Saturday, April 13th, we will have a major trail maintenance day to clean up any winter damage to the Harwood Lakes and the Chippewa Moraine segments. Since we will be doing cleanup on two segments, we need a full crew to accomplish this. We’d like to break the crew into groups to cover different parts of the trail. Bring water and snacks. Wear long sleeves, pants, boots, work gloves, and socks you can tuck your pants legs into. Ticks are out there!

We will meet at the Obey Center at 8:00 to break into groups before heading to the trail. We hope to see you there. If you are planning to attend the work day, please email us no later than April 10th. We need a head count to organize our groups and to determine the number and kinds of tools that we need to bring.

NOTE: If you are not already on our trail crew (with a Volunteer Agreement-see below), consider joining our trail crew this year. There is something special about building and maintaining the trail.You will never look at the trail with the same eyes again after participating in a work project and learning what it takes to keep our trails in top condition.

Outdoor Ed-Venture is an event held for families in Cornell at the Mill Yard Park. This year it is being held on Sunday, April 28th from 11:00 -2:00. Various groups will have booths promoting outdoor activities in the area. We have participated for the last two years to promote the Ice Age Trail. We have display boards promoting the trail. We also do an activity with the kids. The first year, we helped them decorate a walking stick. Last year, we played Ice Age Trail BINGO.

We are looking for volunteers to help at the booth. Volunteers will be speaking with parents while others will lead rounds of Ice Age Trail BINGO with the kids. It’s a lot of fun. If you would be interested in helping at Outdoor Ed-Venture, contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org. Let’s get kids out on the trail!

Mark your calendar! Our first guided hike will be our First Sunday Hike in May, also known as our May Flower Hike. The first week in May is the perfect time to catch the spring ephemerals in all their glory on the Chippewa River Segment….hepatica, marsh marigolds, trout lily, trillium, anemone, spring beauties, and more. We will meet at the CC parking lot at 1:00pm to hike out and back on the segment, a total of 3.8 miles. Contact Vicki Christianson if you have any questions or to RSVP.

Our Nawakwa is holding two events this spring. On April 21, 2024, they are holding an event called “What’s Your Nawakwa Story?” at the Chippewa Area History Center at 12 Bridgewater Street in Chippewa Falls. The event is from 2:00-4:00. This is an opportunity for people who experienced Camp Nawakwa as a scout or as staff to meet together and share their experiences with Camp Nawakwa and to learn about Our Nawakwa. Did you or your children get to experience Camp Nawakwa? Then this event is for you.

On May 5th, they will be holding an “Our Nawakwa Grand Opening” from 12:00-4:00 at Camp Nawakwa (25336 County Hwy. E). Come out to see the camp and learn about what the camp will have to offer to youth organizations in the Chippewa Valley.
“Come one, come all, and be part of the magic at Our Nawakwa’s Grand Opening Event. We are thrilled to celebrate the next step in Nawakwa’s future with you! Grab a friend, group, or troop and join us for a FREE and unforgettable celebration! Discover how Our Nawakwa can support your non-profit group, scout troop, or community gathering”.

For more info and a free parking pass, visit their facebook page at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/our-nawakwa-grand-opening-event-tickets-868482954897

The calendar is out for IATA trail projects for 2024. Go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Season-at-a-Glance-Trailbuilding-and-Habitat-Improvement_SAVE-THE-DATE_12-01-23.pdf for information on the upcoming trail events.

There will be a project May 15-19 on the Hemlock Creek Segment, which is shared by Barron and Rusk County. They will be replacing deteriorating bridges and boardwalks, refreshing signage, and repairing tread. This would be a great opportunity to participate in an Ice Age Trail Crew project. We hope to help out our neighboring chapters on this project.

If you would like to work any of the days for the Hemlock Creek Segment, you need to register for the event on the link above.

As we enter the new year, check out the new links for renewing your Volunteer Agreements. Please use the new links I have posted for the Volunteer Agreement and the email address for sending it in to Dan Watson.

All volunteers need to have a completed Volunteer Agreement for the National Park Service each year in order to participate in our trail improvement days or to volunteer at events. They have a new form on the Alliance Website.

To access the new Volunteer Agreement, here is the link: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508.pdf. Please fill out the fillable form and email it to iatr_vip_ice_age_trail@nps.gov

NOTE: Fill in all the required boxes. The fillable boxes are on everything except the signature line. You can type your name and date in the date box next to the signature line. Save the document to your computer and then send it to NPS as an attachment. Or print off your completed document, sign it, and mail it to the NPS. The email address is on the directions page that comes with the form.

When you send in the Volunteer Agreement to NPS, they will sign it and return it to you. Please print a copy for yourself or save it in your files. Email us at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org to let us know that you have received your new signed Volunteer Agreement.

These are our annual events. Watch for information on upcoming events and additions (in red) to this calendar in the monthly newsletters.

April 13 Monthly Trail Maintenance- Chippewa Moraine/Harwood Lakes
April 18-21 Annual Conference - Wisconsin Dells- Ho Chunk
May 1 Natural Resources Foundation Hike - Chippewa River Segment (Closed hike)
May 5 First Sunday Hike 1:00 Chippewa River Segment
May 18 Trail Maintenance Day
May 20 Chapter Meeting
June 1 National Trails Day Hike 9:00 Firth Lake
June 15 Trail Maintenance Day
June 20 Solstice Hike with Girl Scouts - Nawakwa
July 15 Chapter Meeting and Picnic - Mill Yard Park
Aug. 4 First Sunday Hike 1:00 Obey Center
Aug. 17 Trail Maintenance Day
Sept. 4 First Sunday Hike 1:00 Harwood
Sept. 16 Chapter Meeting
Sept. 21 Trail Maintenance Day
Oct. 5 Parade of Colors Hike - 9-11 Obey Center
Oct. 19 Trail Maintenance Day
Nov. 18 Chapter Annual Meeting

The Chippewa Moraine Chapter will hold its March chapter meeting at the Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 5, on Monday, March 18th at 5:30. Room 5 is in the basement at the Courthouse. Enter at the door by the parking lot.

Come to the meeting to learn about our upcoming trail projects, hikes, and events for 2024. It’s shaping up to be a busy year. We have some exciting changes to share. Please contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org if you plan to attend the meeting.

The Alliance has purchased a new piece of property within our eastern corridor. This beautiful undeveloped 76 acre property is now called the Otter Lake Preserve. It contains high-relief hummocky glacial topography, including a kettle lake, a marsh, a stream, and several small ice-walled lake plains. It is a hilly property that will connect 365th Street to County H at the southeast end of Otter Lake. It will take several years to get trail established, and once it is done, it will be a beautiful piece of trail to hike.


Thank you to Jared Wildenradt (8 time IAT hiker) for bringing this property to the attention of the Alliance and the Chippewa Moraine Chapter.

Please wait until the trail is finished before hiking on this property.