Youth development experts agree that children need a variety of experiences in their lives to help them grow into healthy adolescents and adults.  Attending Summer Camp can help your child learn independence, decision-making, social and emotional skills, as well as allowing for character building opportunities.  Forest County’s Land Conservation Department is encouraging Forest County youth who have an interest in the outdoors to attend the 2019 Sand Lake Conservation Camp June 19-21st.  The cost to attend the camp is $100 per student; however, due to the generosity of the Crandon, Laona and Wabeno Lions Clubs, there are scholarships available for Forest County youth to attend free-of-charge!

Sand Lake Conservation Camp is held annually at Camp Bird near Crivitz in Marinette County.  It is open to middle school youth (entering the 6th-8th grade in fall) in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.  The camp provides fun outdoor experiences, helps foster an appreciation for nature and introduces a variety of opportunities for learning about natural resources and conservation careers.

Forest County youth interested in applying for the 2019 Scholarship must complete a scholarship application form and submit 200-300 word essay titled “Why I want to Participate in Conservation Camp”  The application form and essay must be submitted to the Land Conservation department by May 7th at Noon. Please visit the Forest County Extension website (www.forest.extension.wisc.edu) for the application form and essay instructions.

Quiet Waters of Forest County is a project completed by the Forest County Land Conservation Department in cooperation with the Forest County Health Department to promote paddling sports including kayaking and canoeing and the healthy aspects of such sports in the county.

Quiet Waters of Forest County- Lakes Forest County has 824 named lakes and many un-named lakes and ponds to explore. Many of the lakes have limited development and limited use by motorized boats, making them ideal locations for recreational use by kayaks and canoes. Fishing and scenic views abound!

Quiet Waters of Forest County- River Routes Forest County has 850+ miles of streams with a variety of water levels, rapids, and stream impediments to navigate. Many streams have direct access from Township and County roadways that provide water access to many of the most remote portions of our forest for hours of serene enjoyment.

Quiet Waters of Forest County- Impoundments and Wildlife Areas Forest County has thousands of wetland areas which provide waterfowl and wildlife refuges as well as unique plant communities. Some of these areas have accesses for users to allow recreational viewing of the wildlife and plant communities by the public. These accesses by kayaks and canoes provide opportunity for close up wildlife encounters and quiet enjoyment. Searching your browser for the following links will provide google maps and google directions to our wonderful “Quiet Waters” that may be utilized on your computer, tablet or phone.

We welcome you to our beautiful “Quiet Waters” and ask that you utilize them safely, wear appropriate safety gear and protect the resources through wise use. Please pack out what you take in and enjoy!

(Excerpts from his acceptance speech)

“After teaching chemistry and math at Crandon High School for 36 years, I retired in 2001.  Shortly after that Les Schramm asked me to join the Forest County Association of Lakes (FCAL) as a board member.  And then, shortly after THAT, I was asked if I would help with the essay contest FCAL runs each spring with the 5th and 6th grade students from Crandon, Laona, and Wabeno schools.  …Another FCAL initiative with students that I am involved with is their Lake Ecology Field Day.  Through the leadership of Lee Lamers, this “environmental day” was started. Lee asked me to help organize this because of my connection with the schools and my love for students for so many years.  After contacting Dr. Cindy Edlund at the Crandon High School, she worked with the instructors who taught environmental studies at Laona and Wabeno to set up this event during September of each year on beautiful Lake Metonga…  The professionals and experts involved all volunteer their time and are happy to make it an educational and fun day for the students. “

   Resch thanked FCAL President Pam Schroeder, Lee and Vi Lamers, Dr. Cindy Edlund and husband Mike, Les Schramm, his daughter Jodi and husband Russell, son Wayne and granddaughter Karissa and his best friend and partner, wife Janet.  He would also like to thank Mike Preul

“In closing I want to say I am honored to accept this award and I truly do enjoy the work I do with the essay contest and our Lake Ecology Day to share my love of our lakes with our young people.”

Submitted by FCAL Member Vi Lamers

On Sept. 9, 2017 Environmental Studies students from Wabeno, Crandon and Laona High Schools participated in FCAL’s 5th annual Field Day at Lake Metonga’s Vet Memorial Park.  These 51 students were divided into small groups for better learning and able to attend eight different educational stations manned by a variety of specialists: Invasive in Lake Metonga (Harry Resch and Les Schramm FCAL); Fish Counts – Shocker Boat (Mike Pruell- Mole Lake); Lake Laws and Regulations (Officers Don Belland and Sam Wurtinger); Fish (Greg Matske WDNR Fisheries Biologist); Invasive Species (Lindsey Peterson Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition): Aquatic Macroinvertabrates (RT Krueger – Northern Lakes Service); Water Chemistry (Dr. Cindy Edlund – Crandon HS Teacher); and Using GIS in Lake Management (Shari Alloway – Crandon HS Student Teacher).The students from the three schools were intermingled in order to get acquainted and enjoyed a picnic lunch together following completion of all stations .FCAL thanks all the specialist for volunteering their time and expertise.

The 2018 FCAL Board of Directors is excited to announce the opportunity for Lake Associations that are members of FCAL to apply for a $500 matching grant to assist with a lake project.  The guidelines are as follows:

• The applicant must be a member of FCAL.

• The project must be to better the quality of the lake or shore land.

• The lake must have public access.

• The lake must show proof of expenditures in excess of $500.

• Grant requests must be submitted to FCAL President Pam Schroeder,6601 Fischer Drive, Wabeno, Wi 54566 or emailed to pschroeder0214@gmail.com

The 2018 FCAL grant will be awarded at our annual banquet in October.  We hope that finances will enable us to make this an ongoing grant award.