Photo by Rachel Roberts

Ice Age Trail University (IAT-U): Virtual Sessions

IAT-U offers a wide-range of Alliance and Ice Age Trail-related topics from the comfort of your homes.

Browse IAT-U's 2024 Offerings and Register Today!

Click through the tabs to see what virtual events are offered this year. More sessions coming soon!

Join the Alliance staff as we highlight 2024 events. Come learn more about the ways you can work and play on the Ice Age Trail.

We will be in full swing of our winter habitat improvement projects in January & February. Newbies can get a jumpstart at learning project lingo (four-step tread construction, swampers, Pulaski) and an idea of which events sound like fun. Seasoned volunteers can determine where they can best use their tread construction, stone work, or boardwalk building skills.

We’ll also unveil the ever-popular Trailtessa Retreats, our Members events, and outreach opportunities to help spread the word about the Ice Age Trail at community events – you know you want to be Monty!

There is something for everyone.

Presenters:  Patrick Gleissner, Field Operations Coordinator, Steve Pence, Land Restoration Specialist, Lisa Szela, Volunteer Support Coordinator, and Amy Lord, Outreach and Education Manager

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Calling all Chapter Leaders and volunteers! There are important updates to the National Parks Service (NPS) Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program of which you should be aware. Please join Dan Watson, Volunteer Coordinator for the NPS-Ice Age National Scenic Trail, on Zoom, to learn more.

Dan will discuss the:

  • Need for volunteers to complete the current Volunteer Agreement Forms (OF-301A) on an annual basis;
  • Dates and locations of the upcoming chainsaw certification courses;
  • Requirements in the Ice Age Trail Chainsaw Policy for sawyer assistants (aka “swampers”) to be able to work with sawyers;
  • 2023 volunteer numbers and hours recap;
  • General updates from NPS headquarters in Cross Plains.

All volunteers are welcome to join and Chapter Leaders are expressly encouraged to attend.

If you have questions regarding your volunteer status, contact Dan directly at daniel_watson@nps.gov.

Presenters: Dan Watson, Volunteer Coordinator for NPS – Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and Lisa Szela, Volunteer Support Coordinator

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

How to Make the Most of Your Membership

Welcome to those of you who recently joined our Ice Age Trail Alliance community, and thank you to those who renewed your membership. The Ice Age Trail Alliance has witnessed an unprecedented number of Trail enthusiasts joining over the past few years!

Join us for a virtual Ice Age Trail Alliance Welcome. 

Deepen your connection to the Ice Age Trail Community and join us for a virtual membership orientation via Zoom. Alliance staff will introduce you to programs and the organizations we partner with to accomplish our goals. We’ll introduce you to our chapters and the ways you can connect with this vibrant volunteer community. We’ll highlight resources you can use to plan your next adventure and spend some time answering your questions!

Presenters: Amy Lord, Outreach and Education Manager, Eric Sherman, Membership Coordinator and Lisa Szela, Volunteer Support Coordinator.

Date: Monday, March 11, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m