The Department of Natural Resources announced that two programs celebrating the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Michigan will be presented at two state parks this summer.

The first program is at North Higgins Lake State Park on Saturday, July 26, beginning at 7 p.m. Historian and entertainer Bill Jamerson will present "Songs of the CCC" at the Civilian Conservation Corp Museum located on North Higgins Lake Drive. The museum is ADA-accessible and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call Rob Burg at 989-348-2537 for more information about this program or the museum.

The second program will be at Young State Park in Boyne City on Saturday, Sept. 13, beginning at 11 a.m. The staff at Young will be hosting CCC members and their families, as well as the general public, for a picnic and the unveiling of a new interpretive panel depicting the CCC program. The panel will be placed in front of the log building at the beach. This log building was constructed by the CCC boys of Camp Wolverine and completed in 1936.

The Young State Park staff is looking for Michigan CCC members and any information about Camp Wolverine or the CCC program in general. Any CCC members or family members available and interested in attending this event are asked to please contact Sue Rose at Young State Park at 231-582-7523.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the creation of the CCC. The CCC was created by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, originally known as the Emergency Conservation Work Program, to provide employment and training for young men during the Great Depression. Many Michigan state parks were originally developed by the CCC.

During its existence from 1933 to 1942, the CCC employed three million men, over 100,000 in Michigan alone. Forty-two camps were set up in Michigan. More than 504 bridges were built, 221 buildings erected, 5,500 miles of road constructed, 1,481 acres of public campgrounds developed and 484 million trees planted.

Young State Park is located at 02280 Boyne City Rd. near Boyne City. For more information on this event or the park, please call 231-582-7523. Reservations for camping at Michigan state parks and harbors may be made by calling 800-44-PARKS (447-2757) or online at http://www.midnrreservations.com/.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance. Cost is $24 for resident annual and $6 for resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8.