism brings together industry leaders for a two-day event focused on service, networking, and destination education. This year’s project site, located along the Lake Huron shoreline, sits at the tip of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay—a location often referred to as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
Participants can expect a packed itinerary that blends professional camaraderie with purposeful impact. The event kicks off Sunday, Sept. 14, with a variety of familiarization activities and a casual networking reception, but Monday, Sept. 15, is the official workday, when volunteers will contribute time and effort to preserving and enhancing the beloved state park. Tawas Point State Park is home to 183 acres of natural beauty and iconic attractions like the Tawas Point Lighthouse.
In addition to hands-on restoration work, attendees also will have the chance to experience the Tawas Bay multiuse trails—part of the larger Iron Belle Trail—kayak the Au Sable River, and, of course, connect with peers from across Michigan’s tourism industry.
- Dates: Sept. 14–15, 2025
- Location: Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas, Michigan
- Cost: $50 per person (transportation and lodging not included)
- Bonus: Free motorcoach transportation provided by Indian Trails from Grand Rapids to East Tawas on Sunday
