TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Flow Water Advocates is proud to announce the release of the Great Lakes Passport, a free educational guide that invites Michiganders and visitors alike to explore the Great Lakes while learning about the rights, history, and legal protections that safeguard these shared waters. Designed for families, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and all friends of the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Passport combines travel inspiration with practical knowledge about public access to one of the region’s most important natural resources.
Part travel companion and part educational resource, the Great Lakes Passport introduces readers to Michigan’s lighthouses, shipwrecks, wetlands, and Indigenous history while explaining the Public Trust Doctrine — the centuries-old legal principle that protects the Great Lakes and guarantees the public’s right to access, enjoy, and be sustained by them. The guide also helps readers understand the Ordinary High Water Mark, which generally defines where the public may walk along Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines.
“The Great Lakes are more than beautiful places to visit — they’re a shared public trust that belongs to all of us,” said Dave Dempsey, senior policy advisor for Flow Water Advocates. “We created the Great Lakes Passport to help people connect with these incredible waters while understanding both their rights and their responsibility to protect them. We hope it inspires thousands of people to explore the shoreline, ask questions, and become lifelong stewards of the Great Lakes.”
Throughout its pages, readers can learn about the origins of the Public Trust Doctrine, discover famous Great Lakes shipwrecks and lighthouses, explore the cultural significance of Manoomin (wild rice), find recommended books about the region, and collect memories from their travels across the Great Lakes Basin.
The Great Lakes Passport is available free of charge while supplies last at locations including Cherry Republic, M22, Backcountry North, select Michigan Welcome Centers, and others.
Flow Water Advocates also encourages educators to bring the Passport into their classrooms. Complimentary classroom copies are available while supplies last. Teachers may request copies through Flow’s website.
The Great Lakes Passport is one of Flow Water Advocates’ newest educational initiatives and reflects the organization’s mission to ensure the waters of the Great Lakes Basin remain healthy, public, and protected for all.
For more information, distribution locations, or to request classroom copies, visit FlowWaterAdvocates.org/Passport.
