Outings Calendar
The purpose of our Outings program is to connect people with the natural world and with the Sierra Club by offering diversified, superior, volunteer-run outdoor activities that support our conservation mission. Sierra Club founder John Muir felt very strongly that the best way to empower to protect the wild places of the earth was to get them out to enjoy them. To that end, there are many local events available to hike, bike, camp, ski etc., as well as the national & international outings offered.
Outings are open to all members of the John Muir chapter, regardless of which group is sponsoring the event, and to the general public. You need not be a member to attend most outings. Note that all outings are subject to change. PLEASE contact the trip leader ahead of time so they know you are coming and can contact you in case of cancellation or other changes.
River Touring Section's paddling outings calendar
The River Touring Section (RTS) is a sub-group of the John Muir Chapter Sierra Club dedicated to water sports. We encourage you to check out their long list of paddling opportunities!
Upcoming Outing Calendar
June 23, Sunday Bike the Ahnapee Trail
We will go from Forestville to Sturgeon bay and back, about 26 miles round trip . On this converted rail trail we will be passing by a mixture of evergreen glades, farmland, prairies and wooded areas teeming with wildlife and native wildflowers. Bikers do not need a trail pass while using the trail. Due to the possibility of hoof marks in the trail surface, wider-tire bicycles are recommended. Rest rooms and picnic tables available. We will finish the day with a quick visit to Cherry De-Lites Outlet shop in Forestville. Yum! Contact Nancy Brown-Koeller, 715- 853-6625 or 920-830-6625. [FV - Appleton area]
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June 21 – 23 – MREA Energy Fair, Custer, WI
Midwest Renewable Energy Association Fair. Come for the Fair or join us at our Sierra Club booth for the annual biggest anywhere energy fair. Take the bus or consider carpooling (or biking?) to lower your carbon footprint. Contact Don Ferber for more info. [Not a Sierra Club event, but a bus will be sponsored to attend from the Madison area, visit www.4lakes.org for details]
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July 6 – Prairie Work Outing at Black Earth Prairie
Join a long time Sierran, and Prairie Enthusiast member, Willis Brown to learn more about prairies and their maintenance, and help with the ongoing management of this fine prairie just south of Black Earth. Bring leather gloves and other gear for being outdoors in the open, including sunscreen, maybe a hat, and liquids to drink. We also recommend leather boots and bug spray. Directions to Black Earth/Rettenmund Prairie are – From Madison take Hwy 14 to Black Earth, Turn L (south) at light (HWY 78), go about 6 blocks and then right onto Hwy KP. Go about 1 mile and then left on Hwy F. After about 100 yds turn right on Fesenfeld Rd. Back Earth Prairie is just before the first house on the left (.3 miles). There is small parking area. Park along the Right side of the Rd.
For those who want some variety, afterwards we can tour the nearby (~ 5 miles) Pleasant Valley Conservancy – a spectacular example of prairie/oak savanna/wetland restoration. Contact Willis Brown 608-316-5411 to RSVP or for more info. [4L - Madison area]
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July 20, Saturday Ice Age Trail Work Day in Kewaunee County
Our Fox Valley Sierra Group will be assisting the Lakeshore Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance with a new section of trail near Tisch Mills at the Kewaunee-Manitowoc County line. We will be assisting the Lakeshore Chapter with brush trimming, shrub removal, and possibly painting trail blazes and moving a large rock or two. We will begin work at 9:30 and work for the duration of the morning. Bring a lunch, water, work gloves, work shoes, and mosquito and tick repellent to this outing. After completing our work, there is a great short hike nearby that we will take where we will eat our lunches. For headcount purposes, location to meet, ride consolidation, and information, contact Darrel Ruechel, FVSG IATA coordinator, 920-993-0903, R7Dairl @yahoo.com. [FV - Appleton area]
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August 4 – Four Lakes Summer Soiree and Picnic, Lake Farm County Park, Shelter #2
Enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors with fellow Sierrans at our annual summer event, and partake of woodlands, prairies, Lake Waubesa – and lots of fine food and company. We’ll provide most of the food and drink; we just need you and something you’d like to share. Lake Farm Park is easily accessible from Madison, so you can arrive by boat, bike or other conveyance of your choice. Contact Don Ferber for more info. From Madison, take the Raywood (South Towne) exit south from the beltline to Moorland Rd. Turn left and go past the Heritage Center and turn left on Libby Rd to Lake Farm Park and head to shelter #2. RSVP to Don Ferber so we know how many to expect for lunch. [4L - Madison area]
9 am – noon: Restoration Outing
Get hands on experience learning about invasive species, how they affect native vegetation, and methods of control. Better yet, you’ll not only do something you can feel good about (while taking out your aggressions on the aliens), but you’ll work up a good appetite for lunch.9:30 – 11:30 am: Hike
Partake in the woodlands and wander through open prairies and enjoy the sights and sounds of this fine lakeshore park. You’ll learn about native woodland and prairie plants and the problems in dealing with invasive species. But we promise wonderful wildflowers, and who knows what critters we’ll see or hear.Noon – 2 pm: Picnic
Lunch with lots of fresh air by the lake shore – and you know a bunch of outdoors people know how to do a cookout outdoors right. We’ll supply the scrumptious grill items (meat and veggie) and refreshments, and you bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share. You won’t leave hungry, but you might leave having made new friends and learned more about the Four Lakes Group.
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August 24-25, Saturday-Sunday Canoe the Flambeau River
This is a canoe camping trip that includes some class II rapids. Refresh your soul on the Flambeau by participating on a trip that has become one of our finest traditions. For details contact: Rich Krieg, 920-660-3557, eddyout@gmail.com [FV - Appleton area]
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September 21, Saturday Ice Age Trail Work Day in Portage County
Our Fox Valley Sierra Group will be doing minor trail maintenance in Portage County in the Iola area. We will begin work on the trail at about 9:30. We will be on a portion of the trail that will be hiked in the Ice Age Trail Hike-a-Thon that will be held two weeks later. Feel free to bring a pruning tool. Bring a lunch, water, work gloves, work shoes, and mosquito and tick repellent to this outing. We will stop for ice cream mid afternoon. For head-count purposes, location to meet, ride consolidation, and information, contact Darrel Ruechel, FVSG IATA coordinator, 920-993-0903, R7Dairl@yahoo.com.
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Sept 28, Saturday First annual “Bike the Quilts.”
Supported bike ride through rolling countryside. Various routes, 5-25 miles. Beautiful fall colors and views of the famous Shawano County barn quilts. Fundraiser for Shawano Pathways, an organization dedicated to improving pedestrian and bicyclist saftey and trails October 5, Saturday Ice Age Trail Hike-a-Thon in Portage County Put on your hiking boots and hike in the annual fund raiser for the Portage and Waupaca County chapters of the Ice Age Trail Alliance at the Iola Winter Sports Club facility north of Iola on County Hwy. MM just west of Hwy. 49. The fee to hike in the hike-a-thon is $5. However, one can donate more or acquire pledges. Hike the entire 10-miles or any portion. Darrel Ruechel, FVSG IATA coordinator, 920-993-0903, R7Dairl@yahoo.com. [FV - Appleton area]
2013 Quetico Canoe Trips
The John Muir Chapter and Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club offer the following trips into the
International Boundary Waters Wilderness Area including Quetico Provincial Park.
Ontario Canada's Quetico Provincial Park offers one of the world's truly unique and premier canoeing
experiences. If you’ve heard, read and dreamed about this area, you can now travel here with experienced
guides for a fraction of an outfitter's price. Share your spirit of adventure and love of nature’s wonders
with new friends by paddling, portaging and camping in this pristine wilderness. Expect to see wildlife that
voyageurs, trappers and ancient Ojibway saw as you travel the same waterways they traversed centuries ago.
Learn the history of how this storied wilderness came to be as you revel in its clear, drinkable waters, star-lit
skies and deafening silence. With layover days planned for swimming, photography, fishing, hiking, exploring
or just plain relaxing, these trips will have you talking about them for years to come.
All Quetico trip leaders are experienced veterans of the area with Wilderness First Aid and outings leadership training. No experience is required, but you will find a good attitude and physical fitness essential. All trips are a minimum of 8 days from start (put-in) to finish (take-out). Crews are always limited to a maximum of nine participants. Prices include all group supplies, equipment, food and lodging - including park permits and taxes. Not included are pre/post trip travel costs, passports, personal permits and fishing licenses. Contact trip leaders for additional information about registration, which includes a $100 deposit (refundable) to reserve your spot.
Fees include support for the John Muir Chapter Outings Program and the ability to offer these trips annually, additional contributions to this fund are always welcome and are fully tax deductible.
July 20 - 28, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights)
- Trip Leaders:
- Mike McQuilkin, 253-219-9208, sumcqu@comcast.net
- Scott McQuilkin, 253-988-4394, lo86blazer@aol.com
- Departure Point: Camp Quetico, Atikokan, Ontario
- Optional Meeting Point: International Falls, Minnesota
- Cost: $600
- Participants will traverse the park from North to South emphasizing Quetico's world-class fishing for bass, walleye, and northern pike, and the spectacular scenery of the area’s lakes.
August 2-11, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights)
- Trip Leader: Nancy McDermott 608-238-1421, njmcderm@gmail.com
- Departure point: Moose Lake - Ely, MN
- Cost: $600
- Participants will cover a shorter distance and incorporates double portaging to keep pack weights down. Trip features include multi-day base camps with ample fishing opportunities and delicious home-cooked, lightweight meals including camp-baked treats.
August 9 - 18, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights)
- Trip leader: Jane McMillan, 815-543-2756, janellmcmillan@sbcglobal.net
- Departure point: Moose Lake - Ely, Minnesota
- Cost: $600
Participants will enjoy pictographs, waterfalls, two layover camps, voyageur history, laser-lit stargazing, and excellent fishing opportunities.
August 24 - Sept. 2, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights)
- Trip leader: Bill Moore 262-785-9022, environ1@sbcglobal.net
- Departure point: Moose Lake - Ely, MN area.
- Cost: $600
- Participants get to choose from a variety of routes that will include Bill’s famous fire-baked bannock bread but vary in the lakes, streams, wildlife, waterfalls, Ojibway pictographs, fishing opportunities and lengths. All have unparalleled scenery and two restful layover days at gorgeous wilderness campsites.
September 19-22, 2013
- Trip leader: Nancy McDermott 608-238-1421, njmcderm@gmail.com
- Departure point Trego, WI
- Cost: $125
- Enjoy the autumn colors on a leisurely float on a women-only trip covering 35 miles of the National Wild and Scenic Namekagon River in Northern WI. Limited to 6 participants.
CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
Liability Waiver & Carpooling
While no experience is required, all participants must fill out a medical history, canoe experience, and then be
approved by their trip leader before they can participate in an outing. All approved crew members must sign a
liability waiver to participate. All forms are available for preview to any prospective participant.
In the interests of facilitating logistics for some outings, it is customary that participants make carpooling
arrangements to the outing's starting point. Sierra Club outings insurance does not cover the time prior to,
or following, the outing when crew may still travel together. Therefore, carpooling, ride sharing or similar
activities are a private arrangement among participants.
Outing Sponsor Key
| JMC - John Muir Chapter | |
| AL- Algonquin Shores CV - Chippewa Valley CR - Coulee Region 4L - Four Lakes Group FV - Fox Valley |
GW - Great Waters |
Trip Leader Information
- Waiver Form - Must be taken on all outings and signed by all participants. After the outing, return to your group Outings Chair to file.
These files are designed to be printed two-sided. The legal print MUST be on the sheet that they sign, even if its on the other side as well.
Outings: Liability Waiver & Carpooling…
In order to participate on one of the Sierra Club's outings, you will need to sign a liability waiver. If you would like to read a copy of the waiver prior to the outing, please see the links above. In the interests of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary that participants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for car-pooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel. “CST 2087766-40.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.