A barn restoration workshop will be conducted at Port Oneida within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore/NPS

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be hosting its successful barn restoration workshop June 18-23 at the Brunson barn, three miles north of Glen Arbor, Michigan, on M-22. This year marks the 22nd year that the lakeshore has hosted and developed this series of “hands-on” workshops, which started in 1997. 

The workshop will address repairing “stone masonry walls and wood barn floor repair.” The course will include 1) stone masonry repair, 2) repair of rough sawn floor boards, 3) repair and installation of hewn sills and a concrete door threshold, 4) exterior siding repair, 5) door and window repair, and 6) tool safety while completing the task presented.  

The course is set up so participants receive “hands on” training of all techniques. The workshop begins on site at 9 a.m. each day. There is no cost to participants. Tools and materials will be provided. Participants should wear boots, gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend. They can also sign up for any number of days.

Campsites will be provided for volunteers who wish to camp for those days they are signed up for the workshop. If interested, please indicate your desire to camp on the form, by email, or when you call to sign up. 

Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated. The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train owners and those interested how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures, including concrete and stonework. Past workshop attendees have ranged in age from 7 to 75, with each contributing their own unique skills to the project.

Interested parties should contact the park historical architect, Kimberly Mann, at 231-326-4771, to sign up for the workshop. Participants may also sign up by email at [email protected].