Help Build and Maintain Ice Age Trail in Dane County
Like the other National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail is built and maintained by volunteers. We can use your help – for a morning, a few days a year, or on a more regular basis. We rely on volunteers to help with prairie and oak savanna restoration (land stewardship) and monitoring, maintaining, mowing, and even building sections of trail in Dane County (trail improvement).
Work days are scheduled almost every weekend throughout the year. The work varies from season to season, and there is typically work for all skill levels. In addition, there are occasional large-scale, project-oriented events (e.g., building a new boardwalk).
See the IATA calendar for our upcoming work days and other events. You can “Narrow Your Results” from the online calendar left-side menu (Event Category – Select – Dane County Chapter, then Submit).
Email Groups: Tried out a work day and don’t want to miss out on another? Contact Megan Schliesman (schliesfrau@gmail.com) and ask to be added to the “stewardship,” and/or “trail building” email lists to receive work day notifications (typically 1-2 messages per week throughout year for “stewardship”; “trail building” work days are seasonal–typically late spring through fall).
Other Information for Volunteers
First-time volunteers: If you are coming to a workday for the first time, read Helpful Information for Workday Volunteers (Word Document) to know what to bring and what to expect.
If you’re joining us for the first time at an event, please visit the Ice Age Trail Alliance Volunteer Resources page; be sure to complete the fillable Volunteer Services Agreement Form and email it (along with any questions) to Dan Watson, (Daniel_Watson@nps.gov).
Returning Volunteers: The Volunteer Resources form (see above) should be submitted annually.
Keeping Track of Your Time: We report volunteer hours quarterly to the Ice Age Trail Alliance and National Park Service. If you are volunteering on a work day, the work day coordinator will likely record this information, including your travel time, and report it. If you are in doubt, ask the work day coordinator. If not, or if you are doing other volunteer work for the chapter independently, please track your volunteer time (including any travel time) and report hours quarterly to our chapter volunteer hours reporter, Tess Mulrooney, tlmmdsn@aol.com
Ice Age Trail Alliance information for volunteers, including IATA-sponsored training opportunities, links to volunteer time tracking sheets, and more.
Prairie Burns: March and April have fewer regularly scheduled workdays because this is burn season for the chapter’s many acres of prairie as part of our stewardship work. Training /experience is generally required to participate in burns. One source of training is the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council. The class volunteers should take is S130-S190, Basic Wildland Firefighter and Prescribed Fire Training.
Dane Drifter Hiking Award Program
The Hiking Award program patch of the Dane County Chapter.
Do you want to hike all of the Ice Age Trail in Dane County? Become a Dane Drifter! As a reward for completing all the county’s segments, you’ll receive a patch and recognition for your achievement. You can take as much time as you’d like to finish and enjoy the intrinsic rewards along the way.
To receive your certificate and patch:
- Certify your miles and submit payment online ($10.00 for Alliance members, $12.00 for non-members)
- OR complete the registration form (pdf) and send in the small fee. The form includes additional details, as well as a log for recording your progress.
Contact Gary at kensinginn@tds.net for more information.
Ice Age Drift Newsletter
Check out the current and past issues of our chapter newsletter, the Ice Age Drift.
The Dane County Land Fund
The Dane County Land Fund is a 501(c)(3) fund established to help us permanently protect and manage lands for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Dane County. Your donation helps with land acquisition to support the goal of “closing the gaps” between off-road sections of trail. Donate.
Trail Angels/Hikers’ Helpers
For those hiking the Trail through Dane and Green counties, contact Stacey Burkart (staceyburkart@gmail.com) for “Trail Angel” assistance (e.g., shuttle ride to your car).
Mower Sign-Out Pages
For trained volunteers only: before using, please sign out the Billy Goat mower, large DR mowers, or shoulder-mount brush cutters.
Contact Us
General email: DaneCoChapter@iceagetrail.org
Dane County Chapter coordinator:
Bob Kaspar
3809 Anchor Drive
Madison, WI 53714
608 239-0168
bobkaspar@sbcglobal.net
Other 2024 chapter officers:
Co-coordinator: EJ Temme
Secretary: Carrie Preston, carrie.m.preston@gmail.com
Treasurer: Jamie Droessler, jamie@directfinancialcare.com
Additional key chapter contacts:
Trail Maintenance Coordinator: Vacant
Land Stewardship Coordinator: Gary Werner, nattrails@aol.com
Trail Monitor and Mowing Volunteer Coordinator: Denny Caneff, dcaneff54@gmail.com
Email lists (to receive notification of workdays/chapter business meetings): Megan Schliesman, schliesfrau@gmail.com
Volunteer Hours Reporting: Tess Mulrooney, tlmmdsn@aol.com
Dane Drifter Hiking Award Program: Gary Wensing, kensinginn@tds.net