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Volunteers in ACTION

Dane County Parks thanks the volunteers, both individuals and groups, who participated in these projects.

Victory Life 4-Square Church youth and members of the Middleton High School Student Council participated in the annual WISPIRG Hunger Cleanup by piling brush at the Jenni & Kyle Preserve in the Nine Springs E-Way.

WORBA members (Wisconsin Off-Road Bicycling Association) built a mountain bike trail at Cam-Rock #3. Our thanks to Rita Nygren, Sean Casserly, Bruce Pedrick, Steve Frye, Mike Westphall, Scott Frey, Brian Leininger, John Watson, Bill Campbell, Amy & Pete Smith and Doug Van Horn. The project was led by WORBA member Samantha Roffe. The trail officially opened on June 6.

The Indian Springs Neighborhood Association conducted an Earth Day cleanup in the Nine Springs E-Way, and installed tree swallow houses that they had built. The bird houses are an experiment to try to control the mosquito population. Funds for materials were provided by the Dane County Land Conservation Department through its Conservation Aids Grants. Dan Kerkman, Wayne Edlebeck and Mary Jo & Mike Treadaway volunteered their time this spring.

The Friends of Pheasant Branch continued to conduct field work days on County property in Pheasant Branch Conservancy throughout this spring. Brush cutting and piling, seed scattering, burdock control and a controlled burn have kept them busy. Though much remains to be done, they are definitely seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Controlled burns were almost impossible to schedule this spring, due to wet weather conditions. Only two burns were

conducted, one in the Ice Age Trail Junction Area along Hwy. M. Burn volunteers were Ray Nashold, Marv Beatty, Bill Muehl, Harland Smith, Stu Hardtke, Jim Sime, Dick Stauber, John Roberts and Jack Borders.

The Nine Springs Network continued field work in the Nine Springs E-Way along McCoy Road. They're cutting honeysuckle, and member John Herbst is going after wild parsnip. They also hold public guided walks.

Fifteen McFarland Middle School and High students participated in the Dane County Youth Service Day in April. They cleaned up Babcock Park along the shoreline and in the over-flow parking lot. In addition, they mulched trees and other plantings.

Members of the Dane County chapter of the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation, students from the UW Community Plunge and LaFollette High School cleared honeysuckle and multi-flora rose at the Tower site in April. It was very gratifying to see wild flowers growing in the area cleared just last fall. Some of the species we found were wild geranium, pussy-toes and buttercup. Clearing allows the sun to get through, which stimulates the growth of the spring wildflowers.

Trout Unlimited members participated in the annual Earth Day cleanup of Black Earth Creek. They cleaned around Salmo Pond. Thanks to Mark Maffitt (who coordinated), Susan Bleimehl, David Berems, Ron Ahnek, Curtis Knox, Terry Cummings and Steve Born.

The Lakeview Neighborhood Association also conducted its annual Earth Day cleanup of Lakeview Woods Conservancy. This year's volunteers were Sue Gleason, Mark Hoffmann, Joleen Guff, Nelson Eisman, Patricia Esch, Steve & Susan Webster, Sue Evans, and Char & Dan Tortorice.

Monona Grove High School students Troy Richardson, Dan Stick, Brian Winnie, Jamie Anderson, Ron Hull and Jay

Christenson, led by teacher Tim Sharpe, mulched trees in the Token Creek campground. According to Park staff Jerry Storlie they did "outstanding work".

Walbridge Academy students and faculty planted trees at Lake Farm Park in what has become an Earth Day tradition for them. Park staff Fred Paasch supervised. Walbridge has been planting trees with us since 1992.

Wisconsin Conservation Corps also planted trees, at Badger Prairie. The crews were led by Mark Shupp of WCC.

A new prairie was planted at Donald Park during May and early June. Seeds were scattered by over 60 volunteers. A portion of the seeds scattered was purchased with funds donated by Pat Hitchcock, a former owner of part of the park.

May Flower Day 1998 took place at Lake Farm Park on May 16. Over 200 kids and adults planted over 2,500 wildflowers. The plants were propagated and grown by Adult Conservation Team volunteer last year. Ten Oscar Mayer READI volunteers assisted with set up and cleanup, weeded plants, and worked with the kids. The weather was perfect, albeit windy, and everyone worked so well, we finished an hour early! Note: May Flower Day is going on a biannual schedule, so the next May Flower Day will be held in the year 2000.

Oscar Mayer READI volunteers have helped in the office with mailings and putting together manuals. Coordinated by Mary Endres, they regularly put together the newsletter mailing.

Prairie Foster Parents are busily digging weeds at Lake Farm, Walking Iron, Pheasant Branch, Schumacher Farm, Donald Park, the Ice Age Trail Junction Area and in the Nine Springs E-Way. They are Ken Siemers, Mike Duren, Guerdon Coombs, Donna Fisker, Martha Kilgour, Kathy Myhre, Marcia Wagner, Pat Hitchcock and John Herbst.

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