Chippewa Moraine Chapter -
Ice Age Trail Alliance

Gather for Potluck, Chapter Updates, and Conversation – Monday, July 16, at 6 PM

Join chapter friends for a grand potluck supper with a million dollar view overlooking beautiful South Shattuck Lake from high atop the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center hill. We’ll start at 6 PM on Monday, July 16, at the Visitor Center.

Our mid-summer picnic is an opportunity to connect during our busy summer and find out what we’re all up to, as well as engage in a little trail talk and informal dreaming about our chapter and the trail. It’s not a heavy-duty meeting, but rather a time to have a conversation and enjoy the view.

Oh, and the food’s pretty good, too.

Bring a dish to pass, your eating tools and plate, and your own beverage.

Nancy Frank, our esteemed regional field coordinator for the past several years, has chosen to pursue other paths professionally and moved from the “staff” column over to the “member” side. Welcome, Nancy, to your new role, and thanks for all you did to energize, guide, and inspire us. Those shoes will be hard to fill, but we hope to see you as a member often!

Several key players have been moving around the playing field this summer.

Our Maintenance Coordinator, Jim Brenner, was relieved (due to a heavy work schedule) by Dave Caliebe. Now Dave has taken a new job that will take him out of the area for the summer, so he has had to vacate the post. Trail adopters and others who notice maintenance issues should notify Richard for now.

It simply wouldn’t be the first Saturday in October without our annual Fall Parade Of Colors Hike. We’ve had difficulties re-filling the shoes of Elizabeth Preston-Simon and Gerry Munyon who retired from the job this year. Fortunately, Rick Magyar will coordinate a smaller event this year, with help from a committee. If you’d like to help on the committee, please contact Richard as Rick is away for much of July. If you’ve enjoyed shuttling or bringing treats in the past, pencil in the date on your calendar, as another opportunity to introduce our trail to new users awaits.

This year we will re-energize in August with a “First Sunday” hike on August 5, and a Trail Improvement Day on Saturday, August 11. Don’t miss these opportunities to enjoy a new section of trail with friends or re-build a section of boardwalk (with luck). Mark your calendars and watch for more details later.

On National Trails Day eight chapter volunteers welcomed 24 hikers to the Ice Age Trail as we showed off our newest segment, the recently completed “Chippewa River Segment” (a 2006 MSC project). All left with door prizes, treats, and first-hand experience of the new trail. The chapter held several workdays this spring to put finishing touches on the new segment, including building a new bridge and putting up additional signs. Thanks to all who helped at the event, or at the workdays ahead of it, or who came to hike! Special thanks to Ron Brewster for his work on the new bridge and rebuilding the large stolen sign.