Great Lakes Dunes stamp pane. Dr. Dennis Yockers, NPS photo.

ELFO biologists with stamp pane. Dr. Dennis Yockers, NPS photo.

ELFO's Jack Dingledine discusses piping plover biology and migration with students. Dr. Dennis Yockers, NPS photo.

ELFO's Barbara Hosler assists students with piping plover mobiles. Dr. Dennis Yockers, NPS photo.

Student cutting out piping plover mobile. FWS photo.

Students happily showing off their piping plover mobiles. USFWS photo.

Jack Dingledine, Barbara Hosler, Tameka Dandridge, and student volunteer Josh Booker from the East Lansing Field Office represented the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the U.S. Postal Service First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony, celebrating the “Great Lakes Dunes” stamp pane.  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is the backdrop for the stamp pane, hosted the event.  October is Stamp Collecting Month, and the USPS reaches out to schools and communities to encourage young people to learn more about this country through stamp collecting.

Approximately 500 people attended the event, including 250 elementary school students and teachers, along with stamp collectors, representatives from state and federal agencies, and dignitaries from the USPS, National Park Service, and U.S. Coast Guard.  The ceremony opened with an introduction from the USPS Manager of Stamp Services and the presentation of colors performed by the U.S. Coast Guard, followed by the National Anthem.  The official stamp dedication, remarks by the Superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and recognition of honored guests closed the ceremony.

After the ceremony, students visited educational activity tents where state, federal, and private conservation agencies and organizations provided a short presentation and an activity focusing on the particular stamp assigned to each agency.  Using the Great Lakes piping plover in flight stamp, the ELFO biologists talked about piping plover biology and migration and guided the students through construction of a paper plover in flight.  Despite the chilly wet weather, the children enjoyed themselves while learning about the Great Lakes dunes ecosystem.  At the end of the afternoon, the rain stopped, the sun returned, and the children climbed the dunes.  It was a great day.