Brigaders Help Eradicate Serious Threat to Wisconsin Woodlands

The sunshine was bright, breezes were minimal, and temperatures beckoning as eager young faces rounded the last curve of Knight Lane, near Waupaca, on their bicycles.  During the week of June 16 young men and women from the Brigade Onaway Adventure Camp (OAC) performed a service project in collaboration with the Friends of Hartman Creek State Park president, Sue Eiler, to eradicate an invasive species of garlic mustard plant. 

Sue emphasized the importance of the youth volunteer effort by saying, "Garlic mustard is a serious threat to our forest lands.  The Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade's help is invaluable to the park's efforts to control this invasive [plant species], but also to instill a sense of stewardship towards our public resources."  She went on to say, “Garlic mustard is rampant along forested lands along Whispering Pines Road.  Many hands pulled the mature, seed laden plants.  It wasn’t all fun.  Mosquitoes and deer flies buzzed, backs were bent in pulling and heavy loads were hauled out for removal.  In all, half a ton of garlic mustard was pulled in little over an hour.”

The Wisconsin DNR website describes garlic mustard as a rapidly spreading woodland weed that is displacing native woodland wildflowers in Wisconsin.  It dominates the forest floor and can displace most native herbaceous species within ten years.  This plant is a major threat to the survival of Wisconsin's woodland herbaceous flora and the wildlife that depend on it.  Unlike other plants that invade disturbed habitats, garlic mustard readily spreads into high quality forests. 

Onaway Adventure Camp (OAC) is a weeklong tent camping experience for any youth in grades 6-9. OAC uses nature as a backdrop for learning, practicing, and living the Four-Fold way of life (growing mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually), while incorporating useful outdoor skills. Leave-no-trace principles are taught and enforced.  “Micro trash” becomes a common term. 

Jacob A., one of the youth campers, related how he felt about the experience, “I like camping there (HCSP), and I liked feeling like I gave something back. I love Hartman Creek and I want to be able to go back there for a long time."

Each year Onaway Adventure Camp performs a service project to help the youth understand the importance of preserving our natural resources.  OAC leader Jim Machamer commented, “Along with sharing our appreciation of nature and various adventures, we recognize the importance of paying back for our use of an area.  Over the years, we have painted tree roots yellow on hiking trails, pulled invasive weeds, created new trails using unique tools and techniques, all parts of improvements to our state park. Even though this has been hot work, often in buggy conditions, it has been very rewarding to know that we are making a difference. Our campers have picked up on this service project theme, and we have not had to do a lot of motivating to get them to pitch in and help.”

Linda Ahles, an expert camper and outdoor enthusiast, also serves as a volunteer leader for the Brigade.  She commented about the weed eradication service project the youth performed, “One of our two groups of youth pulled two 1/2 ton pickup truck beds full in just a few hours.  The youth understand the need to help save Hartman Creek and the beautiful tress and animal life it supports.  It is also easy to see the area that gets cleared out when you are done giving the youth great satisfaction over the work they performed.  We are planning a return trip on August 2 to help with another invasive plant, the Japanese Hedge parsley.”

Prior to the service project that day, the campers were treated to a guided canoe/hike of the Chain O’ Lakes by Sue Eiler.   Knight Lane was the first of the upper chain lakes to be paddled.  In due course each lake was visited.  Its history, natural features, plants, and animals spotted and discussed.  Asked their own ancestry, the campers were given the background of early settlers and lake names.  Then, each was given an action card that required a little thought and some exploration.  What needed to bask in the sun to get vitamin D?  What could fly 25 miles per hour?  Was there more than one correct answer?

During the week of Adventure Camp campers experience several rotations including road and trail biking, trail and wilderness hiking, river canoeing, service projects at Hartman Creek State Park, and other fun outdoor activities. Campers help prepare meals on Brigade’s camp stoves and sleep each night in top-of-the-line tents. The Brigade will provide bikes, canoes, and other equipment (such as backpacks) needed for rotations.

Onaway Adventure Camp is staffed by dedicated adult volunteer leaders and includes a registered nurse and certified lifeguard as well as a camp manager, director, and numerous volunteer leaders.  The leaders are highly experienced outdoor adventure enthusiasts with a passion for sharing their skills with future generations. 

The camp launches out of Onaway Island on the Chain O’ Lakes in Waupaca on the first day and returns to the 6-acre island for the last day of camp.  This year the Brigade is celebrating 100 years of camping at Onaway Island, having served thousands of youth through the summer programs there.

The Brigade mission is: We Build Leaders. Character development and leadership programs are offered for sixth through twelfth grade youth at the Brigade building located at 109 W. Columbian Avenue in Neenah, Wisconsin.  Summer camp experiences are offered at Onaway Island in Waupaca, Wisconsin.  Youth are served by hundreds of adult volunteer leaders.  For more information on how to join or become a volunteer visit Brigade’s website at www.bgbrigade.com or call (920) 725-3983.