Volunteer Opportunities
ColdCache Creator
Play a valuable role in our Cold Cache program creating environmental education sites!
GeoCaching: outdoor treasure-hunt using a GPS receiver or other navigational tools to hide and seek "caches" containing a logbook and "treasure" (usually trinkets of little value).
EarthCaching is similar, except you seek out natural features instead of human-placed caches.
ColdCaching is a type of EarthCache, discovering natural features along the IAT.
Visit geocaching.com for current sites. Each one includes instructions for a simple task or questions to verify your find.
The coordinator, coldcache@iceagetrail.org, will walk you through the process. Guidelines are at iceagetrail.org
Marvelous hobby for anyone interested in science. Endless classroom project possibilities.
Environmental Educator
If you are enthusiastic about hiking, recreation, nature, geology, or any number of topics, please talk to groups about your passion that draws you to the Ice Age Trail. Local sporting goods stores have space for free presentations, expos have time slots for non-profit promotion, charitable clubs need luncheon speakers, our Mobile Skills Crew events gather for evening campfire entertainment.
Lodi Valley Chapter sponsors a Summer Saunters program for school kids. Develop educational programs or literature which include field trips. An educational guide and exercise book is available for the Lodi Marsh Education Trail segment.
Event Planner/Coordinator
Several calendar options could use your planning and coordinating talents. Events include a volunteer recognition party, Winter Trails Day (Jan.), National Trails Day (1st Saturday in June), Mobile Skills Crew Project Support, Chillin' on the Trail, and whatever else creativity can conjure up!
Farmers' Market Coordinator
Each year we have an Ice Age Trail display at the Saturday Dane County Farmers' Market (April-October). The current coordinator welcomes an assistant to help (and possibly expand) our outreach. Attendance at Farmers' Market is not a requirement. Duties include: delegate the shifts, replenish the literature and transport the materials. This is an important (fun!) trail-building effort with its own tangible feelings of accomplishment.
Farmers' Market Table Staff
Like food and people? Meet interesting folks, have fun, and inform passersby about the Ice Age Trail at the capitol square Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings. Such a relaxing way to volunteer! A coordinator will assist with transporting and stocking materials.
Special events - WHA Garden Expo and Canoecopia - are options too.
Interested parties should contact Theresa at twbadger@yahoo.com or 608-438-1857
Fundraiser
Do you have a flair for funds? Are you creative in thinking about ways to raise money or donations? The opportunities range from obtaining small donations or items for specific events, to fund raising for purchases of major equipment or even Trail lands. Could include finding grant opportunities and writing proposals.
Hike Leader
Lead hikes on various segments of the Ice Age Trail. Times and locations are flexible and it can be a hike with a theme (moonlight hike) or simply to breathe fresh air. Knowledge of the Ice Age Trail, plants, birds or geology are a plus.
Photographer
Share pictures for use in Mammoth Tales publication, posters or online networks. Also a chance to lead photo outings on the Trail for similarly inclined shutterbugs.
Promotion and Public Relations
We need people to help promote the Trail, contact the media, and provide them with appropriate information on Trail happenings and events. Can also involve outreach to the community and organizations to solicit their involvement. Current local opportunities for raising awareness are: Dane County Farmers' Market (April-October), Garden Expo (Feb.) and Canoecopia (March) info tables. Another option is to stock map boxes, store/library message boards.
Sign Creator / Graphics Design
Show off your artistic talents! Create signs or other graphics for the Ice Age Trail. These can be larger trail or interpretive signs, poster boards for displays, signs for displays or special events, or graphics for the newsletter or other publications.
Tools Maintenance
Having tools in good shape is essential to accomplishing trail work safely, efficiently and with greater enjoyment. If you have some mechanical skills and can take care of hand tools such as saws and loppers, and perhaps chain saws and our field mowers, we could use your help.
Trail Building and Maintenance
Help build and maintain the Ice Age Trail. May involve participating in native plant community restoration, usually by removing exotic or invasive plants, but also can involve prairie work including seed collecting and controlled burns. Workdays are mainly on Saturdays throughout the year. Rides may be available to those without transportation. Meet new people and have fun in great outdoor settings. Tools are provided.
Trail Manager or Monitor
Would you like to help manage a section of the Ice Age Trail? We are looking for additional trail managers to help lead outings and maintain segments of the Ice Age Trail. We have 5 trail sections in Dane County where we need people to assist the current managers. We are also looking for monitors to occasionally hike a segment of Trail to check conditions or to check the status of Trail properties.
Landscape restoration is one major focus, so here's a link to a video that can help you identify invasives species. Click on Natural Resources Foundation WisconservationTV
Volunteer Coordinator
Link new trail enthusiasts to their many Ice Age Trail opportunity choices. Contact Gary 249-7870 nattrails@aol.com or Theresa twbadger@yahoo.com for more details.
Web Site Maintenance
Our chapter web site at madison.communities.com/iceage could use someone to enhance and maintain this site. Or simply assist in updating events here or through various community calendars: Isthmus www.thedailypage.com, United Way www.volunteeryourtime.org, IAT Alliance www.iceagetrail.org, www.craigslist.com, radio stations, etc.
Share adventure photos, videos & stories on Facebook (look for Ice Age Trail under Causes),Madison.com Community Groups, and IATDane.Ning.
Wood Craft
Beneficial to both long-distance and neighborhood hikers along the trail are viewshed/resting benches, weatherproof mapboxes, kiosks and informational signage. Classic Leopold benches are simple to assemble and definitely enhance trail relaxation. Maps protected from the elements point us in the right direction and compell us to explore what's around the bend. Can your woodworking talent supplement the path's natural features?
Writer / Publications / Editor
Looking for people with story-telling talents who can offer new perspectives on the Trail. Articles appearing in our newsletter "Ice Age Drift" and "Mammoth Tales" or other needs such as flyers and brochures. Can involve assisting with layout and graphics. This is a good opportunity to build writing skills and get published. Help get Trail information out to media sources to reach more people.
Youth Group Leader
If you like children and leading outings, this may be a perfect fit for you. Help guide and lead youth groups (from scouts, 4H, camps, etc.) on outings or work activities on the Ice Age Trail. Can also involve getting school or community groups connected with Trail activities.
|
