Leap Year Magic at Steenbock Preserve

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Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Steenbock Preserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Endres Foundation, Culver's Foundation,
A swamper readies an armload of brush for the fire. Photo by Dave Caliebe.

Thank you to the 164 volunteers who gave 1,391 hours and contributed to this stewardship effort.

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For the fourth year running, the Ice Age Trail Alliance and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) came together with volunteers to continue restoration efforts on the Gibraltar Rock Segment. Under bluebird skies, crews worked to remove the invading cedar forest from the slopes of the Steenbock Preserve. Thanks to your efforts, biodiversity will be increased and nearly six acres of historic prairie can begin to heal and reclaim the landscape.

As the project wrapped up, Kevin Thusius, Director of Land Conservation, noted the critical role volunteers played in this amazingly successful event by saying, “The land is happier because of each of you. The Trail experience is better because of you. The kids learned and were immersed in the experience because of you. Great job everyone!”

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Steenbock Preserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Endres Foundation, Culver's Foundation, Ice Age Trail Alliance Land Management, Stewardship
Kids from the Lodi Ouisconsing School of Collaboration, display "cedar cookies." Photo by Amy Lord.
View Gibraltar Rock Segment stewardship photos here.

A Special THANKS To:

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Steenbock Preserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Endres Foundation, Culver's Foundation, Ice Age Trail Alliance Land Management, Stewardship
Students from the Lodi Ouisconsing School of Collaboration make able swampers. Photo by Amy Lord.
  • Lodi Ouisconsing School of Collaboration, whose dedicated teachers allowed their students to experience an outdoor classroom;
  • The students for bringing positive attitudes and open minds about volunteer work and providing a raucous cheering section for the sawyers;
  • Patti Herman for helping with making sure everyone was registered and signed in;
  • Columbia County Department of Transportation for opening up their restrooms and providing parking for the project;
  • Department of Natural Resources for allowing us access to the project site;
  • USFWS for bringing top-notch sawyers and lending the use of their equipment;
  • All experienced sawyers who donated not only their time (and eventually sore backs), but their equipment and fuel, too;
  • Students and professors from UW-Baraboo for pitching in;
  • Thanks to Sonic Foundry for providing a robust crew of swampers;
  • Columbia County Dairy Promotion for donating cheese;
Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Steenbock Preserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Endres Foundation, Culver's Foundation, Ice Age Trail Alliance Land Management, Stewardship
BEFORE: view of a cherry tree. Photo by Eva Ballering.
Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Steenbock Preserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Endres Foundation, Culver's Foundation, Ice Age Trail Alliance Land Management, Stewardship
AFTER: view of cherry tree. Photo by Eva Ballering.

Support for this project was made possible by funding from the US Fish &Wildlife Service, the Endres Foundation, and the Culver’s Foundation

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.