UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

                          

Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K, April 22-26, 2024

Run for the trees! No matter how you reach the finish line - walk, run or roll - you pick the pace and the place, anywhere outdoors. Everyone who participates in this Bob Ross-inspired virtual race gets a Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and finisher's medal. A portion of race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts – such as invasive plant and forest pest management – in Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas. See the attached poster and flyer that can be shared with the public to help promote the event.

Visit OutWiGo for more information and suggested 5k (3.1 miles) routes in state parks. 

Registration closes April 15.

Happy Anniversary to the Wisconsin State Park System’s Friends Group partnership program!

This year marks the 35^th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System’s Friends Group partnership program which began in 1989. We love our Friends Group organizations and volunteers, and celebrate their passion and dedication to the Wisconsin State Park System. We value the thousands who have devoted their time and talents throughout the years to “give back” to the park system. These unique citizen-lead organizations help enhance the Wisconsin State Park System and we couldn’t do it without them (YOU)!

Become a member of the Friends of the Kettle Moraine, download the form. Membership

Smokey Bear Turns 80

 

Smokey Bear’s official 80th birthday is August 9, 2024, but the DNR will be celebrating all year! Events will be held across the country, including right here in Wisconsin. Help Smokey celebrate this milestone birthday by reminding your friends and family that only they can help prevent wildfires! Forest staff are planning a Smokey Bear themed event; more to come on this.

 

Readers of all ages can join Smokey in learning about wildfire prevention and the environment. Read books, take action, and have fun by joining the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. The challenge may be completed anytime between now and November 28, 2024.

Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo

The Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo is presented by The Outdoor Heritage Education Center and is supported by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. At these free events, educators and their students can learn outdoors before the school year comes to an end. Students can explore mentored programs so they can develop outdoor skills and enjoy lifelong outdoor activities. Connect with educators, trained safety instructors and other volunteer mentors who provide an enriching and engaging experiences connecting students to Wisconsin’s natural resources, outdoor heritage, and lifelong skills. Ideal for the 4th–7th grade audience, with many activities correlated to state academic learning standards. The event will occur at two Wisconsin State Park System properties:

·         May 8th, 2024 at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee, WI

·         May 15th or 16th, 2024 at the MacKenzie Center in Poynette, WI

 

*We encourage 4th–7th classroom to sign up via the MOHEE website - Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo

 

 

Check Out Wisconsin State Parks at Your Library Program Continues in 2024

 

This year both public and specialized libraries throughout Wisconsin will have passes available for check-out by library patrons. Forty-eight libraries newly joined the program in 2024, including three UW-System libraries and one technical college library. The program expansion is an effort to continue to extend access to the Wisconsin state park system to new park visitors. We’ve received positive feedback on the program so far. Visitors are excited to check out Wisconsin’s state parks, forests and rec areas and many are visiting for the first time. Visit the Check Out Wisconsin State Parks at Your Library webpage to learn more.

 

The participating libraries are expanding and quite are few are near to the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

This year marks the beginning of the sixth year of volunteer effort to affect positive change in our environment.  Many of the invasive species that we have been working on can easily diminish the biodiversity of the native flora in the Forest. We are lucky to have 12 state natural areas in the KMSF-NU.  Our state natural areas are designated to preserve the best of Wisconsin prairies, forests, and wetlands.  These unique places are home to 90% of Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered plant species and 75% of the animal species.  We have been working intensively in two of these SNAs for the last five years. 

 Haskell Noyes SNA is 61 acres of prime dry-mesic forest as it was never heavily logged or clear cut during the logging era of the 19^th century.  The land was purchased in 1947 to prevent imminent logging and was designated a state natural area in 1952.  It has a rich diversity of plants that are under threat from invasive species, such as garlic mustard and buckthorn.  Because of our volunteer effort, we are finding fewer and fewer of these plants throughout this SNA.

 Volunteer days for garlic mustard removal in Haskell Noyes SNA are as follows.

Wednesdays, May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. 

Thursdays, May 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd, and 30^th from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.

Saturdays, May 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, 25^th, and June 1^st from 9 am to noon. 

Meet at the Haskell Noyes parking lot on GGG.

 Spruce Lake Bog State Natural Area is one of the most southerly bogs in Wisconsin.  The site is rich in plants more characteristic of northern Wisconsin sphagnum bogs.  It was designated a state natural area in 1968.  It contains a variety of sedges, shrubs and herbaceous plants and there is a boardwalk that leads to the 35 acre lake.  For many years, reed canary grass has been spreading into the bog.  After four years of volunteer efforts, we are seeing a return of many more orchids, ferns and other unique plants along the boardwalk.

 Volunteer days for reed canary grass removal in Spruce Lake Bog SNA are as follows.

Saturdays, June 8^th and 15^th from 9 am to noon.

Meet at the Spruce Lake Bog parking lot on Airport Road.

 The Friends of the NKMSF are excited to fund some of the invasive species control work around the Ice Age Center this year.  We plan to hire a contractor to open up the view from the deck to the outwash plain.  Over the years, trees have grown and now block the view.  We also plan to manage the prairie that was planted when the building was erected, and rid the adjacent trails of buckthorn and honeysuckle.  We would like to show visitors what a healthy ecosystem looks like. 

 Volunteer day for removal of some of the invasive shrubs at the Ice Age Center.

OutWiGo Volunteering: Invasive Species Awareness Day

June 22, 2024 from 10 am – 12 pm

Meet at the Ice Age Visitor Center parking lot on 67.

 We are expanding our volunteer efforts to target two other invasive plants, Japanese hedge parsley and cut-leaf teasel starting in the Zillmer trails area.  Japanese hedge parsley, an easily overlooked member of the carrot family, is particularly abundant in this part of the Northern Unit and we will concentrate on the hiking trails because it has a seed that clings to clothing and animal hair.  Past control efforts by DNR staff and our volunteers have had positive results.

 Volunteer days for removal of Japanese hedge parsley in the Zillmer area are as follows.

Wednesdays, June 26th and July 3^rd from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.

Saturdays, June 29^th and July 6^th from 9 to noon.

Meet at the Zillmer Shelter on SS.

 Cut-leaf teasel is well established and spreading in surrounding areas.  To date, cut-leaf teasel has only been seen in the Zillmer Trail Area and a few other sites in the Forest and past efforts show that it can be contained.

 Volunteer days for removal of cut-leaf teasel are as follows.

Saturdays, July 13th and July 20^th from 9 to noon

Meet at the Zillmer Shelter on SS.  

 Note: we might travel to the town of New Fane on the second date.

 The Greenbush Kettle Prairie has not yet been designated a state natural area, but it is one of the few sites in the Kettle Moraine that contains original prairie vegetation.  The site has 2 steep, undisturbed slopes that were never plowed separated by a flat area that was farmed.  This former farm field was abandoned several decades ago and the field is growing back with many native plants.  Unfortunately, the past soil disturbance has given an opportunity for non-native weeds to grow too.  We are working to remove the exotic plants to encourage the native prairie.

 Volunteer days for removal of invasive plants at the Greenbush Kettle Prairie are as follows.

Wednesday, July 24^th from 4:30 pm to 7 pm

Saturday, July 27^th from 9 am to noon.

 The schedule of dates list the group outings of the Stewards of the Northern Kettle Moraine and are planned to optimize our collective efforts. We would like to accommodate additional dates and times that better fit any interested individuals or groups; please call Connie at 920-533-8939 with any requests or proposals.  We will not be volunteering in August, but will start again in fall with woody invasive species removal. Our fall volunteer schedule will be in the next issue of the Friend’s newsletter.

 The Friends of the Kettle Moraine have long been committed to preserving and protecting our land and water.  We hope by volunteering, you will experience the deep rewards that come from contributing to the preservation of biodiversity in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit.

 Please contact Connie Ramthun, Volunteer Coordinator, with any questions or concerns.  She will put you on the emailing list with details of the work involved, what to wear and what to bring.  Her email address is connieramthun@gmail.com.

 “Action on behalf of life transforms.  Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting.  As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”

 Braiding Sweetgrass,

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Ice Age Visitor Center hours

Call the Center for current hours at 920-533-8361

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Please note that the DNR urges state park visitors to do their part when visiting DNR properties. Most Wisconsin state parks, forests and other day-use areas do not have garbage or recycling bins. When you visit, please take your garbage and recyclables home with you. We all play a vital role in taking care of our natural resources. Following the Leave No Trace principles helps protect the land for generations to come. Fight the Bite! Ticks are out, and visitors should take precautions to prevent Lyme Disease.

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FRIENDS OF THE KETTLE MORAINE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

Board meetings usually start at 6:00 pm

Meeting locations will be posted on this web page in advance.

2024 Board Meeting Schedule

• Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (Ice Age Center)
• Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (Ice Age Center)
• Tuesday, July 9, 2024 (Ice Age Center)
• Tuesday, October 8, 2024 (TBD)
• Tuesday, November 12, 2024 - Annual Meeting and Volunteer Dinner (location TBD)

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