 |  | |
Dear Phil,
One of the exhilarating benefits of reaching out and visiting our beautiful communities is discovering endless opportunities that abound in this magical place we are fortunate enough to call home. Recently, I have had the pleasure of seeing the renovations at Third Avenue PlayWorks, where I can’t wait to take in a performance… taking a winter hike in the Ridges Sanctuary and learning about their many programs focused on preservation, education, and research… and then, just last week, I experienced the Washington Island Ferry and seeing the ice formations along the way was breathtaking! The island is so picturesque, and I look forward to seeing it again soon as the seasons change!
Door County is blessed with diversity; arts and culture, recreation of all types, environmental preservation, and the pristine nature of Door County make it vital for us to support the efforts that are intrinsic to our values and make it unique. As I continue to visit more communities, meet more people, and hear their stories which build the character of those communities, I am in awe of the personality of Door County and can’t wait to see more!!
I encourage you to reach out to me at any time to have a conversation, share your ideas, concerns, and enthusiasm! It takes all of us, working together, to make a difference!
I look forward to hearing from you,
|  | |
VIRTUAL EVENT: J-1 EMPLOYER FORUM
Tuesday, April 12th | Tentatively 8:00 -11:00 a.m.
(Request a Zoom Invite below to receive updates!)
| |
Bringing everyone together for program updates, finding solutions to challenges, and sharing best practices, has helped all of us become a prime example of how the Summer Work Travel program was intended to work. Whether you are just learning about the program, or you’re a seasoned veteran of the program, we hope you’ll join us. | |
|
Press Trip Update
We hosted our first press trip of the year Feb 17-20 and welcomed 5 travel journalists to explore and experience winter in Door County. Activities during the trip spanned from Southern Door to Sister Bay. Since our press trip program began, we’ve generated $32.9 million worth of earned media for Door County and that editorial coverage garnered more than 5 billion impressions. View all program articles via Google Drive here.
| |
Travel journalists meet Rob Hultz and the resident Golden Eagle at Open Door Bird Sanctuary during a press trip on February 18, 2022. | |
DOOR COUNTY PRESS HIGHLIGHTS | |
|
Travel journalist Brian Clark wrote about exploring Door County during the winter time in a story published on Everett Potter’s Travel Report on 1/23/2022. Read the story on EverettPotter.com.
Shondaland, Shonda Rhimes company, included Door County in an article by Nylah Burton titled “Scenic U.S. Destinations to Explore in 2022” on 2/9/22. Read the story on shondaland.com.
Travel+Leisure online included Door County in a story by travel journalist Tamara Gane on 2/24/2022 headlined “Why You Should Spend Your Next Vacation in a Small Town”. Read the story on TravelandLeisure.com.
WFRV CBS 5’s morning show Local 5 Live featured a lengthy segment on their 2/24/2022 live episode highlighting Door County’s cherry industry along with local business WisCo Coffee on Washington Island. DDC’s Jon Jarosh joined WisCo owners Miranda & Jakob Dahlke to chat on air with show hosts Lisa & Millaine. Watch the full segment on WeAreGreenBay.com.
| |
Winter Photo Shoot
A big thank you to all the businesses and individuals that helped make our winter photo & video shoot a success. We were able to capture some beautiful winter scenery, winter activities (outdoor and indoor) throughout the county February 22nd-25th.
Thank you: Scaturo’s Baking Co. & Cafe, Door County Dragonfly Bed & Breakfast, Birmingham’s, Crossroads at Big Creek, Cherry Lanes Bowling & Arcade, Peninsula State Park, Sister Golden, Fish Creek Market, Shiny Moon Cafe, Inn at Cedar Crossing, Whitefish Dunes State Park, Harbor Ridge Winery, Peninsula Pub, Ridges Sanctuary, Mike Tittel Photography, Jill Kirsten Artistry.
| |
|
TRAVEL WISCONSIN TRAIL REPORT 2022 | |
|
As spring approaches, so do the ever-changing conditions of the shoulder season. The Wisconsin Trail Report will serve as an important resource helping prepare trail users for their hiking or biking adventures. Now is the time to take action to ensure the hiking and biking trail networks in your area are included in this popular statewide report.
All trail network listings on the Wisconsin Trail Report require a dedicated volunteer reporter(s) to provide weekly condition updates throughout the season from March until early November. You can adopt your local trails and become a reporter, or you can help us to recruit reporters.
| | |
2022 Guides, Brochures & Rack Cards | |
|
2022 Destination Guides Are Available!
By now you should have received copies of the 2022 Destination Guide. If you have not received the guide, please let us or The Paper Boy know and we will get a delivery out to you.
Updated Brochures or Rack Cards?
We have started the process of building the lobby for the 2022 season. If you will have new information for us, please send us an e-mail or give us a call to let us know when to expect it.
info@doorcounty.com or 920-743-4456
| |
|
COVID-19: With high rates of vaccination and falling cases in sending countries, more than 90% of J-1 visa applications were granted for winter programming and this is only expected to improve for summer placements, like Door County. Interest is high and more students are applying for their visas earlier than in previous years to ensure placement.
UKRAINE: As many of us have made friends with Ukrainian and Russian students who have worked in Door County in past seasons, our hearts go out to those who are caught in the crosshairs of political conflict. Some of you may be concerned about how this may affect the upcoming season, so I reached out to a number of BridgeUSA Sponsors for their insight, and they assured me that due to the significant increase in visa denials the participants were experiencing pre-pandemic, Sponsors haven’t been working with Russian or Ukrainian partners for some time now, so it shouldn’t have much if any, effect on the number of students participating in exchanges this year. We are all deeply troubled by this threat to world peace and hope to see participants from these regions again soon.
Two examples of Sponsor statements: InterExchange & Spirit Cultural Exchange
| |
|
STURGEON BAY | ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
Sturgeon Bay West Side & Historic 3rd Avenue – March 12
BAILEYS HARBOR | WINTER FARM MARKET
Baileys Harbor Town Hall Auditorium - March 12
| | | |
|
The Niagara Escarpment Resource Network (NERN) is designing a mobile-friendly WI-Ledge Geotourism Rambler online map guide that will list natural and cultural sites, trails, events, and other pertinent information along the 230+ mile Niagara Escarpment corridor in Wisconsin.
In addition to public sites, NERN is incorporating sustainable businesses within the tourism sector - those who qualify will be featured on the map free of charge in 2022. If you've taken steps to make your business more sustainable through contributions to community, culture, and the environment, complete this fillable PDF to be added to NERN's program. Are you a member of Travel Green Wisconsin? Great news! You are automatically enrolled! Learn more about NERN's Geotourism program HERE.
geotourism@wiledge.org
| |
|
Write On, Door County is conducting a Community Needs assessment in the county to assess how we might be able to offer programs that help both organizations. Complete this short survey about your organization to assist in defining community needs.
Write On, Door County's mission is to inspire and engage writers and readers of all ages, at all stages. Write On, Door County does this through events and workshops at their Writing Center and within the community, through their residency program, and by offering support to their writers. Learn more about Write On, Door County HERE.
info@writeondoorcounty.org
| | | | |
