Photo Credit: Emily Meier

Saunters

The Saunters program aims to honor Henry David Thoreau’s statement – “It is a great art to saunter” – while infusing core educational concepts into trips on the Ice Age Trail.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning
Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning
Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Join us on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail – one of Wisconsin’s premier outdoor classrooms.

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Kids from Van Hise Elementary in Madison cheer after a successful hike! Photo by VHE staff.

A Successful Year for Our Saunters and Think Outside Initiatives!

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Think Outside, Saunters, logoYouth and Education: Saunters and Think Outside

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is an education trail by nature. We believe strongly in sharing the Trail’s natural story with tomorrow’s leaders through immersive, hands-on experiences.

Students from West Middleton Elementary School enjoyed a hike along the Indian Lake Segment. Photo by WMES staff.
Students from West Middleton Elementary School enjoyed a hike along the Indian Lake Segment. Photo by WMES staff.

Why Saunters?

  1. A collaboration between the Alliance, school districts, and community groups.
  2. A proven, curriculum-based program, begun in 2008, that gets more than 2,300 participants out into nature on a yearly basis.
  3. Enhances students’ knowledge-building in one of nature’s most fascinating, hand-on, learning environments while deepening their understanding of the forces that created Wisconsin’s unique landscape.
  4. Integrates multiple facets of Wisconsin’s Common Core curriculum and/or Wisconsin Model Academic Standards into a unique field experience designed to excite young minds.
  5. Gives students the opportunity to rub shoulders with world-renowned glacial features in a way that brings the pages of their textbooks (or tablets) to life.
  6. Stretches legs and minds as students take a break from screen time, breathe fresh air, and absorb a new perspective.
  7. Reduces childhood obesity through building familiarity with an inexpensive form of exercise while encouraging healthy lifestyles for students and their families.

“It’s a privilege to spend unplugged, outdoor time with these kids, a generation growing up with smartphones, Instagram and Snapchat accounts. We take time to Geocache, find ColdCaches, explore historical sites, and investigate whatever is of interest to the students in that moment: a toad, an erratic, or a snake. And then there is the climbing. Many students are fearless climbers of rocks, trees, and whatever else seems inviting.”

~ Brian Bednarek, middle school teacher and outdoor enthusiast

Ways to Saunter

Saunters is tailored to meet the needs of teachers, school districts, and community centers and their staff.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Think Outside

One-day field experiences for fourth grade students designed to dovetail directly with classroom learning. Prior to an introductory hike on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail Alliance staff, or expert volunteer, provides a free classroom presentation. It includes an overview of last Ice Age, the geologic features the glaciers left behind that shaped Wisconsin’s terrain, and how hiking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail unveils and brings this story to life.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Day Hikes-Summer School

Ideal for summer school, Day Hikes are a series of outings along the Ice Age Trail that can reach up to 6-10 miles of walking per day. Teachers have successfully offered this experience as a week-long endeavor, Monday – Friday.

In some cases, teachers have arranged Day Hikes as part of their classroom outings during the course of the regular school year. Day Hikes can be tailored to suit a variety of teaching styles, curriculum needs, and age groups.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Backpacking Trips

These multiple days of 24-hour immersion along the Ice Age Trail are ideal for summer school. They include hiking distances of up to 10-miles a day, overnight camping, and an introduction to useful outdoor skills. This experience is known for building confidence and resilience in the students who participate in it. The school districts of Frederic and Luck have developed a program of robust and popular summer backpacking excursions.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Service Learning

These single or multiple day experiences include working side-by-side with volunteers removing invasive species and/or improving trail tread.

Our hard-working volunteers love a helpful hand to care for the Ice Age Trail. Happily, the service part of service learning takes a back seat to the knowledge young people gain through their work on the Trail. Academic concepts vary by the type of work being done. Examples include: prairie restoration, landscape architecture, safety, event planning and more. We tailor the objectives to meet the needs of participating groups.

Several ways for youth groups to volunteer with the Alliance include working with a local volunteer chapter, joining a Mobile Skills Crew event, or working with our staff to tailor an event that meets your community’s needs.

How We Help You Saunter

Our staff and volunteers work collaboratively with teachers, school districts, and community centers and their staff to establish successful Saunters programs.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Planning and Preparation

Outreach and Education Manager, Amy Lord, is available to assist teachers with planning, ideas sharing , and determining which Saunters options best suits their students and school districts.

Alliance staff assists the teachers in determining the best locations for hikes based on their school’s proximity to a particular Trail segment, and offers maps and guidebooks as additional resources.

A Suite of Educational Resources

Classroom presentations prior to the Saunters field trip educates students about the Ice Age Trail and its geology, the mission and vision of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, and what to expect and how to prepare for a hiking experience.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learningYou can download the Companion Guide for Sauntering – an Ice Age Trail journal [PDF] for students and children to use as they explore the Ice Age Trail.

A collaboration of Alliance staff, Saunters teachers and volunteers developed the guide, which covers core concepts related to the natural environment and includes activities students can complete on the Trail.

All activities are connected to the Common Core and/or Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. A guide for hike leaders that details the connections to Common Core and Wisconsin Model Academic Standards is also available.

Most hikes also connect with the Alliance’s ColdCache program which is an exciting way to explore and learn about the many natural features along the Ice Age Trail.

If you are looking for a classroom-friendly activity that allows your students to experience the thrill of a treasure hunt, learn important navigational skills and develop an appreciation for Wisconsin’s fascinating Ice Age history, ColdCaching is for you!

ColdCache Program
The Art of Sauntering: Games and Activities

The Art of Sauntering: Games and Activities

This hike leader’s guide to games and activities (downloadable PDF) offers plenty ideas for how to get and keep kids engaged while out for a hike or field experience on the Ice Age Trail. These activities are a wonderful way to begin a hike, keep a group together, spice up a destination, or occupy part of the group while the other part catches up. Adults will enjoy them as much as children!

These activities are reprinted courtesy of courtesy of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and were originally developed by Delia Clark and Pat Straughan for Shelburne Farms.

Explorer Program: Trail Discoveries

The Explorer Program: Trail Discoveries

The following downloadable PDF playsheets (see example left) were created by Education Outfitters as a result of generous funding for a grant project known as “From the Inside Out”.

These playsheets are a great way to expand and deepen the hiking experience. Created by a former educator, these activities offer something for every learning style.

Playsheets appropriate for the following age groups:

All Ages:
Leave No Trace
Ice Age Trail Bingo
iNaturalist
Plant Sketches
Rainbow Photo Gallery

Elementary (5-10):
Engage the Senses
Forest Bath

Middle (11-13):
Engage the Senses
Forest Bath
Get Social
Hiker Lingo

High School (14-18):
Glacier Word Search
What Does the Future Hold?
What-3-Words

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Think Outside, Digital Scavenger HuntWhen is a good time to learn more about the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Ice Age Trail Alliance?

Any time with a digital scavenger hunt!

Before you go out for an adventure on the Trail, explore www.iceagetrail.org to learn more about what makes the Ice Age Trail so special, the unique glacial features you’ll see along the way, and how the Ice Age Trail Alliance is working to create, support and protect this thousand-mile footpath in Wisconsin.

Download and populate this Scavenger Hunt (a fillable PDF) with your discoveries!

The Answer Key is here.

StriveOn!

Try StriveOn! It’s easy as 1-2-3!   

Seek. Discover. Engage. The StriveOn! app connects hikers to unique places along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail through engagement points activated by one’s smart phone. Learn interesting fun facts about local segments and their captivating glacial features.

  1. Download the free StriveOn! app by hovering your phone over this QR code. Tap on the web address that pops up and follow the instructions
  2. Once downloaded, you may create an account by entering your name and email. When opened, the geo-location-based app, will automatically alert you if you are near a featured item. For example, if you are located in Lodi, WI, StriveOn! will automatically display segment descriptions and eateries.
  3. When you are onsite at a trailhead, open the Trail segment in StriveOn! and click the EXPLORE button to activate engagement points along the Trail. Start hiking! Be sure to have your phone ringer ON so you can hear when you encounter an engagement point.

You may watch a short instructional video to learn how to use the StriveOn! app:  https://youtu.be/q4RzGwsLaM8

See you on the Ice Age Trail!

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

Lesson 1

Learn about the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Ice Age Trail Alliance, the organization which works to conserve, create, maintain, and promote the Ice Age Trail. The stories of the Ice Age Trail and Ice Age Trail Alliance are a fascinating mix of vision, conservation, and passion, involving both famous Wisconsin politicians and thousands of private citizens.

Lesson 2

Learn about the glacial land forms you may see while hiking the Ice Age Trail. The Ice Age Trail primarily interprets continental glaciation, but the story of the Trail goes back much farther on the geologic timeline. Did you know that as you walk the Ice Age Trail, your footsteps will take you back in time almost 2 billion years?

When people begin hiking the Ice Age Trail, interesting new words become part of their vocabulary as they learn about the geologic features along the route, including kames, drumlins, ice-walled-lake plains, outwash plains, eskers, and tunnel channels. Check out the Ice Age Trail Glossary for definitions of these and other features you are likely to encounter while hiking the Ice Age Trail.

Lesson 3

As of 2020, the Ice Age Trail Alliance owns and manages more than 4,000 acres of land. A special Alliance-owned property, Swamplovers’ Preserve, received decades of restoration efforts to transform it into a diverse habitat for native plants and animals. You may also learn more about land management initiatives along the Ice Age Trail as well as the Alliance’s efforts to help protect the Karner blue butterfly.

Lesson 4

Learn about how to have a safe and fun hike on the Ice Age Trail, your favorite park, or going for a walk around the block.

Lesson 5

VIDEO COMING SOON!

“It is about making stronger people, by gracefully pushing them beyond what they perceive as their limits, and helping them overcome fears. It is about helping Saunterers to slow down, to spend a few moments savoring and absorbing life before plotting the next move.”

~Luke Kloberdanz, Director of Philanthropy

More About the Art of Sauntering

Musings from Alliance staff, interns, and Saunters teachers.

Saunters Backpacking Course, Chequamegon National Fortest with Luke Kloberdanz from The Ice Age Scenic Trail Alliance

What is the Point of This?

By Luke Kloberdanz (former Outreach and Education Director, now Director of Philanthropy)

One of my favorite questions from a recent Sauntering experience is, “What is the point of this?” Spoken by a 3rd grader, with bright red cheeks and too heavy pack, as the group walked through the lightly glaciated hills of Dane County.

Read more…

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Outdoor Classrooms, Field Experience, National Park Foundation, Saunters Program, Youth and Education, Outreach

The Making of a Thousand-Miler

By Brian Bednarek, teacher at the Montessori School of Waukesha

Do your kids ask to go hiking? Fortunately, mine do. I’m a middle school teacher, outdoor enthusiast, and member of the mowing crew of the Waukesha/Milwaukee Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. For the past five years, I’ve been leading hikes on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for my summer school students from the Montessori School of Waukesha. Based on the records I keep of each day’s hikes, my students have covered 2,367 total Trail miles over the last five years.

Read more…

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Saunters Program, Summer Saunters, Think Outside, Childhood Obesity, Wisconsin Common Core Curriculum, Summer School, Youth backpacking trips, Service learning

"Taylor" Made Hike on the Ice Age Trail in Taylor County

By Taylor Houghton, 2018 Intern for the Ice Age Trail Alliance

Never have I been without running water, civilization, or a car full of supplies. Instead of a modest two-mile hike, I’d be hiking 14 miles. Instead of sleeping in a cozy bed, I’d be carrying it on my back! As an intern for the Alliance’s Outreach and Education Program, I would be joining the Frederic School District’s Summer Saunters Backpacking trip led by teacher Carrie Peterson.

Read more…

Interested? Contact Us!

Are you interested in learning more about Saunters, Think Outside, Day Hikes, or Service Learning or other educational opportunities?

If so, please contact Outreach and Education Manager, Amy Lord at amy@iceagetrail.org or (608) 798-4453 x233.