Photo by Todd & Brad Reed Photography
Each year during the transition from winter to spring, area residents and businesses take pledges and try to raise as much money as possible for the Ludington Lake Jump. In return, that person must run into the icy waters of Lake Michigan at Stearns Park Beach on Lake Jump Day. Many local businesses also help out with hot drinks and food at the event.
Over $60,000 in proceeds from the 2023 event went to the Youth Advisory Council of the Community Foundation for Mason County. The group is made up of teens attending school in Mason County and “engages young people in solving real problems affecting their communities and peers.” They serve as a local panel of experts on issues affecting Mason County youth and give recommendations to the Community Foundation board on grants to be awarded from the fund each year.
The 2024 beneficiary is the Friends of Ludington Police K9 Unit which serves to promote and support programs, services, and community outreach endorsed by the City and Police Department.
2021 marked the 22nd year for the Lake Jump, which began when two local disc jockeys made a dare. Since then, over $650,000 has been raised for local charities, such as West Shore Family Support, Sandcastles Children’s Museum, the Rotary’s STRIVE program and the Ludington Area Center for the Arts.
In 2015, the Ludington Lake Jump beneficiary was the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and over $24,000 was raised. In 2016, the Ludington Area Jaycees Mini Golf Renovation benefited to the tune of over $7,800, and in 2017 the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame received the proceeds, totaling $22,100. The Lake Jump raised more than $42,000 in 2018, and with the matching gift, a total of $91,700 was donated to the Lakeshore Food Club. In 2019, over $70,000 was raised for the Ludington Splash Pad and the modified 2020 event benefited Lakeshore Food 4 Kids and netted over $76,000. In 2021, West Shore Family Support was the beneficiary and received over $49,839. The Childhood Cancer Campaign received over $56,000 from the 2022 Jump.
Click here to see the current temperature of Lake Michigan.
Ludington Lake Jump Board of Directors
Ludington hosts many events and activities that are geared toward kids and families, that’s part of what makes the area so great!
Each April, AFFEW (A Few Friends for the Environment of the World) hosts an annual Earth Day event in Ludington.
Everyone enjoys a good play or concert, and Ludington blessed with talented actors and musicians that entertain us all year ’round.
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Check out our picks for the top 50 coolest things to do in Ludington, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Enjoy a picnic by Upper Hamlin Lake. With grills, a pavilion and picnic tables available, this park provides the perfect family setting.
If there’s one thing that Hamlin Lake is known for, it’s excellent fishing. Catch crappie, bluegill, and more across thousands of acres.
Your pet should feel right at home in Ludington. There are many businesses that allow pets and parks and beaches for them to play on.
Hamlin Lake is where you want to be. It offers terrific summer recreation, including swimming, boating, tubing, and more!
Ludington has many beautiful beaches and parks to explore. Enjoy a day on the shores of Lake Michigan or take in the scenery at a local park.
The three accessible walkways installed at Stearns Park Beach in Ludington allow everyone to make their way to the water and sand.
Mason County is home to several trails that tell stories with fascinating histories. Explore these self-guided tours to learn about each one!
A children’s flotilla that’s a miniature replica of the historic S.S. Badger carferry. Children get to ride in one of many “cars”.
Take a paddle down the Hamlin Lake Canoe Trail. Venture out on the trip yourself, or join a guided trip lead by Dune Grass Concessions.
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