Photo by: IATA File photo
Pitch in on the Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is built, supported, and maintained by the Ice Age Trail Alliance and its thousands of passionate volunteers. During 2023, Alliance volunteers devoted a record 100,666 hours to Trail-related activities! That includes building new Trail, maintaining the existing path, habitat restoration work, leading hikes and field trips, and giving presentations in local communities.
Without volunteers, the Ice Age Trail would just be another line on a map.
I have met a wonderful group of zany, honest, “comfortable in their own skin” folks who have become my friends. Some of them focus on building trail and supporting other trail builders. Others direct their energies into hiking. Many have become like a second family to me.
– Gail M. Piotrowski “Gabby Gail” IAT Thousand Miler 2014
Training
We are dedicated to developing and supporting a robust volunteer force that’s prepared to meet the challenge of building and maintaining the Ice Age Trail. We offer an assortment of training opportunities to complement the unique skills volunteers bring to the table
Ice Age Trail University
A wide range of virtual presentations offers both seasoned and newbie volunteers plenty of inspiration and information. From the comfort of your home, join staff or special guests as they share Alliance and Ice Age Trail-related topics.
To view this year’s evolving list of workshops, visit Ice Age Trail University (IAT-U). ►
Wrap-Up & Ramp-Up
We host a virtual Volunteer Wrap-up and Ramp-up event that brings volunteers together to celebrate accomplishments and learn about what’s coming in the new year. This event is held in mid-to-late November.
For dates and locations, please visit the event calendar. ►
Annual Conference & Membership Meeting
Even though the focus of our Annual Conference is celebrating our volunteers’ accomplishments on the Trail, we just can’t help but squeeze in a few training opportunities.
Each year we provide breakout sessions helping volunteers gain understanding and skills in a variety of areas. This could include how to hike with youth or learning what goes into protecting the Wisconsin landscape.
The Annual Conference takes place each April. Learn more about it and register, today. ►
Sawyer and Swamper Training
Chainsaw certified volunteers – sawyers – and the volunteers who directly assist them by removing downed branches and brush – swampers – are uniquely qualified to assist the Ice Age Trail Alliance with Habitat Improvement Program (HIP) events, corridor clearing, storm damage clean up, and more.
Learn what it takes to become a certified sawyer and approved as a swamper. ►
Volunteer Awards
To show our appreciation and recognize the incredible work of hundreds of volunteers and other friends of the Trail, we give out a series of awards. The following awards recognize the dedication, inspiration and longevity that many volunteers bring to the Ice Age Trail.
Spirit Stick award
The Spirit Stick Award symbolizes long-term dedication and service to the Ice Age Trail. Recipients for this award exhibit a passion for the Trail that has become a way of life. They lead by example, inspire those around them, and carry out their service with a spirit of optimism, cooperation, and enthusiasm. We present this award to only one recipient each year.
Trail Steward of the year
This award recognizes volunteers whose work in any phase of Trail management contributes in an extraordinary manner to the development of new trail, land improvements or facilities such as: trail planning, landowner and/or partner relations, trail layout and design, trail construction, trail maintenance, and stewardship work.
The complete list winners can be viewed here.