Waushara County Chapter
The Waushara County Chapter's mission is to help create,
support and protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail within
Waushara County.
Trail work got started in Waushara County in the mid-1970s by Joe Mills, who referred to the project as the "Nature Trail". Paul Walker continued the efforts during the 1980s. The current chapter was founded in the late 1990s by Tom Pintar.
The Waushara County Chapter's membership consists of approximately 90-100 individuals and families with 15-20 active volunteers. Among many other responsibilities, these volunteers work hard to maintain 19 off-road miles of the Ice Age Trail divided between six segments:
- Chaffee Creek Segment
- Wedde Creek Segment
- Mecan River Segment
- Greenwood Wildlife Segment
- Bohn Lake Segment
- Deerfield Segment
The land over which the Ice Age Trail passes in Waushara County is owned and managed by a variety of partners. Private landowners host Trail segments through handshake agreements or easements providing permanent Trail protection. Other segments cross land managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including State Wildlife Areas, State Fishery Areas and State Ice Age Trail Areas.
Annual Newsletter
We've had a fun, busy and productive 2011. Click here to read the highlights and see the photos.
You can read about all the highlights from the past year by clicking here to view our 2010 Annual Newsletter!
Upcoming Events
Happy New Year from everyone at the Waushara County Chapter!
Join us on Sunday, March 18, 2012, for our Annual Meeting and a Special Presentation, led by Author and Professor Emeritus Charles A. Long, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, focusing on Coloma residents, Jack and Mona Zelienka's, very rare finding of a 12,000 year old Pleistocene age Caribou's Antler from peat in Richford Township, Waushara County, Wisconsin. There will be an opportunity to view the Antler in the Zelienka's residence, also known as Caribou Bay Retreat and the Annual Meeting to follow.
2012 IAT ANNUAL MEET.jpgOn April 14, 2012, the chapter participated in Blue Ribbon Kid's Day. Children of all ages and their families took part in making colorful, handmade buttons and volunteers interacted by sharing information about the Ice Age Trail. There were story telling sessions about Wholly the Mammoth and picture opportunities with a wooden cut out of a hiker with an oversized mammoth background. The afternoon ended with a raffle of 20 handmade hiking sticks. Overall, it was a very successful event!
Volunteer, Flo Walker, adds the finishing touches to Blue Ribbon Kid's, Rachel, Ice Age Trail button.
Jean Clark (volunteer) spent much of the morning reading stories about the Ice Age Trail and Wholly the Mammoth to the kids.
A special thank you to each of our volunteers! Great job!
Join us on May 14, 2012 for our next Chapter Meeting at the Anna Follett Community Center in Coloma from 6-8pm. Learn more about upcoming events and what’s happening on the Ice Age Trail in Waushara County.
Waushara County Chapter Work Day - We will be hosting a work day on June 16th on the Greenwood Wildlife Area Segment of the Trail. Our goal will be to refurbish signage, clear storm damage and continue extension of the loop trail.
Meet at the trail crossing/ parking area on Brown Deer Ct. at 9:00 AM. Bring your own water bottle and gloves. Wear sturdy shoes and work clothes. Lunch will be provided.
For more information contact Randy Lennartz at 920-787-2333 or Lennartz@centurytel.net.
On August 4, 2012, join us for a Stargazing Night Hike from 9pm-11pm. If interested, everyone willl meet at the Mecan headwaters at 9pm sharp.
The 14th Annual Fall Color Hike will be hosted on the Deerfield Segment on October 13, 2012. Stay tuned for more details.
Mark your calendars! On Saturday, February 2, 2013, the Bohn Lake Segment will host our 14th Annual Candlelight Sweetheart Event, Hike, Snowshoe and Ski. Join us for this healthy, family activity!
Check out the chapter's online events calendar for details on upcoming activities.
Highlights from Recent Events
Healthy minds & Healthy bodies = Healthy families has been the Chapter's mindset and focus when planning its events.
February 4, 2012, was a beautiful night for our 13th Annual Candlelight Sweetheart Event, Hike, Snowshoe and Ski. Although, it was balmy and an unseasonably warm night with little snow, over 150 participants came out to enjoy the hike with over 500 handmade candles, by Coloma Elementary students, leading their way and roasting marshmallows around the bonfire and beneath a full moon. A warm fireplace awaited with plenty of hot food and refreshments indoors while the talented Clauson's Family Band entertained throughout the night.
Mark your calendar for our 14th Annual Candlelight Sweetheart Event, Hike, Snowshoe and Ski on February 2, 2013. Stay tuned for more details.
Wintertime on Bohn Lake. Photo courtesy of David Hughes
To view a Slideshow of Photos from this event, click here.
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, the Waushara County Chapter hosted their 13th Annual Fall Color Hike. The hike took place on the newest section of Ice Age Trail in the Greenwood Wildlife Area. The trail took the hikers 200 feet down into a deep, historical Glacial Kettle. It was approximately a 3 mile hike round trip.
There were over 100 hikers and 25 four-legged friends in attendance, which tops previous year's totals. Families came from all over the area to join us for this fun-filled healthy activity, including the Dunston family from Iowa, with their dog, Paris. Overall, the weather was beautiful, which made it the perfect day for a hike on The Ice Age Trail!
Stay tuned for more details about our 14th Annual Fall Color Hike on October 13, 2012!
Dunston Family and Paris, their dog, came from Iowa to attend.
Thank you to all of our wonderful and dedicated volunteers, because without you these events wouldn't exist!
To read about recent chapter outings and view some event photos, head to our Chapter Event Highlights page.
Chapter Leaders
For more information on chapter activities and/or hiking the Ice Age Trail in this region, contact one of the chapter's leaders:
Chapter Coordinator
Chairperson, Trail Installation & Maintenance
Randy Lennartz
P.O. Box 222
Coloma, WI 54930
920-787-2333
lennartz@centurytel.net
Vice-Coordinator
Chairperson, Publicity & Events
AJ McCaskey, Wautoma
ajmccaskey@hotmail.com
Membership Coordinator
Jenny Addis, Hancock
addisjenny@yahoo.com
Treasurer
Cheryl Flyte, Coloma
leeflyte@uniontel.net
Secretary
Julie Cook
cook-hoffman@centurytel.net