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TREES FOR TOMORROW CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
by Jerry Kiesow
Wisconsin On a day of sunshine, sandwiched between endless days of clouds and rain, some 300 people
from all walks of life came to Eagle River, Wisconsin, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Trees For Tomorrow.
Silent sports enthusiasts should acknowledge that without an organization like Trees For Tomorrow, we would have fewer trails to hike, ski and bike, and our canoe "paths" would be less appealing. Trees For
Tomorrow continues to teach conservation to people of all ages and in a variety of formats.
In attendance at the June 10 clebration was Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism and former TFT director Jim
Holperin, Gov. Jim Doyle's northern representative Bryce Luchterhand and representatives of some 35 corporations who support TFT financially.
As World War II raged in Europe, most of America's professional loggers were serving overseas. For this reason, the timber industry in Wisconsin was having difficulty supplying pulp and paper mills. So the War
Production Board launched a national campaign aimed at convincing local landowners to cut and haul wood
to the mills. M.N. "Mully" Taylor, advertising manager of the Merrill Daily Herald, directed the Upper
Wisconsin River Valley campaign and "Pulpwood Goes to War" was the slogan. It was this campaign's success which prompted mill owners to create an organization to work on reforestation and land
management planning with private landowners. Taylor was designated to head the organization.
On February 29, 1944, Trees For Tomorrow was officially recognized as a private nonprofit organization,
headquartered in Merrill, Wisconsin. Nine paper companies agreed to fund TFT: Consolidated Water and Paper Co. (later Consolidated Paper and now Stora Enso North America); Whiting Plover Paper Co,
Mosinee Paper Mills Co. (now Wausau-Mosinee Paper), Marathon Corp., Wausau Paper Mills Co., now Wausau-Mosinee Paper), Ward Paper Co., Tomahawk Kraft paper Co. (now Packaging Corp. of
America), Tomahawk Pulp Co., and Rhinelander paper Co. (now Wausau-Mosinee Paper).
In the beginning, the intent was to provide a local self-sustaining wood supply for industry by encouraging
small forest landowners to plant trees and practice sound forest conservation principles, promote year-round employment for northern residents, stabilization of the tax base, better watershed protection,
and enhancement of the area's natural resources for an expanding tourism industry.
Reforestation became the top priority. A "two-for-one" plan was introduced in 1945: two seedlings for each
tree cut. That first spring, 800,000 trees were distributed. By the end of 1946, that number grew to 1.5 million.
TFT hosted its first three-day student workshop in 1950 for 42 students from Whitefish Bay and
Shorewood high schools. Today, Trees For Tomorrow serves 6,000 students and teachers annually. The mainstay of Trees For Tomorrow's educ ation programs is still the three-day natural resource workshop for
school students, with approximately 100 school districts in Wisconsin, northern Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan participating.
During the summer months, TFT offers graduate classes for teachers. University of Wisconsin faculty-led courses on current natural resource topics and teaching techniques.
TFT is a destination for a variety of Elderhostel events that involve canoeing, biking, cross-country skiing
and fly fishing, and this year they have added a snowshoe-making class. Such activities are also available to other groups who make advance arrangements. All TFT sessions which last longer than a day include food
and lodging on campus.
Current TFT president John Shafer said the organization never stands still and is always looking for ways to expand without sacrificing its current service and instruction.
TFT programs have inspired many people to involve themselves in the conservation of our natural resources, and encouraged same by the forest products industry. By extension, TFT has opened forest
lands to the public and protected pristine lakes and streams from development.
For more information, check out www.treesfortomorrow.com, call 800/838-9472 or write to Trees For
Tomorrow, P.O. Box 609, Eagle River, WI 54521.
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GET FREE GUIDE OF MINNESOTA CANOE & KAYAK ROUTES
Minnesota has 26 state designated canoe and boating routes, one kayak route (Lake Superior Water Trail) and over 1,500 water access sites across the state.
Many of these routes may require a certain level of experience and should not be attempted with just any watercraft.
Rivers and rapids are rated by class level, according to the International Scale of River Difficulty. In Minnesota, the lowest class level is Class I, easy; the highest is Class VI, which cannot be attempted
without great risk of life.
The free canoe and boating guide, which includes a map and description of public access points, campsites,
rest areas, navigational features and river miles, is available through the DNR Information Center. Information regarding canoe and boating routes can be also found on the Minnesota DNR's Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/canoeing/routes.html.
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10K RETURNS, BUT ENTRIES LIMITED AT HAYWARD HALF MARATHON MEGA WEEKEND
Hayward, Wisconsin The Hayward Half Marathon Mega Weekend is gearing up for its fourth big year on September 11-12.
Saturday's Aquafina Hayward Half Marathon, starting on Hayward's Main Street, follows a beautiful and challenging course widely known by runners, bikers and skiers as a great cross-training route.
A few minutes after the 8:30 a.m. half-marathon start, Slumberland 5K participants will take off on their own downtown route. And $5 from each 5K registration will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Sawyer County.
Sunday is the day to hit the woods. The Backroads Coffee and Tea 10K Trail Run takes runners and walkers on a beautiful portion of the Birkebeiner ski trail. The race starts and finishes at Hatchery Park. The
out-and back looped course is wide and mowed.
Last year's first ever Backroads 10K trail run was a success with some runners doing the "Best of Both"
running the half marathon on Saturday and the trail run on Sunday. The trail run is a way to wind down from the longer road race the day before. Other runners can use the combination to train for the Twin Cities and
Chicago marathons.
Registration for this year's races is already in full swing. To maintain the quality of the race and ensure a
great experience for every participant, the 10K race will be limited to 250 runners with a possible elite wave for Best of Both runners only.
Whichever race you choose, the events will include chip timing, jam-packed race bags and great postrace food. Listen or dance to the funky jazz tunes of the one and only Randy Sabien and get worked over by one
of four massage therapists. At all three races there will be loads of giveaways of items from various running stores and outfitters.
Register online at www.active.com. For more information, visit www.haywardhalfmarathon.com or call
715/634-0012.
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WOMEN'S BIKE TOUR TO FOLLOW MISSISSIPPI RIVER
A north-to-south cross-country bicycle tour following the Mississippi River will take place this fall for women only. The all-woman bicycle tour company, WomanTours Inc., is conducting the 2,170 mile trip starting on September 17.
Called the Meandering Mississippi, the voyage will follow the Mississippi River from its origins at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to its mouth at the Louisiana Delta into the Gulf of Mexico.
The women will bicycle an average of 65 miles a day for 40 days to follow the river. The Mississippi is the
longest and largest river in North America and the third longest in the world. It runs through 31 states and two Canadian Provinces.
The women will pedal on several historic trails, including the Great River Road in Minnesota and the Natchez Trace in Tennessee. They'll cross the river several times by bridge and once by ferry and traverse
abundant farmland until they reach their final destination of New Orleans.
The women will be fully supported by a team of leaders, vehicles and a private chef. They'll overnight in
small hotels and bed and breakfasts along the way.
To join the women or to learn more, contact WomanTours at 800/247-1444 or www.womantours.com.
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20TH YEAR FOR VETERANS PARK BICYCLE FUND-RAISER
Neillsville, Wisconsin Bicyclists will roll along Wisconsin's highways Thursday, August 12, to Sunday, August 15, for the 20th time to converge at the Highground Veterans Memorial Park.
The cyclists will come from five locations Gurnee, Illinois, Appleton, New Richmond, Madison and Hayward. The routes will vary in length from 150 to 350 miles.
The tour has provided the financial foundation for the park from its inception. In its 20th year, the event
coordinators have set a fund-raising goal of $35,000. The park receives no ongoing state or federal funding, relying on donations to meet its dual mission of healing and education.
Chartered in 1984, the Highground Veterans Memorial Park, also known as Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project Inc., has grown from a field with a flag pole to 140 acres with a 45,000-square-foot
plaza, nine tributaries to veterans of several wars, and four miles of walking trails. The park is located four mles west of Neillsville on U.S. Highway 10.
To participate or provide support for the 20th Highground Bicycle Fund-raising Tour, call the Highground at 715/743-4224 or e-mail highgrnd@tds.net.
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NEW ICE AGE TRAIL MAPS, TOOLS ONLINE
Wisconsin County-specific locator maps are available online for the entire Ice Age Trail through Wisconsin. These maps are not intended to be hiking maps. Rather, they are meant to provide general orientation within
a county or group of counties and the geology of the area.
You need Adobe Acrobat Reader software (preferably version 5.0) to view the 17 color maps. The maps can be downloaded by setting your browser to www.iceagetrail.org/infocenter/index.html, clicking on one of the counties, then clicking on the "download the map" button from the county page.
A new tool to make maps online is DNR WebView and can be found at http://maps.dnr.state.wi.us/webview. It has many of the same functions as the previous Ice Age Trail Map Buffet, but handles a little differently.
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TOP 100 FAMILY CAMPGROUNDS INCLUDE SIX IN MIDWEST
The second annual list of "Top 100 Family Campgrounds" includes a half dozen campgrounds in the Midwest. ReserveAmerica, a reservation and campground management solutions provider, released the list
this spring.
The list was developed in part by park rangers, regional park management and campers who wrote testimonials, rated campgrounds and provided feedback throughout the year. Nearly 3,000 parks were
reviewed and the final 100 campgrounds were chosen based on specific family-friendly criteria ranging from educational programs and visitor centers to camping amenities and overall beauty and scenery. The quality
and availability of hot showers, laundry facilities, hiking trails, family beaches, radio-free zones, visitor centers, educational programs, children's events and location were also considered.
ILLINOIS
Blanding Landing Recreation Area
Blanding Landing is located eight miles from Hanover, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. The weather in this
area runs from warm, humid summers to dry falls. Some popular activities include camping, fishing and boating.
Reservations must be made at least three days in advance. This campground requires a two-night minimum stay on weekends and a three-night minimum stay on holiday weekends. Please check in with the
campground manager upon arrival. For more information please call 800/645-0248.
If you come north of Hanover, Illinois, turn west off Illinois Highway 84. Proceed eight miles on Blanding
Road to the campground entrance.
Gun Creek Campground
In the heart of southern Illinois, the Gun Creek Campground on Rend Lake offers excellent opportunities to
enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and watching wildlife. The 19,000 acres of water and the 20,000 acres of public lands at Rend Lake provide an ideal setting for your outdoor activities. Gun Creek Campground
offers 100 campsites with electric hookups. Gun Creek day-use area offers a shelter with electricity and individual picnic sites with picnic tables and grills. Other amenities include a dump station, a boat ramp and
playgrounds. Golf, trap shooting and sporting clays are available near the campground. Boat rentals are available at the Rend Lake Marina and Rend Lake Resort. For specific area information, visit the Rend
Lake home page at www.mvs.usace.army.mil/rend or call the park at 618/724-2493.
MICHIGAN
Lake Michigan Recreation Area
The Lake Michigan Recreation Area in the Upper Peninsula is located 18 miles west of St. Ignace, between U.S. Highway 2 and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Shorebirds, sand dunes and water activities are
abundant. No hookups, no lifeguard on duty and no public phone.
For more information about the park, call 906/292-5448
MINNESOTA
Sandy Lake Recreation Area
This recreation area and campground is located at the outlet of Big Sandy Lake, which is on the canoe route that linked Lake Superior and the Mississippi River. The Northwest and American fur companies
established major trading posts on the lake in the 1700s.
The campground has 43 single-family electric sites, eight walk-in tent sites, two group sites, and five
double-occupancy sites. Other amenities include dump stations, laundry facilities, showers, two boat ramps on the lake, one boat ramp on the river, swimming beach, playgrounds, picnic shelter, fishing platforms and
a museum.
Reservations must be made at least three days in advance. This campground requires a two-night minimum
stay on weekends and a three-night minimum stay on holiday weekends. All vehicles, camping tents, trailers and other equipment must be completely accommodated on the camping pad and driveway.
Take Minnesota Highway 65 13 miles north of McGregor, Minnesota, and follow the south entrance signs to the campground.
Contact the park at 218/426-3482 regarding availability of first-come, first-served camp sites.
WISCONSIN
Copper Falls State Park
Ancient lava flows, deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls make this one of the state's most scenic parks. Log buildings from the 1930s CCC era add a special charm.
From Wisconsin Highway 13 in Mellen, travel two miles northeast on Wisconsin Highway 169 to the park entrance. For more information about the park, call 715/274-5123.
Willow River State Park
A dam, lake, trout stream, sandy beach, prairie remnants and a nature center are all featured on Willow River State Park's 2,891 acres of rolling countryside. Enjoy spectacular views of the historic Willow Falls
and the Willow River Gorge.
Little Falls Lake is for nonmotorized boats only, no gas or electric motors allowed. Vehicles pulling trailers over 30 feet will have problems maneuvering within the campground.
From Wisconsin or St. Paul, take Interstate 94 to the marked exit at Mile 4. Follow the signs north on U.S. Highway 12 to County Trunk U. Turn left onto County U and go approximately 1.5 miles to the park
entrance. From Stillwater, Minnesota, cross the bridge to Wisconsin Highway 64. Turn right on County Trunk E (the first right turn past the bridge). Take County E east to County Trunk I. Turn right on County I
and go south to County Trunk A. Turn right on County A and go about 1.5 miles to the park entrance.
For more information about the park, call 715/386-5931.
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FIRST ANNUAL WOMEN'S KAYAK SYMPOSIUM AUGUST 19-22
Michigan The first annual Women's Sea Kayak Symposium dubbed "Ladies of the Lake" will be held August 19-22 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula community of Munising.
The event, organized by Down Wind Sports and sponsored by Impex kayaks and Kokatat, is meant to promote women kayaking with women for women.
From first-time kayakers to seasoned veterans, there will be something for every woman paddler.
The site of the symposium is near the Pictured Rocks Historic Lakeshore with its spectacular 200-foot
sandstone cliffs and the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior a world-class kayaking destination.
The symposium will offer instructional courses, clinics, slide shows and opportunities to try out the latest
kayaking gear and clothing. On or before August 15, the cost is $85 for American Canoe Association members and $95 for all others; $150 and $160 thereafter.
In conjunction with the symposium, kayak tours will be held along the lakeshore, including one at sunrise. Also offered, a day trip to the Grand Island National Recreation Area and/or an overnight stay there. The
cost of the trips, ranging from $40 to $125 (less for participants using your own kayak), is in addition to the cost of the symposium.
The kayak trips will be led by professional female guides from Great Northern Adventures, based in Marquette, Michigan. Trips will include thorough instruction and no previous paddling experience will be
necessary. Preregistration for the trips is required by calling 906/225-TOUR.
Symposium speakers will include Shawna Franklin, an instructor and the first woman to circumnavigate
Iceland by kayak. Also appearing is Frida Waara, a Lake Superior-based videographer and writer who in April 2001 documented the first all female, unsupported ski expedition to the North Pole from Russia.
Space is limited for many of the workshops and courses offered at the symposium, and registration was nearly full at press time. For more information, call Down Wind Sports at 906/226-7112.
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NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY VOLUNTEERS TO BE REWARDED WITH FREE DAY PASSES
Volunteers who pitch in on National Public Lands Day will be rewarded with a free entry day over the next year at any public land site managed by one of five federal agencies.
Thousands of volunteers will clear trails, build bridges, plant trees and participate in hundreds of other activities on the 11th annual National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 18. In what has become
the largest volunteer hands-on effort of its kind in the country, participants will lend a hand to the very lands they use to hike, bike, climb, fish, swim, explore, picnic or just plain relax.
For the first time, all National Public Lands Day volunteers who work at a site managed by five federal agencies will receive a coupon good for a "fee-free" day at any site managed by the agencies. Those
agencies, which have entry fees, are the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.
The free entry day was initiated by National Public Lands Day and co-sponsored by Take Pride in America, a national partnership that aims to seek, support and recognize volunteers who work to improve
our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs and wildlife refuges, as well as our cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds and other recreational areas.
"The fee-free day has been something we've been working toward for several years," said Patti Pride,
director of National Public Lands Day. "Our goal was to reward our volunteers with a free day at the public land site of their choice."
National Public Lands Day is being sponsored for the sixth consecutive year by Toyota Motor Sales USA. For more information, including a list of National Public Lands Day sites, activities, contacts and
downloadable photos, visit npld.com or call 800/VOL-TEER (800/865-8337).
National Public Lands Day is managed by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation.
Chartered by Congress in 1990, NEETF is a private nonprofit organization that develops and supports environmental learning programs to meet social goals.
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WISCONSIN DNR SHOULD WELCOME PUBLIC HELP TO PROTECT STREAMS: RIVER ALLIANCE RELEASES REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is so frequently pressured by polluters' political allies and
so understaffed that it often acts hesitantly and even timidly, according to a report by the River Alliance of Wisconsin. Yet the environmental organization also has found the DNR increasingly open to partnerships
with citizens across the state to fulfill its mandate to protect Wisconsin's natural resources.
The River Alliance report Caught in a Cross Current: The Management of Wisconsin's Rivers describes
how local citizen groups are monitoring streams, reporting violations of environmental laws to the DNR, and restoring habitat.
"However, local river groups aren't in a position to have much of an effect on pollution and they can't
enforce existing pollution laws," said Denny Caneff, Executive Director of the River Alliance. "That is and must be the DNR's responsibility."
In addition to describing the political pressure that the DNR routinely encounters, the report also documents the many pollution challenges across the state.
"Our waterways are far from being as clean as they could and should be," said Rich Bogovich, water policy
manager for the River Alliance. "That basic fact has often been avoided in all the attacks on the DNR in recent months."
Another issue raised in the report is competing access to waterways, as more Wisconsin residents and tourists use boats and personal watercraft. More boats and bigger engines mean more noise in river valleys
and more damage to waterways.
The report also draws attention to the growing threats from many invasive species. "When the DNR is
facing such increasingly complicated challenges, this is the wrong time to be slashing the agency's budget," Caneff said.
The Caught in a Cross Current report includes dozens of references to DNR publications and other sources. But to evaluate the DNR the River Alliance also used hour-long interviews with 75 water experts
across the state, two-thirds of whom were DNR employees speaking candidly about their own agency.
The report offers more than 50 recommendations for improving river management. Recommendations to the DNR include:
Within a given watershed, the DNR should issue permits based on the cumulative impacts of those permits on waterways rather than issuing each in isolation.
The DNR should consistently add conditions to industrial pollution permit renewals that would ratchet down discharges and eliminate them on specified timetables.
The DNR should develop a citizen monitoring program that provides written protocols and training to ensure citizen data meets DNR quality assurance needs.
The DNR should rate dams in terms of their ecological impact on rivers and use these ratings as an additional framework, secondary to safety considerations, for prioritizing dam inspections and management.
In addition to more funding for environmental programs, the River Alliance's recommendations to the state legislature include:
Give the DNR direct enforcement authority over minor permit violations, rather than having to refer all enforcement cases to the state's Department of Justice.
Reinstate the requirement that cities and villages adopt conservation subdivision ordinances, and specify that
established "low impact development" principles be incorporated. Under the state's relatively new polluted
runoff rules, make it possible to require no-cost or low-cost best management practices regardless of whether funding for cost-sharing is available.
Change Wisconsin's current property tax law so that soil and water conservation plan compliance is required for a farmer to continue to take advantage of use value assessment.
The report can be viewed in its entirety at www.wisconsinrivers.org.
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PEWAUKEE TRIATHLON PLEASES PARTICIPANTS
by Amy Siewert
Pewaukee, Wisconsin – Sunny skies and calm conditions combined with a well-planned course created the perfect day for the Pewaukee Triathlon on July 18.
Glassy waters greeted the nearly 600 participants for the quarter-mile swim. The 15.5-mile bike ride followed a beautiful course around the lake with the 5K run winding through a quiet residential area.
The overall winner of the sprint distance race was Jim Pingel of Sun Prairie with a time of 1:06:03. Craig Lanza of Wauwatosa came in second in 1:07:53. Hometown boy James Burke took third in 1:09:41.
The first woman to cross the finish line was Pam Hollenhorst with a time of 1:16:03. Katie Felker of Waukesha followed in 1:16:56. Correen Schuebel, finishing in 1:17:23, took third.
Triathlete rookie John Vitale, 41, of Pewaukee, said, "It was good. I enjoyed it. The swimming and biking
were the best." Vitale said it was a little difficult transitioning between the bike and run. "My body said 'no' for awhile."
Vitale, the principal of Willow Springs Learning Center in Sussex, said he plans to try another race and really enjoyed the event that Midwest Sports Events put on.
"All the people were really encouraging along the way," he said. "It was a really well-organized race."
John Plese, 23, of Sussex, agreed. "I liked that I finished the swimming portion. I liked the way the
swimming course was marked," he said.
Both men said the pre-race talks were a big help when it came to the actual event and knowing the routes.
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INAUGURAL AURORA HIGH CLIFF TRIATHLON CHALLENGES RACERS
by Amy Siewert
Menasha, Wisconsin – Despite rough water conditions at the beginning, a blue sky, pleasant temperatures and well-planned courses created the perfect day for the inaugural Aurora High Cliff Triathlon on June 20.
The winner of the Half Ironman was Jared Berg of Minneapolis, with a time of 3:57:46. Dave Scott came in second with a time of 4:03:09. Mike Terry finished third in 4:16:22.
The first woman to cross the finish line in the Half Ironman was Becky Burdick of Plymouth, Minnesota, in 4:43:39.9. Second place went to Renne Richards, of Oskosh in 4:50:02. Third place went to Gretchen
Lammeman of Beaumont, Texas, with a final time of 4:53:58.
The winner of the sprint distance was Jeffrey Fleig of Onalaska with a time of 1:25:49. Pro triathlete
Heather Gollnick of Hartford took first in the female division by finishing in 1:32:34."It was a beautiful setting
for a race. I wish I could have done the half," Gollnick said. The pro opted to do the sprint distance as she was gearing up for the Cour 'D Alene in Idaho on June 26.
Rebecca Gatzke of Wausau was the second woman, finishing the sprint distance in 1:41:30. Jessica Limberts of Fort Atkinson nabbed third place with a time of 1:42:20.
Pro Dave Scott was the first out of the water in the Half Ironman race with a time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds. Alicia Jones of Green Bay was the first female out of the water in the Half Ironman race with a
time of 11 minutes and 4 seconds.
The athletes quickly understood why the race was named the High Cliff Triathlon when they encountered
the first hill on the bike course for both sprint and Half Ironman participants. The initial hill brought the athletes to higher ground and rolling farmland for the remainder of the ride.
The Half Ironman running course took participants through the woods on chipped bark trails for the first
three quarters of the 13.2-mile course and finished with the last few miles winding through a residential area.
The sprint distance run wound through a fairly flat course in a residential area. Triathlete rookies Heather Hardtke, 18, and Kara Schricker, 18, both of Appleton, said they loved the challenge of their first sprint
distance triathlon.
"It was awesome," Hardtke said. "The waves were rough."Schricker enthusiastically agreed. "The best part
was getting into the bike race," she said.Race Director Gloria West reacted quickly to reduce the distance of the swim."Waves and weather can always create new challenges. Next year we will look at moving the
swim to the marina, minimizing those challenges.
Safety is always my first concern when planning a race, so removing some of the variables for next year will be the game plan," she said.
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