Lending a "Nature" Hand

There's always something to be said for giving back as a trail user and nature lover. As certified Master Naturalist volunteers (MNV), my colleagues and I throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin contribute at least 40 hours annually in volunteer work. Most of the MNV I know contribute far more.

This service ethic has helped countless outdoor-centered organizations through our contributions of time and effort to fight invasives, maintain natural areas and trails, serve on parks and forests Friends groups, assist communities by serving on natural resource board, present interpretive programs.

But you don't have to be a MNV to lend a hand to help "nature." Your time, effort and/or donations can have a huge impact.

Here are a few opportunities I have run across just this past week. Won't you please consider lending a hand - or giving a donation if your body says "I can't do that anymore."

Nature Backpack Project

Project Get Outdoors, partnering with Lark Toys in Kellogg MN and Janky Gear in Rochester MN, is asking for help so they can create "nature backpacks" to distribute to kids who are sheltering in place during ICE operations in their communities. The backpacks will contain nature-themed books, puzzles, games, field guides, and sensory pouches filled with agates, fossils, shells, rocks, and gemstones - bringing the calming, healing power of nature indoors.

Gently used or new backpacks can be dropped off at Janky Gear (611 N. Broadway Ave, Rochester) as well as agates, fossils, shells, rocks, and gemstones you might have and want to donate. Deadline for backpack, sensory object donations: February 28. 

You can also donate directly on-line through the Project Get Outdoors website Or mail donations to: Project Get Outdoors, PO Box 244, Wabasha, MN 55981 Project GO is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. 

Volunteers Needed for Nature Restoration Work

This has been a busy year for cutting invasive brush and trees, saving and spreading seed and other tasks on Driftless prairies and in forests. Volunteers willing to get time outdoors and meet some incredible stewards of the land are always needed and welcomed. Again, if your body isn't able, these organizations gratefully accept donations to help them.

The Prairie Enthusiasts

From a recent FB post: "If you have cabin fever, cold weather is actually perfect for work like this. Wet snow makes for wet humans. Dry snow makes for warm, comfortable humans. Most people shed their outer layers soon after starting. If you are looking for a chance to get out and do good near where you live with other members of your community, find one of our work parties. This work can be strenuous, but we've got logs and limbs of all sizes, so you can pick your challenge! Check out our Events Calendar" Our nearby chapters are the Minnesota Driftless and Coulee Region. Donations are also welcome.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy

The work MVC does on its many nature preserves is extraordinary. While opportunities abound outside, they can also use help in other support projects that can match your skills. And again, sometimes the support you give might be monetary and that is an important way to lend a helping hand as well!

Trail Work and Maintenance

Outdoor Recreation Alliance 

Headquartered in the La Crosse area, ORA does a tremendous amount of shared biking and hiking trail building and trail maintenance in the blufflands of Hixon Forest and now at their Community Trails Farm. They train and set up regularly scheduled trail work and are always looking for folks to pitch in. It's a great way for hikers to contribute to the trails we use.

And they just put out a survey asking trail users to help them prioritize trail work for the upcoming season. Hikers, let your voice be heard and fill in this brief survey! The survey closes on February 27 and takes less than 3 minutes! It's an opportunity to prioritize some "hike only" trails (there are currently just .5 miles of hike-only) for their farm.

Hope you can lend a hand to make sure lots of people can enjoy our beautiful Driftless area!

See you on the trails.

ORA’s Community Trail Farm is Open!

Hot off the presses! ORA announced at 9 am on Wednesday, December 17 that the Community Trail Farm in La Crosse is now open to hikers/bikers. Check out more info on the Trails, vision and fundraising at ORA’s website. 

🎉 The gate is open! The Community Trail Farm is now officially open for public pedestrian and bicycle access! There is no parking available on site but you may park at Pammel Creek Park and run/walk/ride in. While this opening comes earlier than anticipated, we believe it’s important to welcome the community into the space as soon as possible, inviting public enjoyment while we continue building and restoring the Community Trail Farm.

🚶‍♀️🚲 Pedestrian & bike access only

⏰ Open daily | 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

🚗 No public parking on-site yet

👉 Public parking is available at State Road School and Pammel Creek Park

📍 Walk or bike in using the existing bridge

This project is still actively being built  and restored, and you’re getting to explore it in the early stages. Trails, restoration work, and future amenities will continue to take shape over  the coming months and years. Please follow all posted signage as you explore and help us care for a space that’s still being built.

Thank you to our community of donors, volunteers and change makers who made this vision come to life. This is a true community effort and we are so honored to open this space to the public. 

Check out their FB post announcement here.

ORA Asks for Public Input

From ORA (Outdoor Recreation Alliance), June 5th, 2025

PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITY

We'd like to hear your input on the proposed Bicentennial Phase II reroute. Reponses are due by Thursday July 10th to be presented to the Park board later in July

You may recall Phase I of the Bicentennial Project, approved and completed in 2024. The original route is a gravel roadbed that runs top-to-bottom up the center of Lower Hixon. It was built originally as a vehicle access road, primarily for emergency situations. It does not meet modern road or trail standards.

We are circling back for input on phase II of the proposed plan, including continuing adding trail alongside the road. In 2024, the first section (Top most) of the route was created by ORA crews to create an off-road shared use trail. Bicentennial Road still exists during construction.

Provide your input here

What's Up with Area Blufflands Trails?

Image - Larry Sleznikow

As a member of La Crescent MN's Park and Recreation Commission as well as it's Natural Resources Advisory Group, I get to do some deep dives into efforts surrounding outdoor recreation in the the area. 

Just recently, The Blufflands Coalition, a group made up of local governments and local outdoor groups interested in recreation, conservation and restoration, released their 2024 Annual report. 

This group was created in response to The Blufflands Plan (2016), developed in 2016 by the La Crosse Area Planning Committee. The overall goals of the group: improved public health, ecological diversity, connected communities, economic strength, and a high quality of life. 

In La Crescent, we have a plan as well  - La Crescent Blufflands Plan (2017).

As a trail user, I believe it's important for all of us to be aware of progress involving our trails and the efforts that different members of the coalition are involved in. It is also important in terms of advocacy efforts, to know this information to do the best, most factual work in standing up for best use of trails. 

After a coalition of hikers worked hard to slow what seemed like a headlong rush a few years ago to make our already shared trails in La Crescent more bike friendly, these trail users continued to work within the community and its commissions and city council to make the case that we could continue to share the trails but not necessarily give priority to one trail user type over another.

So I am happy to see this kind of transparency to continue to help hikers stay in the loop and be part of decision-making.

If you see something in the 2024 report that you think is a positive for other hikers, or conversely, appears to be a negative, let the organization or municipality know. 

Our voices matter.

It's Snowtime Showtime!

Each season's first snow storm is always exciting for me (if I don't have to drive too far in it!). It kicks off one of my favorite outdoor recreation seasons - winter. 

Living in Wisconsin and Minnesota almost all my life, I have always embraced the season  - from sledding, ice skating and hockey, building snowmen and snow forts and having snowball fights as a kid to ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as much as possible as a grown-up, snow and cold are my pals. I love when my friends post about downhill skiing, fat tire biking, tubing, ice climbing and snowboarding. In my world, any outdoor winter recreation is great recreation.

Snowshoeing is my favorite snow play and I am out most days when the snow is on the ground. I love that snowshoes let you go off trail and really explore, bug-free! I also like helping winter fat tire bikers by hitting shared hiking and biking trails and tramping down the trail to make it more welcoming for the bikes. Meanwhile, I get to enjoy trails that are often too busy with bikes in warmer temps that are much quieter in winter time.

If you do use the wide, groomed cross-country ski trails this winter for walking, hiking or biking, please keep in mind that the groomed ski trails are set for skiers and be mindful of how to use them to keep the groomed tracks in good shape for our skiing friends. Here is a recent message shared by ORA Trails on that: 

Snow is Here!!!

This is your friendly reminder that as snow groomers gear up to lay down some tracks, there is an intended way to use them!

• Traditional skiing stays on the right (You'll see the straight tracks)
• Skate skiers use the center lane (groomed like corduroy)
• ALL OTHER USERS stay left (walkers, bikers, snowshoers)

This will allow everyone to #getoutside and enjoy this wintery weather!

Happy Winter Solstice and see you on the snowy trails!