Lighthouse Keeper Program
The 2005 Lighthouse Keepers Program involved 13 keepers
in residence three days and two nights during weekends of July. Based in
the success the 2005 Keepers Program, DRLPS expanded the program to mid
June until mid August and in 2006 hosted 37 keepers. Click on DRL Keeper
Digest to read what the first volunteer lighthouse keepers at DeTour Reef
Light had to say about their experience. The Society experience with these
keepers exceeded our hopes. We had dedicated hard working lighthouse lovers
who did everything we asked and more. They made tour visitors feel welcome
and comfortable on the light. They scampered up and down the tower steps
and the 20 foot vertical access ladders and they took lots of photographs
and saw lots of freighters. And they certainly made new friends.
The program is designed to provide free time away from lighthouse work and
tour duties and we want to assure that this continues in the 2007 program.
Again we are planning tours on only one day of each keeper weekend. This
will provide more time for more free time for the keepers.
Keepers will reside at the lighthouse for a few days (Friday through late
Sunday), perform cleaning and light maintenance tasks, greet visitors and
assist with tours of the lighthouse, keep a log and prepare their own meals.
Keepers must be in good physical condition, capable of making multiple trips
up and down the vertical 20-foot pier ladders and to the top of the lighthouse.
The DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society’s Keeper’s Program
is a wonderful, unique opportunity to experience life as a lighthouse keeper
on a 1931 offshore historic lighthouse, enjoy the magnificent views of beautiful
scenery and freighters coming to and from Lake Huron at the mouth of the
St. Mary’s River, and to contribute to preservation of one of Michigan’s
magnificent maritime monuments.
There is a fee for the program (see Keeper Application) and Keepers will
be responsible for their own linens and food. The lighthouse includes a
small kitchen, which has refrigeration, stove and microwave, and a full
bath. Orientation and training prior to start of the keeper duties is required.
The keeper application and handbook can be downloaded from the above links.
If you don't have Acrobat reader (required to download the application)
you can obtain it free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
.
Further information about the keeper program can be found by clicking on the DRL Keeper Program Information link on this page. For more information, please email keepers@drlps.com or call 906-493-6609.
