August 24, 2010

The Recreation Passport is coming, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) wants every motorist to know what a great deal it is for Michigan. That's why the department is launching the "Road to Recreation" RV tour, a three-month tour of Michigan's festivals, concerts and best destinations.

At the heart of the tour is a 32-foot recreational vehicle completely wrapped with inspiring images of wildlife, beaches, outdoor activities and smiling faces, thanks to the financial support of Merrell, a Michigan-based shoe and apparel company, and General RV, a Michigan-based dealer of recreational vehicles. The RV will make stops along the tour to share information about the $10 Recreation Passport, which - starting Oct. 1 - will replace the current state park sticker and provide easy access into all Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boat launches. The Recreation Passport will also preserve state forest campgrounds and trails, historic and cultural sites in state parks and local parks, too.

Anyone meeting the RV can try their hand at bean bag toss and ladder golf, as well as enter to win one of three prime camping sites being given away for the July 4, 2011, weekend: Ludington State Park, Tahquamenon Falls State Park or P.H. Hoeft State Park. Plus, freebies from Merrell and General RV will be given to anyone who stops by.

"We proudly support the Road to Recreation tour as it strongly ties back to our heritage of making public lands more accessible and getting more people outside," said Amy Roder, marketing specialist at Merrell. "We are dedicated to working with our very own state parks and forest trails to educate people on the best ways to get outside and have fun."

Husband-and-wife team of 43 years, Eliot and Naomi Haycock - residents of Chassell in the Upper Peninsula - happily volunteered to drive the RV. A retired State of Michigan employee, Eliot and his enthusiastic wife, Naomi, said they are up for the adventure. Both are longtime park enthusiasts, having camped in many state and national parks over the last 30 years.

"I think it's been 30 years," said Eliot. "We've been (camping) so long, we've kind of lost track." The two have been campground hosts for the past five years at Fort Wilkins State Park in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

"We love Michigan and, as campground hosts, have been able to help share our love for camping" said Eliot. "We love to travel and we love Michigan state parks, and we thought this would be fun to try something different for the summer."

The Haycocks are responsible for getting the RV to each event during the three-month tour. Once on site, it will be staffed by local DNRE employees who will be on hand to explain the Recreation Passport and how it will benefit Michigan in many different ways.

The vehicle has been generously provided by General RV. "This is a great new way to support our state's most important natural resource - our park and forest land," said Dennis Anderson, spokesperson for General RV. "The Michigan state parks are a big part of why so many people vacation in Michigan and it is important we adequately fund them for the future of our state."

Starting Oct. 1, the $10 Recreation Passport replaces the state park sticker for access into all state parks, recreation areas and boat launches. To get the Recreation Passport, Michigan residents can check "YES" on their license plate renewal forms. The Recreation Passport also helps preserve forest campgrounds and trails, historic and cultural sites in state parks, and local parks.

To find out where the Road to Recreation tour is headed, visit the DNRE Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midnr. For more information about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport .

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

Early Tour Highlights

Oreo Park Tour - White Lake, Holly and Lake Orion
Sept. 2
Nothing says camping like s'mores, but with Oreos new fudge crème cookies, everyone will want s'moreos! The RV tour will make three stops - Highland and Seven Lakes state parks and Bald Mountain Recreation Area - where people who meet the RV will get free samples of the new Oreo Fudge Crèmes (compliments of Nabisco), play fun games and get information about the Recreation Passport.

US-23 Heritage Route Tour
Sept. 3-6

Labor Day weekend will take the tour along Michigan's sunrise side, on the US-23 Huron Shores Heritage Route. This 200-mile tour along the Sunrise Coast, which boasts some of the most significant recreational, ecological, historical and cultural sites in Michigan, is being organized in conjunction with the Huron Shores Heritage Route and Sunrise Coalition. Day one kicks off in Au Gres State Dock, then continues to East Tawas Harbor Park. Day two includes stops at the Harrisville Arts and Crafts Show and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Closing out the tour will be two stops on day three along the Huron Sunrise Trail bike path north of Rogers City and at the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce. The Sunrise Coast tour will occur in conjunction with the launch of the new coastal tourism website www.us23heritageroute.org.

Boating and Outdoor Recreation Festival - Mt. Clemens
Sept. 22-26

Join the tour during the five days of the all-new Metro Beach Boat Show in Mt. Clemens featuring an in-water boat show and other exhibits for every outdoor enthusiast, plus live music, fine art, Taste Fest and family fun for all.

About General RV

General RV is a third-generation, family-owned and -operated dealer of Recreational Vehicles based in Michigan, and is the largest volume family-owned RV dealer in the country, with locations in Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Utah. General RV Center is based in Wixom Mich., and continues to lead the RV industry. For more information, visit www.generalrv.com.

About Merrell

Merrell® is a brand within the Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. that also includes Chaco and Patagonia Footwear. Merrell believes in encouraging everyone to get outside, be active and have fun, and is the largest outdoor brand partner of the National Park Foundation. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is headquartered in Rockford, Mich. The company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in nearly 180 countries and territories. Find Merrell on Facebook: www.facebook.com/merrell and Twitter: @merrelloutside.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.