Exceeding expectations is easy when ideal weather and the perfect group of volunteers align, as they did for the Washington County Mobile Skills Crew event. This combination generated a momentum that blew ahead of the pre-set schedule.
Each task was sizeable but proved no challenge for the crews. Veteran trailbuilders brought new volunteers up to speed under their careful tutelage. A strong team formed to knock out the work, while wearing masks and following COVID-19 safety protocols.
The final product, a 269-foot-long boardwalk, includes a bump-out designed as a wheel-chair passing zone and look-out platform for hikers wishing to slow down and listen to the springtime chorus of frogs.
Thank you to the 27 volunteers who contributed 683 hours to:
- Construct the new 269-foot-long boardwalk on the Southern Kewaskum Segment;
- Remove an old 300+ foot-long boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment – volunteers replaced it with a shiny, new structure earlier this year; and
- Install signage posts on a new section of Trail along the Slinger Segment. (Thank you to the Village of Slinger for being an Ice Age Trail Community!)
A special THANK YOU to the following:
- A HUGE thanks to Lisa & Mike DeLaney, who welcomed us onto their property at the last minute for cutting and pre-assembly work, storage of materials, and use of their trailer and equipment to keep the project moving.
- Rob Wessberg, Pike Lake supervisor and manager of the State Ice Age Trail Area, the new boardwalk is on, for assistance in access and overall support for the project.
- The Washington/Ozaukee Chapter for incredible help before and during the event.
Dennis Schauer for allowing access through his land to help with the removal of the old boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment. - A 2020 Challenge Cost Share award from the National Park Service and National Park Trust for our Connecting Community to Public Lands initiative, a multi-phased project (fall 2020 – spring 2021).
- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for awarding us a State Stewardship Friends Grant.
- Patrick Gleissner and Dave Caliebe photographed volunteers at the event. Their photos are featured in the MSC photo album.
See the of progression of boardwalk construction on the Southern Kewaskum Segment:
Washington County MSC Event Overview
27 Volunteers
683 Volunteer Hours
Built 269′ Boardwalk on the Southern Kewaskum Segment
Rebuilt 300′ Boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment
Created new IAT in Slinger, WI
Installed New IAT Signage
Next up:
October 5-11 (Ringle Segment, near Wausau)
Join us from October 5-11 as we head north to pick up where we left off last fall on the Ringle Segment in Marathon County. Tread and stonework await as we look to complete a new 3-mile section of Ice Age Trail! The project will be limited to 50 people a day due to Covid-19 protocols.
Please sign up before Monday, September 28th. Register Here.
The Washington County MSC event was made possible by a funding award from the National Park Service and National Park Trust, and through funding from the WI DNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant.
 |
|
 |
Generous Sponsors of the 2020 Mobile Skills Crew Trailbuilding Season include:
Sitka Salmon Shares is offering all Ice Age Trail enthusiasts and trailbuilders a $25.00 discount on your purchase of a salmon or seafood share. They’ll donate $25.00 to our award-winning Mobile Skills Crew program.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
