Kickstart the Summer with “For the Heartlands” Fundraiser Dinner and Concert on June 5, 2026
Support the Launch of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest
The Keweenaw Heartlands Community Advisory Committee and Keweenaw Community Foundation are partnering to host “For the Heartlands,” a fundraiser dinner and concert on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Hidden Pines Barn in Calumet.
The event supports the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund, held by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, to establish the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest. The fund covers costs related to the early governance and management of this future publicly owned, locally governed forest—one of the first of its kind in Michigan.
Since late 2022, the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Advisory Committee has worked to advance the project in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The committee has spent over 1,900 volunteer hours working to ensure sustained public access to the roughly 20,000 acres in Keweenaw County that make up the Heartlands.
“We joined the advisory committee because of our club’s mission to support outdoor recreation in the Keweenaw. One of our main trails is on the Heartlands property. For us, it’s about continued access to off-road trails, hunting, fishing, camping—and everything else we love about living in this area.”
With more than $324,000 already secured, this event celebrates the final phase of fundraising needed to reach the campaign target of $600,000. Achieving this goal will enable early planning and start-up of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest once a local, publicly elected Authority Board is established.
Tickets Available Now
Event tickets are available now and expected to sell fast! Tickets are $125 each and include a sit-down dinner, one drink token (cash bar also available), and live music from The Go Rounds. The event will also feature a silent auction showcasing uniquely “Keweenaw” experiences. More than just a night out, this event offers attendees a chance to connect with others involved in this project to learn more about what’s ahead for this community forest.
A photo of the “For the Heartlands” event poster.
Purchase your tickets online: http://bit.ly/4heartlands-tickets
Become a Sponsor
Community members and local businesses are also invited to support the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund through sponsorships that advance the campaign’s fundraising goal.
Learn more about how you can sponsor: http://bit.ly/4heartlands-sponsor.
“As I raise a family in the Keweenaw, it’s very important to me that my children grow up in a place where they’re free to explore the wilderness,” said Ethan Deshetsky, of Hidden Pines Barn in Calumet and a Community Forest Hero sponsor for the event. “I support the Keweenaw Heartlands Project efforts to keep wild places open for future generations.”
For more information about the Keweenaw Heartlands Project, visit the Keweenaw Heartlands Project page.
