Ice Age Trail Alliance
Chippewa Moraine Chapter
Ice Age Trail Dispatch
May 2021
May Chapter Zoom Meeting: May 17
Our May Chapter Meeting will be held via Zoom. The meeting is Monday, May 17th at 6:30 p.m. If you plan to attend the chapter meeting, please contact me at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org and I will send you the link for the meeting. Hope to see you there.
First Sunday Hike - May 2nd
Our First Sunday Hike is on. JoAnn Parks and Vicki Christianson 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. (The trail is carpeted in wildflowers right now). 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.
Upcoming Hikes:
June 5- National Trails Day Hike - Harwood Segment
August 1 - First Sunday Hike - Obey Center to 267th Trailhead and back
September 5 - First Sunday Hike - Obey Center - group picks the hike option
October 2 - Parade of Colors Hike
May Trail Maintenance Day - Saturday, May 15
Participants should meet at 8:00 am at the Obey Center. We will be working on the Firth Lake Segment. We will split into 2-3 work teams, depending on the number of volunteers. Once we have split into crews, we will drive to the 2-3 sections of Firth Lake.
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.
Please RSVP to chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org if you are planning to attend this event.
Future Trail Work Days: June 12, August 14, September 18, October 16
Remember, you must have a signed Volunteer Agreement to work on trail projects. 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. See below for the Volunteer Agreement.
Lower Chippewa Invasives Partnership
Mary Skalecki passed this information on to me in hopes that some members would be interested in participating in this program to eliminate invasive plants in Chippewa County. Note that the on-line training will be on Tuesday, May 4th.
Calling all citizen scientists, previous IMP citizen scientists, and community members that want to work with us this year to survey, map, and engage with our local municipalities about invasive species along roadsides, public properties, and your own properties. We are searching for folks that want to learn about common invasive plants that have detrimental effects on our ecosystem and how to identify and protect the numerous native plants that are being outcompeted.
Last year we had 20 community members learn how to identify, map, and communicate the need for action against these plants. Action is being taken in all locations where confirmed locations were publicly mapped through EDDMapS Midwest. If this sounds like something that you would be interested in please email or call back to reserve your spot in our growing program.
Our first training will be on Tuesday, May 4th from 1-3:30 PM on Zoom (which will be recorded to view later if you can't make this training live). Then you will have the option of either Thursday, May 6th or Saturday, May 8th to come to our in-field identification training sessions to learn and ask questions before starting your journey in your own neighborhood.
If you have any further questions please contact Chris Gaetzke at 715-539-2766 or lcipchris@gmail.com.
Trail Work Season is getting underway
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 me at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org for our records.
IMPORTANT! SUPPORT THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
PLEASE DO THIS A.S.A.P. THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE WILL BEGIN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK.
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 to“Take Action”. There is a form letter that you can send to your representatives.
Once you type in your contact information, the form letter will fill in your senator and representative for you, as well as your name in the signature. This does not appear on the main screen, but you can see it when you click “Preview”. Once you check there, you can “send”. 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