PLEASE NOTE:

PLEASE NOTE:
The following information is from the 2008 Cottage & Lakefront Living Show - Detroit.

Boating Safety Course

Presented by the Oakland County Sheriff's Dept. Marine Division

Sunday, March 2, 9am-4pm (1 hour lunch)

The Boating Safety Course is designed to teach a person to be a safe and responsible boater. The course is 6 hours in classroom training and discusses the basic fundamentals; boat maintenance, personal watercraft (PWC) and boat operation, the legal requirements of boating, personal preparedness and survival skills needed in emergency situations. This course does not contain “hands on" training. Participants are tested at the completion of the course and those 12 years of age and older are awarded their Boating Safety Certification Card from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Persons born after December 31, 1978 are required by law to have in their possession a valid Boating Safety Certificate while operating Personal Watercraft (PWC) on State of Michigan Waterways.

This Basic Boaters Safety class has drastically reduced the amount of injuries and deaths on Oakland County’s waters in the last thirty years while the population in Oakland County as nearly doubled.  This safety class is highly recommended for persons of all ages.  Parents are strongly recommended to attend with their children. 

To register, please call 248-391-0256 prior to the class date.

For description of the safety classes offered by the Oakland County Sheriff's Marine Division, you are encouraged to visit their website at www.OaklandSheriff.com.

Off Road Vehicle Safety Course

Presented by the Oakland County Sheriff's Dept. Marine Division

Saturday, March 1, 9am-4pm (1 hour lunch)

The Off Road Vehicle (ORV) Safety Course is designed to teach a person to be a safe and responsible operator.  The ORV course is six hours of classroom instruction and covers the basic fundamentals, such as; safe operating skills, maintenance, operating on different types of terrain, environmental considerations, the mandated requirements of ATV’s and ORV’S, clothing, personal preparedness and survival skills needed in emergency situations. This course does not contain “hands on” training. Participants are tested at the completion of the course and are awarded an Off Road Vehicle Safety Certification Card from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  By Michigan Law, all children between the ages of 12 to 15, who operate a 4-wheeled ATV, must possess a valid ORV safety certificate.  This safety class is highly recommended for persons of all ages and parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their children.

To register, please call 248-391-0256 prior to the class date.

For description of the safety classes offered by the Oakland County Sheriff's Marine Division, you are encouraged to visit their website at www.OaklandSheriff.com.

Cottage Living Stage

Our seminar stage features seminars on birding, photography, succession planning, renting your cottage and much much more!

David S. Fry, Esq.

A fourth generation cottage owner, David S. Fry, Esq. is well versed on the issues of cottage succession planning with inherited resources of cottage law research, documents, and background information. David has considerable experience in the field of cottage law, having worked for a number of years with individuals and families to develop plans that meet their needs.  David has also carried on Stuart Hollander's cottage law practice, as well as www.CottageLaw.com, the online source for information on cottage succession planning.

Stuart Hollander's book, Saving the Family Cottage, will be available both at David's seminars and at the Northern Home & Cottage Magazine Booth, #2301.  (visit www.CottageLaw.com for more info)

Keeping the Family in the Family Cottage - Cottage Succession Planning

Pass the cottage to the next generation with ease by having a cottage succession plan in place.

Mebby Pearson - AmeriCorps Environmental Educator

Mebby Pearson is an educator under the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program, stationed at the Oakland County MSU Extension. Her service is to educate the residents of Oakland County and surrounding areas on risks to personal health, groundwater, and surface water at the home and provide them with the tools or resources they need to reduce their risks.  There are 13 others like Mebby serving 44 of the counties in Michigan.

The Benefits of a Natural Vegetative Shoreline

Are you worried about the health of your lake or stream?  Is the quality of your water getting you down?  Are you losing your land to the waves? Do geese chase you away from your lakeside picnics?  Learn about current problems facing lake and river residents and how to reduce them with different landscaping and stormwater management techniques.

Anita Smith - Simply Like Home

Being a native Michigander, Anita knows the love and care required in owning a cottage.  She also knows the expense, and is devoted to helping clients rent their cottages out successfully through her business, Simply Like Home.

Buy it for Love, Rent it for Keeps

Rental solutions for your second home or investment property - Learn how to rent out like a pro!

Melissa Damanschke - Sierra Club

Protecting the Great Lakes Starts with You and Your Home

Big Wave Dave

When Big Wave Dave isn't wearing a Santa costume as his alter-ego, Big Wave Santa, he's building the most magnificent and elaborate sand castles Michigan beaches have ever seen.

Originally hailing from South Padre Island, at the very southern tip of Texas, he moved to New Haven, Michigan to be closer to his wife’s family.

Along with a string of local builds, he still flies back down to South Padre Island each October for Sand Castle Days, an event started by fellow famous builders, Amazin' Walter and Sandy Feet, over fifteen years ago. Some of the world’s best sand sculptors come to the festival each year to compete on one of the best beaches in North America. Though it is typically known as a Spring Break destination, Dave says October is the best month for weather and relaxation.

At the show, he will be building with his daughter and fellow sand sculpture expert, Sara Sunshine.

Take a look at some of Big Wave Dave's past work!

Sand Castle Build!

Watch Big Wave Dave as he creates a masterpiece out of sand, right in our fabulous beach! 

Jim DuFresne

Jim DuFresne is a renowned travel author and avid hiker who has trekked around the world.  DuFresne has written more than 15 guidebooks, including titles for Alaska, New Zealand, Australia, and Nepal.  Living in Michigan, he has also written books on our wonderful state parks and hiking trails.

At the Doorstep of your Cottage

A look at the best attractions and adventures in Northern Michigan. Just don't sit on the beach this summer, do something and DuFresne will show you where. The author of Michigan: Off The Beaten Path will explore the northern half of the Lower Peninsula, taking his audience to the best of Michigan, from giant sand dunes and where to snorkel for shipwrecks to hot air ballooning over Grand Traverse Bay and a park full of life size dinosaurs.

Anthony Williams - Morel Mushroom Expert

Anthony Williams ascends from a long line of morel pickers that can be traced back at least two hundred years to France. From 1980 to 1985 Anthony won first place in the prestigious National Mushroom Hunt in Boyne City, Michigan (five straight years) and retired from competitive picking undefeated.  He now serves on the "National Morel Mushroom Festival" board as " Expert In Residence" and gives his famous "Morel Seminar" every year at the festival to people who are eager to learn the tricks of being a great morel picker.
He wrote and performs with his family the official song of the festival "Mushroomers Waltz". Anthony and the song are both featured in "Morel Mania" a documentary by Larry Joe Campbell,  who costars as Andy on ABC's "According To Jim" with Jim Beluchi.
His morel picking expertise has also been written  about in Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Connoisseur Magazine, Audubon Magazine, High Times Magazine, New York Times, Newsweek Magazine and countless other publications and television shows.
Anthonys seminars give "straight to the point", step by step instructions that will help everyone from beginners to old pros find the illusive morel.
Come learn the magic from one of the greatest pickers of our time.

Morels at the Cottage - Hunting Tips & Recipes

Get tips on how to find Morel mushroom hot spots, and some of the best dishes featuring this hard-to-find treat.

Detroit Audubon Society

Start Birding! A Beginner's Guide to Birdwatching

Nature Photography for Beginners