Bill’s Happy Place: A Volunteer Story from Sleeping Bear Dunes
Written by Madison Partak
For Bill Faler, Sleeping Bear Dunes has always felt like home. His family has been coming to the area for generations—his grandparents bought a cottage on Little Platte Lake, and now Bill and his siblings spend their summers there with families of their own.
“The best memories of my life were all made here,” Bill shares. “I grew up outside Chicago, and as a kid, we would spend our summers here after baseball was done. My family was here, and at the end of the day, those family memories are as good as they get.”
Now retired, Bill and his wife spend about five months a year in northern Michigan. “It’s my happy place,” he says. “The park brings out like-minded people who like the outdoors. We hike four or five times a week and also enjoy the lakes and the bike trails. The location is phenomenal.”
Bill's connection to the park runs deep. He and his wife even got married here. “If I lived near Yellowstone or the Rockies, I’d still come back here. The memories of my life are all here. I prefer summer in the park, but I do love coming up here in the winter to go cross-country skiing and ice fishing. The fall season is spectacular with the vibrant colors on the trees, warm days and cool nights as well.”
When it came time to think about volunteering, it felt like a natural next step for Bill. “The park has given me so much over the years. I figured it was time to give back,” he says. Bill signed up to adopt-a-trail and adopt-a-beach, heading out each week to walk, tidy up, and chat with visitors.
“You put on that orange vest, and people just come up to talk. They want to share their stories or ask questions about where to go. I like talking with people, so it’s fun. And the kids, especially—they light up when they talk about the park.”
One of Bill’s favorite spots is the Otter Creek Loop or anywhere with a good view of the lake. “I’m a simple guy,” he laughs. “Watching kids chase frogs or seeing others kayaking and hiking in that area brings me joy.”
He’s also noticed how the park has grown over the years. “They’ve done a great job keeping it clean and accessible. The trails are better marked, the trailheads are improved, and accessibility has expanded. The amenities of the park have gotten better, but the trees have stayed the same over the years.”
For Bill, volunteering isn’t about making a big statement. It’s just about doing his part. “If you care about the park, you have to do your part to give back. I like to tell people - be good to the park and the park will be good to you! The people who help run the program made it really simple to get involved. They embraced me and were great about sharing new facts about the park and the trails that we had been hiking for years.”
Asked how he’d describe Sleeping Bear Dunes to someone who’s never been, Bill thinks for a second. “It’s nirvana,” he says. “We create memories every time we are here. I’m thrilled both my kids love it up here too and I’m confident they will be the fourth generation who maintain ties to the area.”