Hikes, talks and demonstrations on ways to enjoy the Ice Age Trail will make up an all-day fair at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center near New Auburn on Saturday. Rebecca Hildebrandt, Ice Age Trail Alliance Development Director says the program named “Trilliums to Tweets” will show how the trail can be a canvas on which to paint many outdoor activities. Hot dogs grilled on a fire will be available free of charge for fair-goers around noon.
Family-friendly activities geared to youth are slated including a “rolling hike” led by Visitor Center staff member Rod Gont. Roy Gromme, son of Owen Gromme, often referred to as the “Dean of American Wildlife Artists”, will display some of his father’s most famous works and tell the story behind the paintings. Harvey Halversen, WDNR Wildlife Biologist and a member of the Blue Bird Society, will describe the interesting antics of owls and cavity nesting birds.
Greg Locascio, will give tips on journaling that he learned while thru- hiking the Applachian and Pacific Crest Trails. Nancy Frank, a certified Nordic Walking instructor, will tell about the unique benefits of Nordic Walking and show participants how to get started on this enjoyable form of exercise. Laura Sandstrom and Harold Lindemann, both from the Superior Lobe Chapter of the Ice Age Trail will respectively lead a bird walk and a flower stroll.
Event Schedule:
7:30 am “Early Bird” Bird Walk – Laura Sandstrom
9:00 am Journaling – Long Trail Memories –Greg Locascio
10:00 am Bluebirds and Other Cavity Birds – Harvey Halvorson
11:00 am Nordic Walking on the Ice Age Trail – Nancy Frank
12:00 pm Kids Rolling Hike and Youth Program – Rod Gont
1:00 pm Owen Gromme’s Birds of Wisconsin – Roy Gromme
2:00 pm Wild Flower and Interesting Plants – Harold Lindemann
3:00 pm A Picture Story of the Ice Age Trail
The Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center is 7 miles east of New Auburn and 1.9 miles east of State Highway 40 on County Highway “M”. For more information, contact Rebecca Hildebrandt, IATA Director of Development at 608-963-3896 or by e-mail at rebecca@iceagetrail.org