Ski Helmets for Kids – Kurt Blake Helmet Fund
Sponsored by the Friends of the Porkies, the Kurt Blake Helmet Fund encourages ski safety by reimbursing $50 toward the purchase of a youth ski helmet at the Winter Complex Ski Shop. Forms are available at the Ski Shop. Since 2008, the fund has helped provide more than 300 helmets to youth in the region. The fund was established by Kurt Blake’s family and the Friends of the Porkies in his memory.
Thank you to local Businesses for your support through our business membership:
- Porkies Outpost
- UPPCO
- Rainbow Lodging
Folk School
We’re excited to announce our 2026 Folk School class lineup!
This year features broom making, crochet, painting, woodworking, and more. We’re welcoming back many favorite instructors and classes, along with some new offerings we can’t wait to share.
Registration open now — we look forward to seeing you in class!
Artists-in-Residence
Congratulations to our 2026 Selected Artists!
Thank you to everyone who submitted their fantastic work. We truly appreciate the time, effort, and creativity that went into each application.
All artists have now been notified regarding the status of their submission.
We are excited to share the selected artists:
Caroline Mazure - acrylic painter - Royal Oak, MI
Mark Cavanaugh - photographer - Saint Paul, MN
Roxanne Everett - landscape acrylic painter - Seattle, WA
Katherine Sirvio - woodworker - Naubinway, MI
Anita McKeith - macro photographer - Freeland, MI
Bill Wilson - musician - Petosky, MI
Congratulations again to those selected and thank you again to everyone who applied—we’re grateful for your interest and for being part of such a talented community.
The Friends of the Porkies has deep roots. Local citizens interested in the land that would become the Porkies started the movement to create the park in the early 1940’s. In 1945, support by the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold led to the creation of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Today, The Friends of the Porkies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is connecting people to the magic of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
From its beginnings as the Porcupine Mountains Ski Club, the Friends has evolved into a volunteer organization that continues to grow and take on projects at the Porkies. You can follow our progress in our newsletter, the Quill, on our website, and on our Facebook page.
The Friends of the Porkies wants to inspire appreciation of wilderness for youth and visitor experiences all year round at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Contact us at: P. O. Box 221, Ontonagon, MI 49953; phone 906-884-7663; email [email protected]
Friends of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Inc. Federal Tax ID Number: 38-3388836
