Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter: Let’s Learn, Let’s Hike!

Presentation:

Have you ever wanted to walk along the Ice Age Trail? Wondered how this trail came to be or who built it? Ever wonder about all the life that surrounds you while on the trail? The more you discover, the more fascinating your hike becomes! Learn, experience and enjoy Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the wildly popular October Mammoth Hike Challenge!

Presenter:

Join “Thousand-Miler” and active Chapter member, Mary Cieslewicz and learn how to be a curious hiker.

Details:

Practice your curious hiking skills by taking a short hike on the Ice Age Trail at 10:00. At 10:30 we’ll have pumpkins to paint and hot cocoa to drink, plus a raffle prize for one lucky hiker! Whether hiking or sauntering, be inspired for adventures on the Trail!

Location:

This presentation will take place at the Delafield Public Library. Library programs, events, and activities are free and open to the public.

Trail Magic: Ask any librarian for some Trail Magic, and receive a small notebook to keep track of your observation on the trail!

Science on the Square

Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance at the Science on the Square as part of the Wisconsin Science Festival! It will be a fantastic night that blends science with downtown Madison businesses.

Back for its seventh year, the ever-popular Science on the Square event is again fusing with the Madison Night Market to create a unique way to explore hands-on science activities while also supporting local businesses and vendors. The Wisconsin Science Festival and Madison’s Central Business Improvement District are proud to bring you an event you won’t want to miss.

Join us in downtown Madison between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, for fun for all ages!

Event Details

Thursday, October 17, 2024
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Location

Downtown Madison along State Street
Ice Age Trail Alliance booth location coming soon!

At Science on the Square, outdoor STEM-themed activities will mix with Madison Night Market vendor tents throughout State Street. Indoor locations will showcase interesting exhibits, talks, or menu/product specials for you to check out as well. Learn more about the science that surrounds us every day while exploring downtown Madison.

Stop by the Ice Age Trail Alliance booth to meet Monty, the mammoth mascot of the Ice Age Trail, pick up Ice Age Trail maps, get a Mammoth Hike Challenge sticker, and ask questions on planning your next Ice Age Tail adventure!

Visit the Wisconsin Science Festival website to learn more: Science on the Square – Wisconsin Science Festival

Hatley – Ice Age Trail Community Celebration

Help celebrate the Village of Hatley as a new Ice Age Trail Community! There will be a meet and greet, along with a short ceremony complete with a ribbon-cutting at the Hatley Public Library. The event will feature family-friendly activities and a chance to meet Monty the Mammoth, official mascot of the Ice Age Trail. Cookies and refreshments available after the ribbon cutting.

Event Details

Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting at 11:00 a.m.

Even Location

Hatley Public Library
435 Curtis Avenue, Hatley, WI 54440

The celebration is open to the public and is a great opportunity to learn more about the Ice Age Trail and Ice Age Trail Alliance.

Rice Lake – Ice Age Trail Community Celebration

Save the Date – Wednesday, August 28, 2024

To celebrate Trail Community Designation, Rice Lake will have a short ceremony complete with a ribbon-cutting. The event will feature family-friendly activities, a chance to meet Monty the Mammoth (official mascot of the Ice Age Trail), light snacks, and refreshments.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, August 28 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Veterans Memorial Park – 20 E Stout Street, Rice Lake

The celebration is open to the public and is a great opportunity to learn more about the Ice Age Trail and Ice Age Trail Alliance.

Weyerhaeuser Trail Community Celebration

Help celebrate Weyerhaeuser becoming the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s newest Trail Community. We will have a ribbon cutting at 5:30 pm with dinner to follow. This is a family friendly activity and will take place at the Soo Line Railroad Depot, Weyerhaeuser, WI 54895 in downtown Weyerhaeuser. Meet Monty, the Ice Age Trail mammoth mascot too!

Event Details:

Saturday, October 5, 2024
5:00 – 6:00 pm Trail Community Celebration at the Weyerhaeuser Depot
5:30 Designation Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting
Dinner to follow (6:00/6:15 pm) at the Weyerhaeuser Park Pavilion catered by The Farmhouse Restaurant.

This event is open to community members and the general public. If you have registered to volunteer at the Ice Age Trail Alliance trail crew project, you do not need to register again.

If you plan to enjoy dinner after the ribbon cutting ceremony, we are asking for a suggested donation:

$10/person (pre-registration)
$20/person (day of walk-in)

Registration for the dinner is strongly encouraged so we can plan accordingly (and not run out of food or drink). Registration closes Wednesday, October 2.

Special Note:

The Soo Line Railroad Depot and Weyerhaeuser Historical Museum will be open Saturday, October 5 from 12:00 pm to the time of the celebration.

Trailtessa 2024: Be MINDFUL

Be MINDFUL: An All-Senses, Summer Solstice Sunset Hike

Friday, June 21, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Hartland Marsh, Hartland Segment (Waukesha County)

Cost: $20/attendee; women & girls 16 and older

Be Mindful. Focus on the present moment, letting the light in. Breathe. Expand. Relax. Take advantage of the extended daylight and experience a slow, relaxing hike.

Enjoy a guided hike through the Hartland Marsh, an Alliance-owned preserve, tuning into all five senses as you explore this diverse habitat. See vivid colors. Listen for bird calls. Savor woodland scents. Feel plant textures (safely!). Taste summer. Light snacks and refreshments will be available as well.

BONUS: For those who you can stay a little longer, we’ll take a stroll and enjoy the sunset atop the Aldo Leopold Overlook.

Registration closes at midnight on Sunday, June 16, 2024 or when the event reaches capacity. An event email with final details and logistics will be emailed to all registered attendees on Monday, June 17.

Registration fee is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we will consider it a donation to the Alliance.

We love dogs, but we ask that you not bring them to Trailtessa events.

Trailtessa [treyl-tes-sah], noun: a woman or girl who gets out on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to experience adventure, freedom and a new way to be. Trailtessa Retreats are events designed by women for women. Re-discover YOU with plenty of permission. Be any way you want to Be. Trailtessa events were created in conjunction with the REI Force of Nature initiative.

Thank you partners:

Trailtessa 2024: Be WILD

Be WILD: A Bird Watching Experience from Land and Water

Saturday, July 13, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail – St. Croix Falls Segment and St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Polk County)

Cost: $50/attendee; women & girls 16 and older

Be Wild. Experience the land and water habitats of our feathered friends. Kayak along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in the morning. Hike along a section of the St. Croix Segment, in the afternoon. Learn about native birds in northwest Wisconsin and see lots of them (hopefully!) from the water and from the Trail.

This casual birding experience, offered in partnership with the Wild Rivers Conservancy, includes guided kayaking and hiking. All abilities and experiences welcome.

Included:

Expert support for first-time birders, kayakers, and hikers
Binoculars (or bring your own)
Kayak, paddle and safety vests
Lunch and refreshments

What to Expect

Meet and check-in at Lions Park in St. Croix Falls. Attendees will be shuttled north and paddle the St. Croix River south back to the park. The paddle will be approximately 2.5 hours. Lunch will be provided at Lions Park, along with information about habitat management practices from the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Wild Rivers Conservancy. Enjoy an out and back hike along the Ice Age Trail – St. Croix Falls segment for approximately 2-miles or 1.5 hours.

Location

Lions Park
809 North Hamilton
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend this event, you can receive a refund (minus $10 administration fee) if cancellation is received in writing before June 13. If you cancel after June 13, we will consider your registration fee a donation.

We love dogs, but we ask that you not bring them to Trailtessa events.

Thank you partners:

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter – Trail Building Day

Photo by Brad Crary

The Workday:

Join the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance for an exciting Trail Building Day. We will be installing tread and clearing the corridor to complete a mile of new trail which will nearly eliminate the entire Waterville Road walk!

Work Details:

As always, our Trail Improvement Day will provide tools and training. Participants should dress in layers for the weather with sturdy footwear and gloves. You will want to bring a water bottle. Please meet at 9:00 am sharp so we can organize into crews. Participants should have a current National Park Service Volunteer Agreement on file. If not, complete the form and bring it with you. Download Agreement.

Location Details:

Enter the field just south of W349 S2296 Waterville Road directly across from the intersection with Parry Road, and follow the signs into the field. Watch for the yellow ICE AGE TRAIL EVENT signs.

Contact Details:

Questions? Contact Pat at gpwit1976@gmail.com

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter – Trail Improvement Day

The Workday:

Join the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance for an exciting Trail Improvement Day! We will be installing tread and signing on this new 0.25 mile section of Ice Age Trail. This new tread on the Milford property will eliminate a particularly dangerous section of the Hwy C road walk.

Work Details:

Location Details:

Watch for the yellow ICE AGE TRAIL EVENT signs. Meet at the First Presbyterian Church of Ottawa parking lot.

Contact Details:

Questions? Contact Pat at gpwit1976@gmail.com

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter – “Exploring the Ice Age Trail” and the “Mammoth Hike Challenge”

The Presentation

Have you ever wanted to walk along the Ice Age Trail. Ever wonder how the Kettle Moraine was formed? Experience and enjoy Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail!

The IAT is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails in the country, a 1,200 mile footpath found entirely within the state of Wisconsin. It traverses through some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas, including Walworth/Jefferson counties. Ancient glaciers carved the path through rocky terrain, opened prairies, kettle lakes, and peaceful forests. Today, hikers, backpackers and outdoor lovers of all ages step out on the Trail to unplug, relax, explore and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

The Presenters

Join Ice Age Trail Thousand-Miler Diana Matthews, and Ice Age Trail Alliance volunteer Mark Ormsby for this introductory presentation.

Details

Come learn about the IAT — its history and glacial features. Learn tips and tricks for spending time on the IAT. Hear about the wildly popular wildly popular October Mammoth Hike Challenge. Leave with plenty of resources to have a safe and successful journey. Whether hiking or sauntering, be inspired for adventures on the Trail!

Location

This is an in-person presentation at the Powers Memorial Library in Palmyra.

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter: Exploring the Ice Age Trail Presentation – Wauwatosa Public Library

From Oct. 3-30, “Within Wisconsin: Hiking the Ice Age Trail” art exhibit will be on display at the Wauwatosa Public Library. This art is a mixture of watercolor and found art pieces, inspired by the Trail, created by aspiring Thousand Miler, Carolyn Simpson.

On the first evening of the exhibit, the Ice Age Trail Alliance will host a two-part presentation. The first presentation, Discover the Ice Age Trail, will be given by Diana Matthews, Thousand Miler and Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter member. The second presentation, will be “See the Trail through an Artist’s eyes” presented by artist Carolyn Simpson.

The presentations will run from 6:30-8:30. They will take place in the Firefly room.

(Ice Age Trail Alliance will be on hand to table at the event with maps and information.)

Since this event is taking place in October, it will qualify for a Mammoth Hike Challenge bonus-miles event!

Carolyn Simpson, a former librarian and corporate foundation executive, took up painting 18 years ago. A board member of the Wisconsin Watercolor Society, she uses her hikes on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail as inspiration for her paintings, which often depict things which are common, lost, old, discarded, weak or fleeting.

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter: Exploring the Ice Age Trail Presentation – Wild Ones Menomonee River Area Chapter

Photo by Dave Caliebe of the Ice Age Trail Alliance

The Presentation:

Have you ever wanted to walk along the Ice Age Trail? Have you ever wondered how the Kettle Moraine was formed? Find the answer to these questions by experiencing and enjoying Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail!

The IAT is a 1,200 mile footpath found entirely within the state of Wisconsin. It is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails in the country. This Trail traverses through some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas and winds through 30 counties on state, federal, county and private lands. Each year, more than 2.3 million people walk, hike, saunter, snowshoe, and backpack on the Ice Age Trail . Outdoor lovers of all ages and abilities step out on the Ice Age Trail to relax, explore and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

Join “Thousand-Miler” and active Ice Age Trail Alliance Chapter volunteer, Diana Matthews for this introductory presentation. Come learn about the IAT — its history and glacial features. Learn tips and tricks for spending time on the IAT. Leave with plenty of resources to have a safe and successful journey. Whether hiking or sauntering, be inspired for adventures on the Trail!

Details:

This presentation will take place at the Brookfield Public Library, and is free and open to the public.

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter: Exploring the Ice Age Trail Presentation – Grafton Village Library

The Presentation

Have you ever wanted to walk along the Ice Age Trail. Ever wonder how the Kettle Moraine was formed? Experience and enjoy Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail!

The Ice Age Trail is one of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the country, a 1,200 mile footpath found entirely within the state of Wisconsin. It traverses through some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas and winds through 30 counties on state, federal, county and private lands. More than 2.3 million people use the Ice Age Trail each year to walk, hike, saunter, snowshoe, and backpack! Outdoor lovers of all ages and abilities step out on the Ice Age Trail to relax, explore and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

Join a “Thousand-Miler” and other active volunteers in the Ice Age Trail Alliance for this introductory presentation. Come learn about the IAT — its history and glacial features. Learn tips and tricks for spending time on the IAT, hear about the wildly popular October Mammoth Hike Challenge, and leave with plenty of resources to have a safe and successful journey. Whether hiking or sauntering, be inspired for adventures on the Trail!

The Presenter

Join Ice Age Trail Thousand-Miler Diana Matthews for this introductory presentation and spur on your own adventures on the Trail!

The Details

The presentation will take place in the Upper Level Meeting Room at the Grafton Village Library.

Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter – Trail Improvement Day: South Stony Ridge Segment

The Workday:

Celebrate National Public Lands Day by joining Chapter for a Trail Improvement Day! We will spend the morning clearing a line of grand oaks adjacent to the Ice Age Trail at the southern gateway to Waukesha County. This rewarding work will greatly enhance the hiking experience and improve the health of the native species in this part of the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Work Details:

We will be using hand tools to clear buckthorn and other invasives, and creating brush piles to be burned this winter. As always, our Trail Improvement Day will provide tools and training. Participants should dress in layers for the weather with sturdy footwear and gloves. You will want to bring a water bottle. Please meet at 9:00 am sharp so we can organize into crews. Participants should have a current National Park Service Volunteer Agreement on file. If not, complete the form and bring it with you. Download Agreement.

Location Details:

Watch for the yellow ICE AGE TRAIL EVENT signs. Meet at the Emma Carlin Trailhead parking lot (N1031 CTH-Z, Palmyra, WI)

Contact Details:

Questions? Contact Pat at gpwit1976@gmail.com