Cabin Living Stage

Our Seminar Stage features great presentations on food, design, cottage succession planning, landscaping, gardening and everything cabin & lakefront!

Big Wave Dave

Big Wave Dave Downs from New Haven, Michigan builds castles, sandcastles that is.  A skill that he perfected on the beaches of South Padre Island, Texas under the tutelage of two well-known Master Sand Sculptors Amazin’  Walter and Sandy Feet Wierenga.  In fact, in 2000, Big Wave Dave with Sandy’s dad, Don Wierenga won the Sand Castle Days Texas State Championship on South Padre Island Texas.  

For the past nine years, Big Wave Dave and his step-daughter, Sara Sunshine has built on most of the beaches in Michigan.  Sara has been building half her young life and Big Wave Dave will admit, she has become a better carver that he.  They have built sandcastles each year at the Great Lakes Kite Festival in Grant Haven to benefit the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan and they also made an appearance on Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. They have built on beaches in Canada as well, 2007 at Port Colborne and last year at Cobourg Third Annual Sand Castle Festival.  Each year they also teach hundreds of children and adults how to build sand castles.

For more information, or to book Dave for your event, visit www.bigwavesanta.com

Sand Sculpting Lessons

Come join the fun, and learn the secrets of sand! Professional sand sculptor Big Wave Dave, will teach how to make towers, doors, windows, and stairs.

Click Here for a full schedule of events!

Kids! Storm the Castle!

What's the best thing about building a sand castle? DESTROYING IT!!  On Sunday at 3pm, once the castle has been completed, kids get to stomp it to the ground!

Mad Dog & Merrill

Those who've experienced Mad Dog & Merrill's wacky blend of barbecuing, satire and wittiness know it's never the same show twice.  Since 1983, these grilling gurus have enthusiastically delivered delicious recipes for a variety of food - all keeping with their motto - "If you can cook it, you can grill it!"

Mad Dog & Merrill have brought their comedy cooking performance to shows around the nation and boast several cookbooks and videos including The Grilling Buddies Cookbook, Grillology 101 and Festever Grilling.  Come see this dynamic duo's mesmerizing performances as they awaken your tastebuds through the magic of grilling!

Grilling at the Cabin

Mad Dog & Merrill show you how to create quick, simple and fun meals for the cabin, all on the grill!

Click Here for a full schedule of events!

Whisper in the Woods Photography Classes

Learn from professional photographer Kimberli Bindschatel on how to get the most out of your digital camera.

Sign up for any one class, or get all four for only $99!
Registration includes a take-home package worth over $50! Click on any of the links below to register.

Digital Boot Camp

Do you want to learn more about your digital SLR camera and take your photography to the next level? This crash course in the basic technical skills of photography is fast-paced and offers a wealth of information taught by Kimberli Bindschatel, professional photographer. Learn the essential relationship between shutter speed, f-stop (aperture), and ISO and discover how to use histograms to ensure proper exposures. The seminar includes a demo of Photoshop where you’ll learn how to prepare images for printing or the web and learn about file size, cropping and color adjustments. If you’d like, bring your camera and manual.

Space is limited! Click here to sign up now!
Registration fee for this class is $45.

Photo Design - Composition

How do you create a photograph? First learn the guidelines for good composition, how to recognize them and then incorporate them into your own work. Well-composed pictures often take careful planning and sometimes patience. We’ll explore how to walk on the art side of photography.

Space is limited! Click here to sign up now!
Registration fee for this class is $25.

Top Ten Tips from a Professional Photographer

Want to learn some of the tricks of the trade? In this seminar you’ll learn some simple techniques from a pro with years of experience. You’ll get ten new tips that will greatly improve the quality of your photography.

Space is limited! Click here to sign up now!
Registration fee for this class is $25.

Photography - Beyond the Basics

Know your camera well? What’s next? In this seminar, we’ll explore new horizons of photography. Natural lighting, focusing techniques, portrait and wildlife tips, and much more!

Space is limited! Click here to sign up now!
Registration fee for this class is $25.

BJ Westfahl

Keeping the Family in the Family Cabin

The cabin is something that is passed from generation to generation, but it's not often that simple.  Learn what you can do now to make the transition a smooth one!

Click Here for a full schedule of events!

Jodi Klatt, Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company

Design is in the Details - Gain Design Inspiration for Your Lake Home or Cabin

Patrick Goggins, Lake Specialist - UW-Extension Lakes

Shoreline Restoration for the Cabin Owner

Being a Good Lakeshore Steward for Wildlife and Water Quality

Tim Cross, Pro Woodcare

Log Home Care, Maintenance and Restoration

Lynn Timmer - Michigan Rain Barrels

Lynn Timmer, President and Owner of Michigan Rain Barrels, graduated from Michigan State University with her degree in horticulture. She has since been working in landscaping for 17 years and owned her own business for 12 years. While working on a design for a rain garden she was having trouble locating a wood rain barrel. During researching and talking with others Lynn found that she was not the only one having a hard time finding wood rain barrels. She then made a decision that resulted in the formation of Michigan Rain Barrels LLC. Lynn has always worked to have her landscape designs that fit with nature and creating a natural look. Rain Barrels help preserve the environment and are very natural. Her goal is to fill the demand for wood rain barrels and to use a natural resource wisely.

Low Maintenance Cottage Gardens

Learn how to create beautiful gardens that take little attention and upkeep, so you can maximize your relaxation time at the lake!

Click Here for a full schedule of events!

Green Practices for Lakefront Landscapes

Learn the latest landscaping techniqes using native plants and environmentally safe chemicals, important in maintaining your Lakefront Landscape.

Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens and More...

Using Rain Barrels is a great way to conserve water.  Learn how to integrate a Rain Barrel into your garden!