FRIENDS OF THE KETTLE MORAINE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
Board meetings usually start at 6:00 pm.
Meeting locations will be posted on this web page in advance.
2026 Board Meeting Schedule (normally the 2nd Tuesday for April, July, and October)
- Thursday, January 27, 2026 (Ice Age Center)
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (Ice Age Center)Postponed until May 19, 2026- Tuesday, July 14, 2026 (Ice Age Center)
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (Ice Age Center)
- Tentative, Tuesday, November 10, 2026 – Annual Meeting and Volunteer Dinner (location TBD)
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT –
Saturday Summer Sunset Concert with Lucky Pickers
The Friends of the Kettle Moraine invite you, your entire family, and friends to the first of the Saturday Summer Sunset Concerts with the band Lucky Pickers on Saturday, June 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The event will be held outdoors at the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area picnic shelter of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. Mauthe Lake is located at N1490 County Road GGG, Campbellsport which is south of County Road SS near New Prospect. A Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker is required for parking. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to inside the picnic shelter.
The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with a dinner special offered at the Mauthe Lake Concession Stand operated by 3 Sweets Bakery and Café. The menu will include a variety of items, so there is sure to be something to please everyone’s appetite. Bring extra cash to buy tasty, sweet treats at the Friends of the Kettle Moraine bake sale.
At 7:00 p.m., the Lucky Pickers will kick off a toe-tapping concert of bluegrass/Americana music that appeals to all ages. This high energy band hails from northern Illinois and has played many venues throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. The cost is a freewill donation with a suggested contribution of
$5/person. Remember your lawn chairs and/or blankets. Dogs are not allowed in the area around the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area picnic shelter.
The Friends of the Kettle Moraine will use the proceeds to support a variety of projects to enhance the offerings at the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. Currently, the group is funding the Ice Age Visitor Center Vegetation Rehabilitation Project and finishing touches to the Tamarack Trail.
For more information about this fun-filled family evening, email the Friends at friendsofthekettlemoraine@gmail.com or call/text 920-313-1566. For information about the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit, contact the staff at the Ice Age Visitor Center (920-533-8322). The center is open Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Silent Wake kayaking events at Mauthe Lake
We are bringing our kayak training sessions to Mauthe Lake.
May 10 Early Season Kayak rescues
June 7 Kayak Kickstart 20 Kayak Essentials
July 12 Kayak Rescues 25 Kayak Kickstart 29 Moonlight Paddle
Aug 9 Kayak Essentials 22 Kayak Kickstart
Sept 6 Kayak Rescues
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June 4, 2026
Join the Team in Protecting Haskell Noyes Woods
Join the Friends of the Kettle Moraine in the battle against garlic mustard, an extremely aggressive invader, at Haskell Noyes Woods State Natural Area. This State Natural Area protects a classic example of an old-growth sugar maple/red oak mesic forest, which was never heavily logged and supports a rich variety of spring flowers and diversity of ferns.
The ideal time to pull garlic mustard happens in May and early June when it’s easy to identify while in bloom. Please join us on the following dates to help beat back this non-native, destructive invasive species. In case of severe weather, we will cancel that workday and provide an announcement at least two hours before the scheduled start time by calling 920-533-8939.
Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26, and June 2 5:00-7:00 pm
Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28, and June 4 5:00-7:00 pm
Saturdays, May 9, 16, 23, 20, and June 6 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Meet at the Haskell Noyes Woods parking lot off County Road GGG just south of County Road SS east of New Prospect. For anyone arriving later, directions to that day’s work location will be posted at the parking lot. Remember to wear long sleeves, sunscreen, a hat, and garden gloves, and bring insect repellent and drinking water.
For more information, contact Connie Ramthun at connieramthun@gmail.com
Come be part of the solution to preserve and protect an outstanding State Natural Area in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit!
PROGRAMS
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
This year marks the beginning of the sixth year of volunteer effort to affect positive change in our environment. Many of the invasive species that we have been working on can easily diminish the biodiversity of the native flora in the Forest. We are lucky to have 12 state natural areas in the KMSF-NU. Our state natural areas are designated to preserve the best of Wisconsin prairies, forests, and wetlands. These unique places are home to 90% of Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered plant species and 75% of the animal species. We have been working intensively in two of these SNAs for the last five years. Haskell Noyes SNA is 61 acres of prime dry-mesic forest as it was never heavily logged or clear cut during the logging era of the 19th century. The land was purchased in 1947 to prevent imminent logging and was designated a state natural area in 1952. It has a rich diversity of plants that are under threat from invasive species, such as garlic mustard and buckthorn. Because of our volunteer effort, we are finding fewer and fewer of these plants throughout this SNA. Volunteer days for garlic mustard removal in Haskell Noyes SNA are as follows.
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Ice Age Visitor Center hours
Call the Center for current hours at 920-533-8361
The Forest Headquarters is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The headquarters is closed Friday through Sunday.
The Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The visitor center is closed Monday through Thursday.
Hours may vary based on weather and staff availability. Property offices may be closed on major holidays, please call for more information.