Snowsnakes and Snowflakes at Highland State Recreation Area

Come enjoy Snow Snake races (snakes available to share), a winter Hike, and a primitive fire making class at Highland State Recreation Area on Sunday, January 28, 2018. Enjoy wooshing a Snowsnake down the track at the Barn, cookies and cocoa, outdoor winter fun, and learning for all ages! All events to be held at the Edsel Ford Barn. Snow Snake races will be held between 1:00 PM—4:00 PM. Bring the kids and give it a try! Go to  www.fohravolunteers.org for more info..
 

WINTER HIKE: Join the Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers for a guided hike in the Highland Recreation Area on January 28, 2018 at 1:30 pm leaving from the Edsel Ford Barn.  The forests in winter provide a totally different perspective of the lay of the land and views when the trees are leafless and the ground is snow-covered. Hike duration and length will be dependent upon weather and trail conditions, but a route of about 1 to 1.5 hours is planned. Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated, wear boots with good tread, and dress in layers to maximize your comfort. Although not available for the hike, a limited number of sets of snow shoes will also be at the Barn for you to try.
 

PREHISTORIC CLASSROOM presents modern day hunter gatherer and indigenous skills instructor Pete Fox for a free primitive fire making class. Spend some quality time with a real life caveman and step back in time nearly 20,000 years as you learn how to prepare materials, build the tools, and use the techniques that have been absolutely essential to the survival and comfort of humans for over 300,000 years!
 

Activities FREE of charge, Recreation Passport Required for State Park entry.

We Are Thankful to You

Thank you everyone.

Join Us for a 10 Year Celebration at Bakers of Milford

Dear Friends of Highland Recreation Area Special Supporter,

On behalf of Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA) we’d like to invite you, your family, and members of your organization to our 2017 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 8, 6:00 pm, at Bakers of Milford. The evening will celebrate 10 years of achievements of our Friends group and its Supporters. Awards will be presented during the evening. 

Social time with refreshments and appetizers will begin at 6:00 pm, dinner buffet at 6:30 pm, and the formal start of the meeting is at 7:00 pm.

Guest Speaker is Mr. Russel Doré automotive historian who will present, “The Dodge Brothers, Their Company and Their Lives”, a one hour speaking engagement with visuals. Learn how these machinists went from being parts suppliers to creating an automobile company which at one time was second only to the Ford Motor Company. And “FOHRA: 10 Years at Haven Hill” by Jay Fitzgerald, FOHRA Secretary. A photographic and video journey of the Friends group and their work over the years at Highland State Recreation Area.

Please call with any questions – let us know if anyone needs special assistance or further information. (248) 494-8919. 

Visit our web site at www.fohravolunteers.org for more information and to buy tickets online.

Sincerely,

Richard G “Dick” Russell, Jr.
President, Friends of Highland Recreation Area
FireExplr2@aol.com
(248) 563-7428

Our Mission: “To enrich and foster awareness of the land, history, art, architecture, and people of Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill Estate within Michigan’s Highland State Recreation Area for current and future generations.”
 

FOHRA Annual Dinner Meeting w/Guest Speaker November 8

PURCHASE YOUR ANNUAL MEETING DINNER TICKETS AT OUR WEBSITE

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE

Friends of Highland Recreation Area, 10th Anniversary Annual Dinner Meeting
6:00 pm, Wednesday, November 8, 2017
$25.00 Per Person
 

Bakers of Milford

2025 S. Milford Road, Milford, MI 48381 

$25.00 per Ticket. Dinner Buffet and Guest Speaker

The Board of Directors of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA) would like to welcome its Members and the public to our 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting. The yearly event showcases FOHRA’s volunteer activity at Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill estate within the Highland State Recreation Area. Dinner will be served and guests will be charged $25.00 to attend. Tickets Available on Our Website. Please reserve before 11/1/17.

2017 Meeting Highlights

Guest Speaker Mr. Russel Doré automotive historian will present, “The Dodge Brothers, Their Company and Their Lives”, a one hour speaking engagement with visuals. Learn how these machinists went from being parts suppliers to creating an automobile company which at one time was second only to the Ford Motor Company. “FOHRA: Ten Years at Haven Hill” – Jay Fitzgerald, FOHRA Secretary. A photographic and video journey of the Friends group and their work over the years at Highland State

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND BUY YOUR TICKETS

www.fohravolunteers.org

FOHRA is committed to supporting Michigan’s Highland State Recreation Area by assisting and promoting interpretive, scientific, historical, and educational visitor services.
 

Guided Fall Hike at the Park at 2:00 pm TODAY

Today's hike (Saturday, October 7) is scheduled from 2:00 - 5:00 pm and will start from the Goose Meadow parking lot. Children and dogs welcome. Sunshine is in the forecast before rain starts again later tonight. Be sure to bring plenty of water (even if it's not warm outside) and wear shoes with good tread - they will keep you and your feet happy.

Come and enjoy a free guided nature hike in the Haven Hill Natural Area on Saturday, October 7th. Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers will take you on a journey through a portion of the park to see the waters, wildlife, and forests of this special natural preserve. The hike will be slow-paced to enjoy nature and the fall colors, with plenty of opportunities for taking photos.

The trail traverses through woods and hills and alongside Haven Hill Lake. Interesting information will be shared such as some history of the park, the importance of controlled burns, and why leaves turn color in the fall. Look for turtles, frogs and possibly a water snake or two as the group crosses the Haven Hill Lake dam!

www.fohravolunteers.org

REMINDER: Guided Fall Hike at Highland State Recreation Area - Saturday at 2:00 pm

Come and enjoy a free guided nature hike in the Haven Hill Natural Area on Saturday, October 7th. Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers will take you on a journey through a portion of the park to see the waters, wildlife, and forests of this special natural preserve. The hike will be slow-paced to enjoy nature and the fall colors, with plenty of opportunities for taking photos.

The trail traverses through woods and hills and alongside Haven Hill Lake. Interesting information will be shared such as some history of the park, the importance of controlled burns, and why leaves turn color in the fall. Look for turtles, frogs and possibly a water snake or two as the group crosses the Haven Hill Lake dam!

The October 7 hike is scheduled from 2:00 - 5:00 pm that Saturday, and will start from the Goose Meadow parking lot. Children and dogs welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water (even if it's not warm outside) and wear shoes with good tread - they will keep you and your feet happy.

Cost: The Hike is free and a Recreation Passport is required for the State park entry. No RSVP required, just show up and have fun! These enjoyable hikes are planned to be held quarterly, so watch for future opportunities to enjoy a guided hike at Haven Hill.

Highland State Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Rd, White Lake, Michigan. 

Highland State Recreation Area is located east of Hartland and west of Pontiac on Highland Road (M-59) between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake Roads and is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm every day of the year, including holidays.

http://www.michigan.org/property/highland-recreation-area

http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=455&type=SPRK

http://www.fohravolunteers.org/abouthsra/

Friends of Highland Recreation Area
PO Box 800, Highland, Michigan, 48357
info@fohravolunteers.org

Www.Fohravolunteers.Org
 

Free Guided Nature Hike at Haven Hill - Saturday, October 7

Come and enjoy a free guided nature hike in the Haven Hill Natural Area on Saturday, October 7th. Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers will take you on a journey through a portion of the park to see the waters, wildlife, and forests of this special natural preserve. The hike will be slow-paced to enjoy nature and the fall colors, with plenty of opportunities for taking photos.

The trail traverses through woods and hills and alongside Haven Hill Lake. Interesting information will be shared such as some history of the park, the importance of controlled burns, and why leaves turn color in the fall. Look for turtles, frogs and possibly a water snake or two as the group crosses the Haven Hill Lake dam!

ABOVE: A beautiful trail view at Haven Hill in Highland State Recreation Area, White Lake, Michigan.

The October 7 hike is scheduled from 2:00 - 5:00 pm that Saturday, and will start from the Goose Meadow parking lot. Children and dogs welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water (even if it's not warm outside) and wear shoes with good tread - they will keep you and your feet happy.

Cost: The Hike is free and a Recreation Passport is required for the State park entry. No RSVP required, just show up and have fun! These enjoyable hikes are planned to be held quarterly, so watch for future opportunities to enjoy a guided hike at Haven Hill.

Highland State Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Rd, White Lake, Michigan. 

Highland State Recreation Area is located east of Hartland and west of Pontiac on Highland Road (M-59) between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake Roads and is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm every day of the year, including holidays.

http://www.michigan.org/property/highland-recreation-area

http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=455&type=SPRK

http://www.fohravolunteers.org/abouthsra/

Friends of Highland Recreation Area
PO Box 800, Highland, Michigan, 48357
info@fohravolunteers.org

www.fohravolunteers.org

"Within one of the most picturesque, fascinating, and historically significant state parks in southeast lower Michigan, our goal is to combine the former Haven Hill estate history with Highland Recreation Area’s existing amenities, wilderness, and recreation."

Copyright © FOHRAVolunteers.org

All text and images on this email are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Haven Hill Festival Saturday - GREAT Weather in the Forecast! Come on Out!

Vintage Base Ball Game and Model A Ford Cars at 10:00 am Saturday

Live brass band music, vintage baseball, history, great weather, Model A Ford cars, summer foods and beverages, and more. The Haven Hill Festival is a celebration of Edsel and Eleanor Fords’ historic Haven Hill Estate and the natural beauty and historic wonders of the Highland State Recreation Area in the townships of Highland and White Lake, Michigan. This year’s family event on Saturday, August 26 will be held between 10 am and 3 pm. The event will feature vintage Model A Ford cars from the members of the Livingston A's driving club, an Antiques and Collectibles Sale at the Edsel Ford Barn, an 1860’s exhibition Vintage Base Ball Game, guided short hikes, summer foods and beverages, Haven Hill art and history displays, and children’s activities in Goose Meadow. Baseball fan? Bring along a picnic blanket, sun umbrellas, and folding chairs and watch the historic Vintage Base Ball Game at 10:00 am played the way the American sport of "base ball" originated in the 1860's. A live brass band will accompany the Ball Game.

The arrival of the Model A Ford cars and the 1860's Base Ball game will begin in Goose Meadow at 10:00 am. Several locations throughout the park will provide other exhibitions and activities during the Festival such as an art display at the Gate House, self-guided tours of the Haven Hill Lodge grounds, and the Edsel Ford Barn. Volunteers will be dressed in period costumes.

Sale at the Edsel Ford Barn all day.

The food and beverages available for purchase in Goose Meadow will be a fund raiser for the efforts of the volunteer group Friends of Highland Recreation Area. The park can be entered on 5200 Highland Road, M-59 between Duck Lake and Bogey Lake roads. Parking is at the Goose Meadow picnic shelter area, the 1st right turn on Haven Hill Road after you enter the park off of M-59 between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake roads. The Festival is provided to the public at no charge, and yet entry into the state park is now via the Recreation Passport on your license plate. If you do not have this great State Park feature on your license plate, you will be asked to buy one. It's a great deal!

The Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA), is a non-profit organization supporting the Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan, and the historic Edsel Ford Haven Hill Estate structures within its boundaries. The Haven Hill Festival is an alcohol-free, family-oriented event in its' 8th year at Highland State Recreation Area.  The celebration has grown yearly, and will continue to positively benefit all of those who attend as well as the surrounding communities now and into the future.

SPECIAL EVENT at 1:00 pm Saturday in Goose Meadow

Read about the Girl Scout 1956 Roundup sign dedication and some great little-known Highland Recreation Area history.

1956 Girl Scout Roundup to Be Commemorated at Haven Hill Festival

Lots of folks have heard of Boy Scout "Jamborees" but few have heard of Girl Scout "Roundups". The 1st ever Girl Scout Senior Roundup was held at Highland State Recreation Area in 1956. The Park was transformed into a small "tent city", and thousands of Scouts and their Leaders attended. The following are excerpts from the official  Friends of Highland Recreation Area Press Release:

On Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 1:00 pm EST, a special commemorative informational sign created with the assistance of the MotorCities organization of the National Park Service, will be unveiled at the Park during the 2017 Haven Hill Festival. Girl Scouts young and old are encouraged to attend the Festival to learn of and recall the memories of one of the organizations’ most significant outdoor gatherings. The ceremony is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.

ABOVE: An amazing aerial photograph of the 1956 Girl Scout Senior Roundup in Highland State Recreation Area. This giant daily Flag Ceremony was held in front of what its now the park's maintenance buildings complex. Photo Property FOHRA.

The Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers are pleased to announce the commemoration of the first-ever Girl Scout Senior Roundup which was held at Michigan’s Highland State Recreation Area in 1956. Scouts and their Leaders from all 48 states and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii traveled by plane, train, bus, and automobile to attend the 12-day gathering from June 29 to July 10, 1956.  Ten other countries from around the world were also represented at the giant multi-day campout.

In preparation for the 1956 Roundup, an enormous one square mile encampment was created on the land of the former Edsel and Eleanor Ford Haven Hill Estate within the Highland State Recreation Area with the help of the United States 5th Army. The military troops built roads, assembled large tents, installed shower facilities, and even erected a press tent. The hundreds of large and small tents and other US Army-constructed facilities resembled a small city with water pipes and electrical power, telephone lines, food facilities, and even a small hospital for the over 6,000 Girl Scouts, their Leadership, guests, and visiting dignitaries.

An informative display of re-printed original photographs telling the story of the 1956 Roundup event will be on display at this years’ Haven Hill Festival on Saturday, August 26 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm in the Goose Meadow festival tent.

The Haven Hill Festival is an alcohol-free outdoor family event held yearly at Highland State Recreation Area in White Lake, Michigan. In addition to the Scouts Ceremony, this year’s Festival will include summer foods and beverages, live brass band music, a barbershop quartet, a vintage base ball exhibition game, a fundraising Commemorative Brick Sale at the Gate House and an Antiques and Collectibles Sale at the Edsel Ford Barn. Proceeds from the food, beverage, and fundraising sales provide funding for the Friends group to continue their renovations of the remaining Edsel and Eleanor Ford Haven Hill structures and properties.

The Highland State Recreation Area is located at 5200 Highland Road (M-59) White Lake, Michigan, 48383. (248) 889-3750. Admission is with your Michigan Recreation Passport status on your vehicle license plate.

For more information go to www.fohravolunteers.org.

Article Contact: Jay Fitzgerald, Secretary, Friends of Highland Recreation Area. Ph.: (248) 494-8919

Signs Are Up: Festival is Coming!

Hello Everyone,

The 2017 Haven Hill Festival begins next Saturday at 10:00 am at Highland State Recreation Area. This year's Festival lasts until 3:00 pm and will include the following activities:

• Summer Foods, Music, and Fun for All Ages! 

• Haven Hill Art and History Displays

• 1860’s Vintage Base Ball Game -10:00 am

• Antiques and Collectibles Sale

• 1956 Girl Scouts USA Senior Roundup Commemorative Sign Dedication -1:00 pm

• Novi Brass Band Live During Ball Game

• The Jesters Barbershop Quartet from 12 Noon until 1:00 pm

• Brick Paver Sale at Haven Hill Gate House

Above: The authors's son Jack Fitzgerald helping to put out this year's Haven Hill Festival signs at Highland State Recreation Area. 

The Haven Hill Festival is a celebration of Edsel and Eleanor Fords’ historic Haven Hill Estate and the natural beauty and historic wonders of the Highland State Recreation Area in the townships of Highland and White Lake, Michigan. 

Admission to the Park is via your Recreation Passport on your license plate.