Nord Coast Guard

As as shout out to the Coast Guard members who brave wind and waves keeping the Great Lakes safe, we created the "Nord Coast Guard." This hand-picked team of awesome Northerners are doing amazing work to promote, protect, and restore the Great Lakes.  Nord Coast Guard members participate in our annual Great Lakes service day.  This year's inaugural event will be at Park Point Beach.  Starting at the Minnesota Point Lighthouse, we will trek five miles back to the Duluth Lift Bridge scouring the beach for garbage.  Stay tuned to the Nord Coast Journal for a recap.
 
The 2023 Nord Coast Guard Members include:

    Hans Isaacson

    Hans calls Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula home. Living in such a remote location, the outdoors have played an integral role of his life. He is constantly exploring Lake Superior's shoreline and nearby forests.

    Hans spent many years living far from the slow moving way of life of his home region. He lived in multiple states but returned to the Keweenaw Peninsula in 2013 and put down some stakes.

    Hans spends most of his time taking photographs of the natural beauty that is the Keweenaw. One of his favorite Nord Coast locations is Hunters Point, out near Copper Harbor, Michigan.

    More About Hans and His Top Picks

    Taylor Dustin

    Taylor is a born and raised Michigander who loves anything and everything outdoors. She grew up along the coast of Lake Michigan and spent many days at the beach. If there’s one thing she loves, it’s being in the water. Growing up, her family went camping every summer which sparked her love of the great outdoors and making the most out of the little things in life. 

    In college, Taylor started to explore Michigan more and realized there’s so much to see in the state. In 2020-2021 she started The Wandering Michigander pages on social media to show people how much their backyard has to offer and to inspire people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. 

    Taylor loves to travel all around the world, but the Midwest will always hold a special place in her heart and feel like home. Her favorite Nord Coast location is Black Rocks in Marquette, Michigan. 

    More about Taylor and Her Top Picks

    Ashley Merkel

    Ashley was born and raised in Wisconsin. Originally from the Northwoods area, she has been making her way south ever since - first in Green Bay and now to Milwaukee, where she has lived close to Lake Michigan for the past 9 years.

    She grew up camping, hiking, and travelling around the upper midwest and her passion for spending time in the woods and near the lakes has only grown stronger. Because of her connection with and love for nature, she created a blog to inspire others to pursue outdoorsy travel and is working on creating a women's hiking group in the Milwaukee area.

    Outside of her numerous hobbies, she's a medical speech-language pathologist. Ashley's favorite Nord Coast Location: Presque Isle Park, Marquette, MI. 

    More About Ashely and Her Top Picks

    Nole Stay

    Growing up in Rural Minnesota cultivated Nole's affection for unpopulated natural surroundings. After spending years traveling coast to coast for work, Nole realized there truly is no place like home. He set forth on a career as a Lineman in Northeast Minnesota where he serves the small communities like the one that raised him.

    When not at work, you will most likely find Nole judging the quality of coffee at a local hockey rink, wandering rocky ledges of Lake Superior with a camera in hand, or tending to the ever evolving responsibilities of being a husband and father.

    Nole's favorite Nord Coast location: Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay, MN.

    More About Nole and His Top Picks

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