Want to spend time this summer living in a Michigan lighthouse and volunteering? Here's your chance.
Lakeshore Keepers, an association that operates five lights along Lake Michigan, is seeking volunteer keepers for 2027. The lighthouses are: Manistee North Pierhead Light, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light, Little Sable Point Lighthouse and White River Light Station.
Lighthouse resident keepers will serve a minimum of one week at a time at one of the lights, and receive on-site housing in exchange for their services.
Anyone 18 and older is welcome to volunteer, and no special background or expertise is neessary.
"You don’t need to be a history buff or know every detail about our lighthouses. We’ll teach you what you need to know and even provide a handy tip sheet. What matters most is your enthusiasm and willingness to provide an exceptional customer experience to our visitors from around the world," Lakeshore Keepers said on its website.
Keepers will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including welcoming guests, providing historical information, selling tickets and gift shop merchandise, performing cleaning and more.
The schedule for each lighthouse is below.
Manistee North Pierhead Light
2027 Tour Dates
- May 11-16 (Readiness Crew)
- May 20 – May 24 Summer Season (Thursday- Monday)
- May 24- 31 – Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 31 – June 7 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 7-14 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 14-21 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 21-28 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 28 – July 5 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 5-12 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 12-19 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 19-26 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 26 – Aug 2 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 2-9 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 9-16 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 16-23 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 23-30 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 30 – Sept 6 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 6-13 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 13-20 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 22-27 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Sept 27 – Oct 2 (Closing Crew)
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
- April 20-25 (Readiness Crew)
- May 3-10 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 10-17 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 17-24 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 24-31 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 31 – June 7 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 7-14 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 14-21 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 21-28 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 28 – July 5 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 5-12 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 12-19 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 19-26 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 26 – Aug 2 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 2-9 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 9-16 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 16-23 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 23-30 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 30 – Sept 6 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 6-13 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 13-20 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 22-27 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Sept 29 – Oct 4 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 6-11 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 13-18 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 20-25 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 25-29 (Closing Crew)
Ludington North Breakwater Light
- May 4-9 (Readiness Crew)
- May 17-24 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 24-31 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 31 – June 7 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 7-14 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 14-21 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 21-28 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 28 – July 5 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 5-12 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 12-19 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 19-26 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 26 – Aug 2 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 2-9 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 9-16 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 16-23 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 23-30 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 30 – Sept 6 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 6-13 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 13-20 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 22-27 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Sept 27 – Oct 2 (Closing Crew)
Little Sable Point Lighthouse
- April 26-30 (Readiness Crew)
- May 10-17 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 17-24 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 24-31 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 31 – June 7 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 7-14 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 14-21 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 21-28 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 28 – July 5 Summer Season (Monday- Monday)
- July 5-12 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 12-19 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 19-26 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 26 – Aug 2 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 2-9 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 9-16 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 16-23 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 23-30 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 30 – Sept 6 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 6-13 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 13-20 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 22-27 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Sept 29 – Oct 4 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 6-11 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 13-18 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 18-22 (Closing Crew)
White River Light Station
- May 4-9 (Readiness Crew)
- May 13-17 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 17-24 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 24-31 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- May 31 – June 7 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 7-14 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 14-21 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 21-28 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- June 28 – July 5 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 5-12 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 12-19 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 19-26 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- July 26 – Aug 2 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 2-9 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 9-16 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 16-23 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 23-30 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Aug 30 – Sept 6 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 6-13 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 13-20 Summer Season (Monday-Monday)
- Sept 22-27 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Sept 29 – Oct 4 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 6-11 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 13-18 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 20-25 Fall Season (Thursday-Monday)
- Oct 25-29 (Closing Crew)
You can learn more about volunteering and apply on the Lighthouse Keepers website.
