FRIENDS OF THE KETTLE MORAINE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

• 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 –

Summer Sunset Concert with the Band Paddygrass

The Friends of the Kettle Moraine invite you and your entire family for the next Summer Sunset Concert with the band Paddygrass on Saturday, July 25, 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 Parks System vehicle admission sticker is required for parking which can be purchased at the entrance to Mauthe Lake. 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 meal plate 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., Paddygrass will kick off a toe-tapping concert of Celtic, bluegrass, and sea shanty music. This band hails from the Milwaukee area and is a favorite with all ages. 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 Page 2 enhance the offerings at the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. The group’s current project is the Ice Age Visitor Center Vegetation Rehabilitation Project. This project involves opening up the overlooks, burning the prairie, and knocking back non-native invasive plants.

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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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 19^th 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.