Presented by
Michigan Sea Grant and
Michigan State University Extension
in partnership with Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
with support from:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Science Foundation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
MI DNR
DTE Energy
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Eco-Art
Join us as we explore the Great Lakes in a great new way — through Eco-Art! Learn about the Great Lakes ecosystem and combine elements of it with your own imagination to create a unique work of art to take home. Both fun and educational, you will translate what you see and learn into an amazing Great Lakes Eco-Art piece! No prior art experience needed. All materials provided. Wear clothes to get messy in.
Cruise dates:
Wednesday, June 20 at 10 a.m.
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The History of Lake St. Clair
We cruise Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair Flats in search of the geologic past of the St. Clair River Delta and tell the human stories that shaped the history of this unique area.
Cruise dates:
Friday, June 29 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 1 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Saturday,
July 7 at 2 p.m.
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Birds, Boats & Booze
(4-hour history cruise)
Many things drew people to the St. Clair River Delta Flats area. The abundant wetlands brought duck hunters and fishing, wood boats and passenger steamers brought tourism and recreation, and Prohibition brought rum runners and speakeasies to the region. Spend a little more time in "the flats" with us as we cruise farther up the South Channel and share a little of the past including stories of the big hotels, Tashmoo Park, Chris Craft boat building and more.
Cruise dates:
Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 at 2 p.m.
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Aliens Among Us
When the French explorers first encountered the Great Lakes, they described a garden of earthly delights. Now, almost four centuries later, we are faced with lamprey, zebra mussels, Asian carp, gobies, Phragmites, and purple loosestrife — alien invaders intent on changing the way we recreate and work in the Great Lakes. This cruise will explore the alien species among us, their impacts on the Great Lakes ecosystem, and what we can do to minimize their impact and spread.
Cruise dates:
Wednesday, June 20 at 2 p.m.
Special pricing: $5 all ages
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Night Watch
Join the crew of the E/V Clinton on a late evening cruise and learn about navigating under the stars using charts, lights and the heavens themselves. Our cruise will take us through the history of navigation, from the discovery of latitude and longitude to today's Loran and GPS systems. As darkness descends, we will set sail for lighthouses, search the heavens for constellations and use the North Star to help guide us to our home port.
Cruise dates:
Saturday, June 23 at 9 p.m.
Friday, July 6 at 9 p.m.
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Handy Billy
Join us on this one-of-a-kind cruise! Handy Billy is a group of folks who love our Great Lakes and its related music. Handy Billy's founder, Captain Allen Wolfe, is joined by Christine Crissman, Andy Spence and Captain Gary Longton. Their songs have much to teach about shipboard life and the Great Lakes themselves. Sing alongs and group participation are heartily encouraged. The cruise forecast? A fair chance of nautical, musical mayhem. See you aboard!
Cruise dates:
Saturday, July 7 at 6 p.m.
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Journey Through the Straits II
Park your car at Harbor Hill Marina in Detroit and board the E/V Clinton for a fantastic five-hour voyage from the upper reaches of the Detroit River to Lake Erie. As the Clinton travels in the wake of both the early Great Lakes voyageurs and present day sailors, we'll explore the Straits of Detroit from several perspectives.
Our cruise begins just south of Peche Isle, the first island in the straits and the site of Chief Pontiac's summer camp. We will pass by the old French ribbon farms, Cadillac's landing, the Detroit Riverwalk and then under the Ambassador Bridge. Then we pass the J.W. Westcott mail boat and the old Bob-Lo boats on the way to the industrial heartland featuring impressive steel mills. Finally we enter the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, with its beautiful islands and abundant wildlife. We take a shuttle bus back to Harbor Hill Marina where you pick up your car to complete your Journey Through the Straits!
Cruise dates:
Monday, July 9 from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Satuday, September 8 from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Special pricing: $15 adult and $10 ages 6-17
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Shipping Out
Sign on for a voyage into the world of Great Lakes shipping with former sailor and ancient mariner Patrick Livingston, author of the Library of Michigan award-winning Eight Steamboats—Sailing Through the Sixties, As the E/V Clinton heads across Lake St. Clair toward the shipping channel, you will learn about lakers and salties, legendary sailors and Lake St. Clair shipwrecks. With some luck, you might even get up close and personal to a thousand-footer or two along the way. Wear your Old Spice!
Cruise dates:
Saturday, June 23 at 6 p.m.
Friday, July 6 at 6 p.m.
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Wind, Waves & Weather
The Great Lakes influence our weather, and the weather can have a great influence on the Great Lakes (ever hear of the Great Storm of 1913?). Join NOAA National Weather Service meteorologists on a cruise that explores the "why?" behind the wind, waves, and weather around us. Learn how to be safe the next time weather threatens, what some of the old sailor sayings like "Red sky at night, sailor's delight" really mean, why we don't have hurricanes in the Great Lakes, what kind of wave a "seiche" is, and much more! We ship out rain or shine!
Cruise dates:
Wednesday, June 27 at 6 p.m.
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The Nature of Lake St. Clair
Take an educational cruise on Lake St. Clair to discover the rich variety of aquatic life that makes Lake St. Clair so special. Plants, animals, and habitats — including one of the world's largest fresh water delta — will be explored.
Cruise dates:
Thursday, June 21 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 23 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, July 5 at 6 p.m.
Friday, July 6 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 7 at 10 a.m.
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Shipwrecks
See how the latest technology in shipwreck identification is used to discover wrecks as we investigate the remains of a sunken mystery ship in Lake St. Clair. Along the way we'll explore historic shipwrecks and the lighthouses built to help prevent them. Bring along your diving bell as we delve into the realm of underwater archaeology.
Cruise dates:
Thursday, June 21 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Thursday,
July 5 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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Great Lakes Science for Teachers
This cruise for teachers — active teachers only please — will focus on the Great Lakes from a science education perspective. Learn how to relate biology, chemistry, geology and physics to the Great Lakes that define Michigan. This research cruise is designed to help you share the Great Lakes with your K-12 students. Teachers receive $50 stipends from a grant provided by the U.S. EPA. Also find out about opportunities for additional professional development which come with participant stipends and scholarships.
Cruise dates:
Thursday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
Special pricing: $10 (adult active educators only) Note: teachers will receive a $50 EPA stipend in addition to reduced registration.
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Wildlife & Wetlands of Lake St. Clair
Explore further into the Flats in this extended 4-hour tour to discover the variety of plants, animals and habitats that make one of the world's largest fresh water deltas so unique and valuable.
Cruise dates:
Wednesday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
Sunday, July 8 at 10 a.m.
Special pricing: $10 all ages
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Lighthouses of Lake St. Clair
Join a representative from the Save Our South Channel Lights organization to learn the history of the two lighthouses built on Lake St. Clair in 1855 to guide vessels through the treacherous St. Clair Flats. Learn about navigating the Great Lakes then and now and discover what is being done to preserve these historic landmarks.
Cruise dates:
Wednesday, June 20 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 24 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, June 28 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 1 at 10 a.m.
Friday, July 6 at 10 a.m.
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Lake St. Clair Fisheries
This is not a fishing cruise, but it definitely is a "fishy" cruise! Learn first hand about the fish that are found in Lake St. Clair, many of which are available for hands-on examination during the cruise. We will be joined by a Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist and perhaps rendezvous with their research vessel while out on the lake to observe fish tagging, measuring and other research operations.
Cruise dates:
Friday, June 29 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Special pricing: $5 all ages
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