Boasting more than 140 miles of shoreline at the eastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Drummond Island is considered a hidden gem destination among kayakers. In fact, by some estimations, the Drummond Island Archipelago of 56 islands in the U.S. and Canada is one of the best spots to kayak in the country.

Drummond Island will now become even more welcoming to kayakers as a $41,500 coastal management grant has been awarded to construct four kayak-accessible remote campsites, three on the island and one on nearby Mare Island. As part of the agreement, the community is required to match grant money, raising $41,500 on its own for a combined project total of $82,000. The grant is from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The campsites, to be stationed on elevated, 16-foot by 40-foot wooden platforms accessible by water, will be spacious enough to set up tents. They will be strategically located at popular destination points, and will include posts to help kayakers disembark.

Camping permits for the sites, which will have a capacity of four people, will be provided free by the DNR and the Drummond Island Tourism Association. Drummond Island Township intends to sign a 20-year renewable lease with the DNR to acquire exclusive ownership of the property.

The project was pioneered by Drummond Island resident Jim Kelly .

“This will give people a place to go and makes the whole [kayaking] system a lot better,” he said. “It says to the world of kayakers we're serious about them.”

To apply for the grant, Mr. Kelly paired with Scott Danforth, the pastor at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church, who had prior grant writing experience at a nonprofit organization in southern Michigan. The two are now in the process of applying for two additional grants to fund the project, which, according to Mr. Kelly, is expected to come to fruition by May 2011. Construction will begin as soon as funding is secured.

The impetus for adding the campsites, Mr. Danforth explained, is to provide a haven for tourists who enjoy remote settings.

“In a larger sense, it's to help people have the best experience they can up here, to find the kinds of destinations they like,” he said. “They'll be able to experience the pristine beauty of the island without any noise.”

The campsites are for “a whole spectrum of people,” he explained, including hunters, bird watchers, and outdoor enthusiasts at large.

“I think we'll see hunters using [the docks] as remote sites, paddlers using them from the water's edge, and ATV riders using them as camping sites,” he said.

In the past, Drummond Island's economy relied primarily on fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling, which have all seen less demand in recent years. That's why Mr. Kelly, who is involved in multiple marketing campaigns for the Drummond Island Tourism Association, is placing the emphasis on kayaking and off-road trails in the future.

“Those are the two horses that will pull the carriage, kayaking and trails,” he said.

The island has six kayaking areas and trails, most notably the Drummond Island Heritage Water Trail, which winds around and between 53 islands, bays, and coves and is outlined on the Drummond Island Tourism Association's Web site. A significant part, roughly 68%, of the island's land is publicly owned. A detailed map of Drummond Island, including its kayaking trails, may be viewed at www.drummondislandchamber. com.