Flow Water Advocates is proud to introduce the Great Lakes Passport — a free educational guide that encourages people to discover the Great Lakes while learning about the rights, history, and responsibilities that come with our shared waters.
Part field guide, part educational resource, the passport takes readers on a journey through Michigan’s coastlines, lighthouses, shipwrecks, wetlands, Indigenous history, and public beaches while introducing one of the most important legal principles protecting the Great Lakes: the Public Trust Doctrine.
Whether you’re planning a summer road trip, hiking a shoreline, visiting a lighthouse, or simply curious about Michigan’s waters, the Great Lakes Passport is designed to help you see the Great Lakes through a new lens, and exercise your rights to access, enjoy, and be sustained by the Great Lakes.
Where to get your copy of the Great Lakes Passport.
The Great Lakes Passport is available free while supplies last at select locations across Michigan. Distribution locations and dropoffs are still being finalized but will include:
Michigan Welcome Centers:
- Mackinaw City
- Port Huron
- Sault Ste. Marie
Glen Arbor
- Cherry Republic
- M22
Traverse City
- Backcountry North (Downtown & West)
- Bay Bread (Lake Ave.)
- Cherry Republic
- Great Lakes Children’s Museum
- M22
- Mission Point Lighthouse
- Oryana (10th St. and West)
Bringing the Great Lakes into the classroom.
Are you a teacher in a school system? The Great Lakes Passport was created as an educational resource for learners of all ages. Teachers are encouraged to request complimentary classroom copies while supplies last, at no cost. Minimum 25 required.
The Great Lakes Passport isn’t just about places to visit — it’s about understanding why these waters matter.
Inside you’ll find:
- An introduction to the Public Trust Doctrine
- Your rights along Great Lakes shorelines
- How to identify the Ordinary High Water Mark
- Great Lakes shipwrecks and lighthouses to explore
- Stories about Manoomin (wild rice) and Indigenous stewardship
- Great Lakes facts and history
- Reading recommendations and resources for learning more
Every page is designed to inspire people to get outside while gaining a deeper appreciation for the legal and ecological principles that protect the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes belong to all of us. Understanding our rights, our responsibilities, and the history behind these remarkable waters helps ensure they remain healthy, public, and protected for generations to come.
Pick up your free Great Lakes Passport, visit the places inside, and discover why protecting the Great Lakes begins with knowing them.
Thank you to our Community Partners!
Thank you to our community partners who sponsored the Great Lakes Passport!
