Copper Shores Podcast

Big things are happening on the Swedetown Trails!  This episode's guest is Dean Woodbeck, board member of the Swedetown Trails Club, the nonprofit behind the beloved Swedetown Trails in Calumet.

This week marks a huge milestone for the trail system: the Swedetown Trails Club just launched its crowdfunding campaign, and the community is already showing up in a big way — over $26,000 raised in the first days alone!

Here's the best part: if the campaign hits $50,000, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will match it dollar-for-dollar with an additional $50,000. That's a shot at $100,000 in total support to help bring this project to life.

Want to be part of it? Every donation counts and gets our community closer to that match.
Donate now: patronicity.com/chalet Full campaign details are at the same link above.
This is a defining moment for the Swedetown Trails — help push it over the finish line!

The Copper Shores Podcast is back with a preview of 2025 GivingTuesday! In this podcast host Michael H. Babcock introduces the 60 causes the community can choose to support, interviews two of the new nonprofits and dives into GivingTuesday Live.

The first guest is Jason Mack from the Superior Fab Lab. Mack talks about how much the Superior Fab Lab has grown over the years, and how they have big plans to move into a new space - Quincy Garage. This space is in the Hancock Community Hub, and funding from this year's GivingTuesday will help the nonprofit finish the project. Mack also talked about the community of makers that call the Copper Country home. Superior Fab Lab gives them a place to regularly gather and talk about their mutual interests. Learn more about Superior Fab Lab at superiorfablab.com. 

The second guest for this episode is Jonathon Nagel from Copper Country Recycling Initiative. Nagel talked about how this group has been around for many years educating the community, advocating for efforts to not just recycle but create a more circular society where things aren't so quickly thrown away. The group has helped bring recycling to the forefront of our community, and they have big plans for continuing that effort in our community. 

The community is invited to join these nonprofits and many more on Tuesday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Copper Country Mall for the third annual GivingTuesday Live event. This event allows the community to meet nonprofit leaders, learn about opportunities to get involved, enter great raffle prizes and make donations in person.

Donations are being accepted now for the 60 causes taking part in GivingTuesday this year.

How to make a donation

1. Online: Donations can be made online at coppershores.org/givingtuesday.
2. In-person: Donations can be dropped off at Copper Shores Mission Support (400 Quincy Street, 5th Floor, Hancock), Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
3. Mail: Donations can be mailed to Copper Shores Mission Support (400 Quincy Street, 5th Floor, Hancock).

Learn more about GiveCopperCountry by visiting the GivingTuesday page on our website. 

Amanda Andress, Farm-to-School Coordinator and English Teacher at Adams Township Schools join the Copper Shores Podcast to talk about the district’s upcoming Harvest Feast on Saturday, October 4, 2025, all of the hard work that students have put in, and the school garden project that started it all.

In 2024, Adams Township Schools joined Copper Shores’ Farm-to-School Pilot Program to further explore the barriers that stop local foods from entering local school cafeterias. Students of all ages had a hand in making the school garden, from creating and cutting garden bed planks, to harvesting produce. To celebrate their hard work and diligence, Adams Township Schools invites community members to join them for their Harvest Feast on October 4, 2025.

Working closely with local farmers and producers, the Harvest Feast promises a hearty, delicious and fresh turkey dinner, all for free. Guests will be treated to homemade dessert, prepared by students in Jeffer’s culinary class, and have the opportunity to press their own fresh apple cider to take home.

Turkey dinners are served at 4 and 6 p.m. Sign up for a time slot by visiting the Harvest Feast Google Form or by contacting Amanda Andress at [email protected].

Celebrity guest Patricia Summersett, best known for voicing Zelda in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” joins us on the latest podcast for a dive into Geek U.P. lore and legends.

Summersett tells us how she grew Geek U.P. from the ground up alongside Shanna Porteen, owner of Black Ice Comics in Houghton. This mini-con charity event mirrors larger conventions across the county, while keeping it focussed on the community they know and love.

Joining Summersett at Geek U.P. for an autograph session and Q&A panel are fellow actors and voice actors Veronica Taylor, original voice of Ash Ketchum in the "Pokemon" franchise, and Roger Craig Smith, voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in video games and Disney’s “Wreck-It-Ralph.” Folks can check out the silent auction, including goodies from Summersett’s geeky celebrity friends, visit art vendors, enter the cosplay competition, view game demos and more.
This year, all proceeds from the event go to benefit our Meals on Wheels program. As a L’Anse native, Summersett holds deep ties to the Copper Country, and it was important to her and Porteen that they give back to the community each year with this event. You can purchase tickets for Geek U.P. by going online to geekup906.com or upon entry. Get ready to nerd out and geek up, this Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 12 to 7 p.m. at Michigan Tech’s Memorial Union Building.

Please be aware that this episode includes topics that some listeners may find distressing, including mental health, suicide, suicidal ideation, depression and loss of life.

Callisto Cortez, Youth Development Specialist at Copper Shores Outreach & Education and Andy Kalcich, Mental Health Professional and School Social Worker at Copper Country Intermediate School District get together on the latest episode of the Copper Shores Podcast to discuss the upcoming Suicide Prevention Walk on Saturday, September 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park in Houghton.

Kalcich breaks down the challenges faced by folks looking for support in the area, including the added stigma that many men face when seeking help. Cortez talks about the importance of community and the impact that a sense of connection can have on mental health. They are eager to help fellow community members learn more about suicide and suicide prevention, and connect with local resources.

Learn more about the ninth annual Suicide prevention Walk at coppershores.org/walk.

Thank you to the many businesses and community organizations sponsoring this year’s walk, including Aspirus, Copper Country Mental Health, Huntington Bank, Northwoods Sporting Goods and Walmart.

There is a record number of new partners participating in #GiveCopperCountry, and Copper Shores Community Health Foundation is excited to help introduce them to everyone. With GivingTuesday donations opening on November 12, 2024, these new partners are eager to get their messages out and bring in donations. 

In this episode, listeners are introduced to Oak House, Calumet Art Center, From the Ground Farmers Market Collective, Keweenaw Search & Rescue, Ontonagon Amateur Hockey Association and BHK Child Development. The partners talk about their mission and why donors should give to them this GivingTuesday. 

Make sure to come back next week to meet the rest of the new partners. Learn more about GivingTuesday at coppershores.org/givingtuesday.

There is a record number of new partners participating in #GiveCopperCountry, and Copper Shores Community Health Foundation is excited to help introduce them to everyone. With GivingTuesday donations opening on November 12, 2024, these new partners are eager to get their messages out and bring in donations. 

In this episode, listeners are introduced to Let’s Eat Community Meals / Let’s Rebuild, Right Start UP, Elaine Bacon Literacy Program, Copper Country Snowsports Club, Third Coast Diving & Adaptive Recreation and Main Street Calumet. The partners talk about their mission and why donors should give to them this GivingTuesday. 

Make sure to come back next week to meet the rest of the new partners. Learn more about GivingTuesday at coppershores.org/givingtuesday.

The latest episode of the Copper Shores Podcast is all about the new Farm to School program, and includes special guests Karyn Juntunen and Meghan Jaszczak!

For over a decade, there has been a growing interest in Farm to School initiatives in the Copper Country. However, implementing these programs has presented numerous challenges. Now, with the support of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Copper Shores is stepping up to match funding and ensure the long-term success of Farm to School programming in the region.

The pilot program will focus on three local schools: Houghton Elementary School, E.B. Holman Elementary School, and South Range Elementary School. Karyn Juntunen, a retired educator and dedicated farm-to-school coordinator, will lead the effort. She will work closely with teachers to foster enthusiasm and create a seamless integration of the Farm to School curriculum into everyday lessons.

Juntunen’s role extends beyond just curriculum development; she will engage directly with students, teaching them about various foods, how to grow them and how to prepare them. This hands-on approach aims to instill a deeper understanding of where food comes from. Through this initiative, local school champions are fostering healthier eating habits among students while strengthening their connection to local agriculture, setting the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of food.

Listen to more from Copper Shores wherever you find your podcasts. Learn more about the Farm to School Pilot Program at coppershores.org/farm-to-school.

Copper Shores is shining a spotlight on a vital community event that’s close to the hearts of many: the 8th Annual Suicide Prevention Walk. This walk stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity, reflecting the collective commitment to addressing mental health challenges and supporting one another. This year’s event is on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park in Houghton. 

Callisto Cortez, Youth Development Specialist at Copper Shores Outreach & Education brings a wealth of experience in youth engagement and mental health awareness. Her insights will shed light on the positive changes this event brings to our community and the ways it empowers youth to face mental health challenges with strength and support. 

Taryn Mason, Copper Country Mental Health Institute Director discusses the significance of the walk, the ongoing efforts to support mental wellness, and how everyone can get involved, while bringing extensive expertise in mental health services and community outreach to the conversation. Her discussion will encompass the walk’s broader impact, including how it serves as a powerful platform for raising awareness, promoting available mental health resources, and honoring those we have lost to suicide.

Cortez and Mason speak on the positive effects of the event on the community, including how it brings people together and creates a supportive environment for those affected by mental health challenges. Attendees can learn about the resources available through Copper Shores Outreach & Education, Copper Country Mental Health and several other community partners, and how to access support if they or someone they know is struggling.

Join Copper Shores and the Houghton Keweenaw Suicide Prevention Coalition for the eighth annual Suicide Prevention Walk on September 14, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park, in Houghton. Discover the mission behind the Suicide Prevention Walk and how it aims to raise awareness, promote mental health resources, and remember those we have lost.

Every step taken together at this walk is not just a step forward for awareness, but a powerful stride toward greater empathy and connection. For more information about the Suicide Prevention Walk and to get involved, visit coppershores.org/walk.

In the latest episode of the Copper Shores Podcast, listen in as Danielle Thoune, a recent graduate of Getting Ahead, a Bridges Out of Poverty class, tells her life story and how she found herself face-to-face with the realities of poverty. 

As a child, Thoune grew up in a classic nuclear family, financially comfortable but not wealthy. Despite seemingly cushy beginnings, it wouldn’t last. As Thoune was getting ready to graduate high school, her parents got a divorce, sending her sense of stability into a tailspin.

After high school Thoune attended nursing school, eventually  landing a comfortable job at a long-term care facility. She was married with a couple stepchildren, and she was well into the third trimester of pregnancy. Everything seemed perfect. Then, with a new baby only weeks away, her life was uprooted once again, getting out of a bad marriage and welcoming her child into the world alone. 

She moved to the Copper Country to be closer to her mom. Thoune secured housing for her and her newborn just weeks before the onset of pandemic lockdowns.

Though Thoune continued to work as a nurse, child care costs continued to be a financial burden. When the expenses became too much, Thoune took a job teaching so she could be free to care for her child after school. Though teaching was a pay cut from nursing, she ultimately had to because it would save the expenses of child care.

Then she found Copper Shores Bridges. 

Thoune  joined the third cohort of Getting Ahead, a class that teaches people to be more stable and achieve their personal life goals. Though she originally thought the class wasn’t for her – laughter, learning, and community kept her coming back.

“I think asking for help is the biggest first step,” said Thoune. 

Each week as Getting Ahead gathered, Thoune saw that her situation wasn’t so different from those around her. Community members came in each week, bringing with them resources and programming to help others. 

“We all had different needs,” said Thoune. “For me, one of my biggest needs was financial security and understanding what is out there.”

With found family, self empowerment and raw determination backing her, Thoune purchased a home in April of 2024. She celebrated the feat with her classmates and during their graduation ceremony in May.

She was the one they all looked to to give a speech. The same speech that this podcast begins with.

Listen to more Copper Shores podcasts at coppershores.org/podcast and learn more about our Bridges program, including how you can sign up to be part of it or how you can help make it happen at coppershores.org/bridges.

Special thanks to Danielle Thoune for sharing her story with us.