The trail traverses two intersecting loops totaling one mile in length through a 42-acre land stewardship site. One section of the trail winds near the North Fork of Fish Creek offering a pleasant overlook of the creek and a quiet spot for the hiker to reflect. Gravel and boardwalk surfaces provide moderate accessibility. 

Climate Change in the North Woods; this topic gets up-close and personal in an art exhibition and education forum which brings together the work of 20 artists in an interactive exhibit. Educators visit local schools and involve the students in science and art activities focusing on climate change. The students' artwork will be included with this exhibit.

A free public program, panel discussion and reception will be held starting at 2:00 p.m. on May 5, 2007. Local organizations with an interest in climate change are invited and encouraged to attend. This exhibit will be available for viewing April 28 through July 31, 2007. For details visit www.wisc.edu/cbe/K12/paradiselost.html.

This workshop is being held in conjunction with the upcoming exhibit at the Center, Paradise Lost? Artists on Climate Change in the Northwoods. The instructor, Diana Randolph, will give a tour of the science/art exhibit in which one of her oil paintings is included. Then the participants will create their own art. This class is offered through WITC with a cost. Please call 715-682-4591 ext. 3170 for more information or to register.

In June we celebrate Invasive Species Awareness Month and the Center partners celebrate a newly released management plan that draws natural resource professionals, environmental educators, and concerned citizens together to work across ownership boundaries to prevent the spread of invasives.

Invasive species do not recognize arbitrary boundaries, and the partners at the Center are working together to establish a model Invasive Free Zone. This IFZ encompasses 720 acres and includes multiple landowners, multiple habitat types and mutliple invasive species.

As part of an effort to curb carbon emissions, reduce energy use, and save money, the Friend's Spirit of the North gift shop, located in the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, replaced 54 incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights.

The new lights use 1/3 less energy and will result in 1/3 less carbon being released into the atmosphere. The project will pay for itself in less than nine months. After that, the gift shop will save $761 a year in energy costs.

In addition, the new lights generate 1/3 less heat than the old bulbs, which means it will cost less to cool the gift shop in the summer and store temperatures will be more comfortable. As an extra bonus, 378 fewer light bulbs will go into the landfill over the life of the project since the new bulbs last six to eight times longer than the old bulbs. Come on in and check out the gift shop's new "soft white light" look.

To see how much money and energy you could save in your home or business, contact:
Bobbi Rongstad, Energy Advisor
Focus on Energy
715-893-2305
bobbirongstad@focusonenergy.com
or check out these helpful websites:
To learn more about compact fluorescent bulbs, visit
www.onebillionbulbs.com
For energy and money saving tips, visit
www.energystar.gov
To calculate your carbon footprint, visit
www.carbonfootprint.com
To learn more about Wisconsin's energy conservation program, visit www.focusonenergy.com.