A Message from the Founder

Originally from Indiana, my family has been in love with northern Michigan since 1984, when I first attended Interlochen National Music Camp. After I finished college on the east coast, I returned to Michigan with my husband to live, ski, and kayak on Good Harbor Bay. My parents moved to Lake Ann; my sister and her family now live in Traverse City. In 2018, we all decided to look at a house for sale on Beaver Island. Our love of Michigan grew exponentially the second we stepped from the little airplane onto the island tarmac. I knew I wanted to be part of the community and become a good steward of the land and water in this special place.

I started by doing conservation work in our corner of the island: saving a few land parcels from development, battling invasive plant species on our property, reaching out to my neighbors about the benefits of Conservation Easements (tools for the permanent protection of land), applying for CEs on our own property, performing small site restorations...and then I was presented with the chance to connect and permanently protect almost a third of a mile of Lake Michigan Shoreline. 

As the one advocating for the future of this stretch of wild beach, I was charged with the tasks of fundraising and getting the word out. Wanting to partner with existing local and regional conservation entities, and becoming aware of more land protection and habitat restoration opportunities, I decided to create a platform for community efforts to save and protect the island. With Partnership in mind, Beaver Island Conservancy will support and initiate conservation efforts on Beaver lsland and the surrounding islands that make up the Beaver Island archipelago.

The innocence of the land as it is at this moment, untouched and unspoiled, is the way we can keep it forever...if we act now. 

I look forward to working with you to protect our island.

--Heather Johnson