Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/139929
JULY 2013 Page 2A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove Hiking club tips The Wisconsin Go Hiking Club was founded in 1924 with the mission to "promote health and good fellowship by hiking." The club is open to new members, but it also provides a good model for those interested in starting their own neighborhood hiking group. Kotlarek and Russell shared a few tips for building a successful hiking club based on their experience with Wisconsin Go Hiking: Set a shared vision Freeman file photo Krista Dyerson, left, Patricia Wyland and Lisa Kugi paint a hopscotch board on the sidewalk in Cutler Park on July 18, 2012. They and other volunteers from the Waukesha Family Practice Center were creating a Born Learning Trail in the park as part of a United Way project. Born Learning Trail planned for Brookfield's Wirth Park Other trails popular with day care centers By Katherine Michalets Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD – Wirth Park will soon be getting some fun signs and games to encourage preschoolers and their families to learn and to be engaged. During Brookfield's recent Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, unanimous approval was given the United Way in Waukesha County to construct a Born Learning Trail with the sponsorship of UPS. Lori Hayes, division manager of volunteer engagement for United Way in Waukesha County, attended the meeting and has helped to build seven other Born Learning Trails around the county, six of which were installed last year. There are two trails in Waukesha and one each in Mukwonago, New Berlin, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee and Sussex. The installation of the Wirth Park Born Learning Trail will be in early August, according to a news release. UPS is providing the funding for the trail, as well as the volunteers who will install the trail. "Born Learning is a national public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities," according to the release. The trails have signs with activities for adults and children, as well as tips, such as why it is important to compliment children daily. Hayes said the Born Learning Trails have been popular with day care centers. She said staff members at a downtown Waukesha day care center were excited to learn that a trail was being placed in Cutler Park because they had been traveling to the city's existing Born Learning Trail in Heyer Park. "I know they are certainly being used," Hayes said. "There are a number of folks who live out in the New Berlin area and I have personally gotten feedback from them that they walk that trail on their daily walk and see so many parents and their children." The trails also encourage people to volunteer. Hayes said each trail has a corporate sponsor, which asks employees to volunteer to help create the trail. This year, Hayes said, she would like to add two more Born Learning Trails in Waukesha County. "I try to engage all four corners of our community," she said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the Wirth Park Born Learning Trail in August at the same time UPS holds its baseball tournament fundraiser, Hayes said. She said the Park & Recreation Commission was receptive to having the trail in Wirth Park, 2585 N. Pilgrim Road, because the commission wants to engage preschoolers at the park. "(It's) a great opportunity for our children," Hayes said of the trails. According to the news release, Born Learning Trails aid in increasing parental engagement in the lives of children, which is an integral piece of the United Way Helping Kids Succeed initiative. In the future, the United Way in Waukesha County will work with Tailored Label Products to put QR codes on existing signs at Born Learning Trails, which will allow the nonprofit to track usage of the trails. Make sure everyone is on the same page by deciding what kind of hiking club it will be. Is it for experienced hikers only or will it offer a mix of hikes for novice and advanced hikers? Are kids allowed? What about dogs? Establishing a clear vision for the club will ensure everyone knows what to expect, Russell advised. Create a routine Pick a certain day (or days) of the week and time for the hikes and stick to them, Kotlarek suggested. Some clubs may want to plan the hikes, while others may prefer to have the group decide on the hiking route once they meet. Still, establishing a routine day and time will make it easier for members to attend and new members to find you. Involve other members Initially, it may take one or two people to get the club started. After that, involve other members by taking their suggestions for hiking locations, or even ask them to plan and lead hikes. Said Kotlarek, "Encourage other people to lead hikes to get variety in your hikes." Get off the trail Not all hikes have to be on hiking trails within a park. Russell said he finds many of the club's "street hikes" through neighborhoods just as physically taxing and aesthetically appealing. "Even within Brookfield, just doing street hiking can give you a pretty good cardio workout. You do some pretty aggressive hill climbing," he said. "And walking through Old Brookfield has a lot of old homes that are interesting to look at while you hike." – Sara Rae Lancaster, Special to The Freeman Hiking From Page 1A Of that total, more than 600 miles are official, off-road segments of the trail. The rest comprise "connecting routes," typically rural roads that connect the off-road segments. "I felt the Ice Age Trail would be a good cause because I know they're always looking for ways to purchase new property so they can get that trail completely off-road and contiguous," Kotlarek explained. Come July, the Ice Age Trail Alliance will be one step closer to that goal, and area hiking clubs may one day have even more hiking opportunities in Waukesha County. The FREEMAN Established in 1859 Brookfield & Elm Grove THIS MONTH How to reach us 801 N. Barstow St., P.O. Box 7, Waukesha, WI 53187 262-542-2500 Hours: M-F 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If you have a news tip from the Brookfield/Elm Grove area, contact Mary Reardon at 513-2657 or news@conleynet.com To advertise in "Brookfield & Elm Grove This Month" call the advertising department at (262) 513-2624. To subscribe to the daily Freeman call 542-2500 Subscription Rates • By in-county mail 13 weeks........$33.80 26 weeks........$64.22 52 weeks......$121.68 52 weeks..........$175 • Out-of-county mail 13 weeks.............$45 26 weeks............$90 Electronic edition ......$6.95 a month with credit card Easy buy .....$8.95 a month with credit card Circulation Dept. To reach the Circulation Department call 542-2501 or go to www.gmtoday.com/wfhelp. FREEMAN MANAGEMENT Phil Paige - Group Publisher ppaige@conleynet.com Bill Yorth - Editor-in-Chief...........................513-2671 byorth@conleynet.com Mary Reardon - Managing Editor...............513-2657 mreardon@conleynet.com Jim Baumgart - Freeman Group Ad Director 513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Tim Haffemann - Circulation Director....513-2640 thaffemann@conleynet.com Matt Marlett - Plant Manager......................513-2633 mmarlett@conleynet.com Patricia Scheel - Prepress Manager...........513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Local News - Mary Reardon.........................513-2657 news@conleynet.com Sports - Lee Fensin..........................................513-2667 lfensin@conleynet.com Death Notices - Shana Duffy.......................513-2618 obits@conleynet.com Newsroom Fax...........................................262-542-8259 CLASSIFIEDS: 542-2211 Hours: M -F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. PHOTO REPRINTS Color reprints are $25 each. Call 542-2501 PAGE REPRINTS Go to www.gmtoday.com/freemanreprints The Freeman is printed on recycled newsprint. July 20 & 21 232140007 Mukwonago American Legion Post 375 57th Annual Maxwell street days Celebrate our flea market FIELD PARK, MUKWONAGO - Hwys 83 & NN OVER 600 SELLERS Offering a Variety of Goods Always FREE ADMISSION (Buyers allowed on grounds after 7 am) Reasonable Off-site Parking Available (Pets, Bicycles & Skateboards Prohibited) For information and 2013 schedule: www.maxwellstreetdays.net www.mukwonagochamber.org FOOD & REFRESHMENTS Available on Grounds