Supporting the Great Lakes Together
We're fortunate to enjoy some of the best boating waters anywhere on the Great Lakes, and we believe that comes with a responsibility to help protect and preserve our waterways.
That's why Freedom Boat Club of Michiana is proud to partner with the Alliance for the Great Lakes throughout the 2026 season. Together, we're working toward a goal of raising $7,500 to support efforts that keep the Great Lakes clean, safe, and accessible for all.
Whether you're a club member or simply someone who cares about the future of the Great Lakes, there are several ways to get involved this season:
Participate in Boat Trip Bucks (club members only)
Make a donation through GoFundMe
Great Lakes Beach Cleanup recap and photo gallery
Before exploring the ways you can get involved, learn more about the organization helping protect the waters we all enjoy.
About the Alliance for the Great Lakes
The Alliance works throughout the Great Lakes region to promote:
Healthy and sustainable Great Lakes ecosystems
Clean and dependable water resources
Public access and stewardship of our shared waterways
Community engagement and environmental education
Be part of the fundraising effort
Boat Trip Bucks: $1 per trip matching campaign
Exclusively for club members, Boat Trip Bucks is a simple way to support the Alliance for the Great Lakes throughout the boating season.
From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, members may opt into Boat Trip Bucks, our $1 per trip fundraising campaign supporting the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Participating members will contribute $1 for each reservation completed during the peak Michigan boating season, and Freedom Boat Club of Michiana will match every trip-dollar donated by members.
To participate, simply RSVP to the campaign. We will track your trips throughout the season and send a single summary invoice in September.
To kick off the initiative, Freedom Boat Club of Michiana is making an initial $1,000 donation to the Alliance. Members will also be able to follow our progress toward our fundraising goal throughout the season.
Help us reach our $7,500 goal
Boat Trip Bucks isn't the only way to support this effort. Club members who would like to contribute beyond their per-trip pledge, along with anyone who wants to support the Alliance for the Great Lakes, can donate through our GoFundMe campaign.
Every donation helps us move closer to our goal of raising $7,500 during the 2026 season while supporting the Alliance's work to protect the Great Lakes.
Keeping Our Beaches Clean
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our June 24 beach cleanup at Jean Klock Park. More than 30 club members and community volunteers came together to remove 76.2 pounds of litter from the beach and surrounding shoreline. Their efforts helped protect one of Southwest Michigan's most popular beaches and keep debris out of Lake Michigan.
Take a look at a few highlights from the cleanup below.
