Ice Age Trail Alliance
Chippewa Moraine Chapter
Ice Age Trail Dispatch
April 2021
First Sunday Hike - May 2nd
Our First Sunday Hike is on. JoAnn Parks will be leading a hike on the Chippewa River Segment. Come join us as we look for spring flowers such as trillium, bloodroot, and trout lily. Experience the trail high above the Chippewa River and into the Krank Preserve. Hikers should meet at the CC parking lot at 1:00. Wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots, long pants, and long sleeve shirt. Be prepared to tuck your pants legs into your socks. Bring water and a snack. Mosquito repellent is recommended. Wear a mask. Please send an RSVP to JoAnn at jjjparks123@gmail.com.
Coming Up:
(June 5- National Trails Day Hike) (August 1 - First Sunday Hike) (September 5 - First Sunday Hike) (October 2 - Parade of Colors Hike)
Trail Work Season is getting underway
It is time to get started on trail work and we are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping with the monthly Trail Improvement Days, they are held on the following Saturdays: April 10, May 15, June 12, August 14, September 18, and October 16. You need to have a completed Volunteer Agreement for the National Park Service in order to participate in our trail improvement days. If you filled one out last summer, you are in good standing.
If you do not have a signed Volunteer Agreement, here is the link: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/x_INDIVIDUAL-301A-COVID-Packet.pdf. Please fill out the fillable form and email it to Daniel_Watson@nps.gov
Please read the following documents before signing the agreement:
• Cover letter from Eric Gabriel NPS: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-Cover-Letter_Eric.pdf
• IATA Volunteer Risk Assessment Tool: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-IATR-VIP-Risk-Assessment-Tool-002.pdf
• Covid19HA: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-COVID19-JHA-v2.pdf
When you send in the Volunteer Agreement to Dan Watson, he will sign it and return it to you. Please print a copy for yourself, and forward the email to: chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org for our records.
April Trail Maintenance Day - April 10
Participants should meet at 9:00 am at Deerfly Trail at the IAT trail crossing. The trail crossing is about 2.5 miles from the Deerfly Trail entrance on County M. We will split into 2 work teams, one will work east of Deerfly, and the other will work to the west. We may have a third work team meeting at the County E trailhead and heading west.
Participants should wear long pants and long sleeves. Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended, and you should be able to tuck your pants legs into your socks. Bring work gloves, insect repellent, and water. You will need to wear a mask for covid.
Volunteers under the age of 18 need to have a signed Volunteer Agreement with the Parental Consent section filled in and signed by their parent/guardian.
Please RSVP to chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org if you are planning to attend this event.
Volunteer Hours
Volunteer Hours are turned in each quarter. If you attend a chapter meeting or work at a monthly trail maintenance day, we keep track of your hours for you on a sign-in sheet. If you are a regular volunteer for the chapter in any other way, you are tracking your own hours. These hours are turned in to Libby Stupak at stupakls@hotmail.com To get the fillable Volunteer Hours form, go to our chapter webpage at: iatchippewa.org Click on the "Volunteers" drop box and select “Record Your Volunteer Hours!”. Go to Direct Download Links and click on Word Format or Excel Format. You can print one off to keep track of your hours. When you are ready to send them in, record on the fillable form and save it. Then send the form to Libby via email. The first quarter Volunteer Hours should be sent to Libby by April 1.
(Second Quarter: July 1st) (Third Quarter: October 1st) (Fourth Quarter: January 1st)
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is holding the Annual Conference online this year from Thursday, April 15th to Saturday, April 17th. Information about the Conference is posted on the Ice Age Trail Alliance website: iceagetrail.org/annual-conference. They have listed the session times with colored buttons. If you click on a session time button, you get additional information about what is offered at that time. There is also information on registering for the conference and its sessions.
You can attend the General Membership Meeting (Friday, April 16 at 1:00) and the Awards Ceremony (Friday, April 16 at 6:30) for free. You will need to complete a registration form, even if you are only attending the free events, in order to get the links. The fee for conference registration is $75 per household and $25 for students age 25 and younger. You will have access to all sessions. If you are unable to attend sessions at their posted times, they will be recorded and they will be available after the conference.
IMPORTANT! SUPPORT THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Governor Tony Evers has included a 10 year reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in his 2021 budget proposal. This program is a major source of funding for purchase of land for the Ice Age Trail. The Krank Preserve, which is part of the Chippewa River Segment, was purchased with Knowles-Nelson funds. You can contact your representatives to support Governor Tony Evers’ proposal by going to knowlesnelson.org and click on “Take Action”. There is a form letter that you can send to your representatives. If you do not know the name of your senator or assemblymember, go to: legis.wisconsin.gov On the main page, look for “Who Are My Legislators?” Enter your address and click “Find Your Legislator” and it will give you their names. Please take the time to contact your representatives to support this vital program.
See you on the trail,
Vicki Christianson
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Coordinator
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The Ice Age Trail
A Walk Through Time