Be Adventurous. Pick up a set of clippers and wrestle buckthorn to the ground. Here, Jo – one of the most enthusiastic volunteers you’ll ever meet – drills holes to assemble a boardwalk. Photo by David Lonsdorf.
Be Giving. Give back to Mother Nature who nurtures you. We’ll arm you with handsaws and clippers for removing invasive buckthorn. Permanent protection of the Ice Age Trail also involves the responsible management of Alliance owned land. There is a season for everything and winter is a great time to tackle invasive species and burn piles of brush.
Be Brave. Step out on a bright, cold winter’s day. Truth – confronting days forge badassery. Winter shimmers in hillside hike up to the Steenbock Preserve. Photo by Lysianne Unruh.
Be Crucial. Help unveil the beauty of the Steenbock Preserve. Volunteers are faithfully restoring the land to a mix of oak and prairie savanna. Mother Nature won’t disappoint. Here, the Trail winds its way up, over 200 feet above Lake Wisconsin, and provides majestic views of the lower Wisconsin Riverway and beyond to the Baraboo range.
Winter bonfires burn brush collected during summer season Trail stewardship days. Photo by Lysianne Unruh.
We promise bonfires and you’ll work side-by-side with one of the most dedicated Trail enthusiasts you’ll ever meet, chainsaw certified, Joanne Ellarson and a formidable crew of female volunteers from the Dane County Chapter and the Lodi Valley Chapter.
Be EMPOWERED Event Details:
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Arrive by 9:45 a.m. for signing in and getting equipment registered to you. You’ll hike in as a group to the work site.)
No experience is necessary and there’s a role for volunteers of all ages and abilities…bring the family! Training is provided by certified volunteer crew leaders.
Your participation is welcome for any amount of time you can give. Come for some portion or stay all day, whatever suits you best.
Lunch provided on site. Expect a baked potato bar and veggie/vegan/GF chili.
Park at Merrimac Ferry and hike up to Steenbock Preserve.
Dress warmly and in layers. Even in winter, trail stewardship efforts can have you breaking a sweat.
NOTE: The Gibraltar Rock Segment for the Be EMPOWERED event is located in COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Limit: 50 women ages 14 and above.
Resources:
Gibraltar Rock Segment description from 2017-2019 Guidebook [PDF]
Gibraltar Rock Segment map from 2017-2019 Atlas [PDF]
Our GENEROUS sponsors for this Be EMPOWERED event – Thank You!
