Electrek Solar Car Challenge

 

On Saturday, July 25, Summit Environmental School, 1800 Lakeshore Drive (French Island), La Crosse, will be the check-in site for students entered in the Electrek Solar Challenge.

Contestants will arrive at the school between noon and 3:30.

This year's route covers 1550+ miles from Minneapolis, MN to Amarillo, TX, on the Great River Road and Historic Route 66. Over 40 teams from the United States, Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands are registered to compete. 

The events start with scrutineering and the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix track qualifier at Brainerd International Raceway on July 21-23. Solar cars will then head to Minneapolis for a display day at the University of Minnesota. 

On July 25th solar cars start the American Solar Challenge at the University of Minnesota. They will arrive at the Finish Line at Arts in the Sunset in Amarillo, TX on August 1st. 

Along the way solar cars will make the following stops:

• La Crosse, WI: July 25th
• Normal, IL: July 26th-27th
• Edwardsville, IL: July 27th-28th
• Rolla, MO: July 28th
• Carthage, MO: July 29th-30th
• Tulsa, OK: July 30th
• Elk City, OK: July 31st – Aug 1st

Come on down to cheer on these students! Free and open to all!

Teams Fundraiser

The Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club is working to protect land, air, water, wildlife, ecosystems, and our climate from the forces that would exploit, mine, extract, pollute, and harm them. Their small but mighty staff is aided by teams of volunteers from around the state who help plan and prioritize actions and campaigns that benefit all of us. These teams also network with other state and regional groups to help strengthen and amplify efforts.

Once a year, the teams hold a fundraiser to ensure they have resources to prepare, promote, and carry out their actions.

That fundraiser is going on now through August 13, with a special online program on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m. The itinerary includes some of Wisconsin’s dark sky locations, a visit with Scott Lind, president of the Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative, and special segments, created by our volunteer-led teams, sharing how their campaign work connects to the nocturnal world.

This event is free to attend with opportunities to donate to support the work of our volunteer-led campaign teams throughout the evening. All proceeds help support the work of the Wisconsin Chapter right here in our beautiful state.

We'll have some fun playing Dark Sky Trivia and those who make an online donation of $5 or more will receive a fun glow-in-the-dark sticker.

Sign up to join us here!

Visit theTeam pages to learn more and donate:

• Wildlife Team
• Water Team
• Transportation Team
• Tar Sands Team
• Lands Team
• Beyond Coal Team

July 23 Driftless Karst

 

History, Hydrology, and What It Means For Us

DRIFTLESS KARST

Thursday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Kickapoo Valley Reserve

ORA Trails 25th Anniversary

ORA Trails 25th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrating the First 25. Building the Next 25.

Thursday, July 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. - Freight House

Twenty-five years ago, a group of passionate volunteers came together with a vision: to create more opportunities for people to get outside through trails. What began as Human Powered Trails has grown into ORA Trails—a community-powered organization that has built and maintained miles of trails, inspired thousands of volunteers, connected people with nature, and created places where lifelong memories are made. 

Learn more and get tickets ($25 each) at https://www.oratrails.org/calendar/

FOB Bumblebee Hike

From Friends of the Blufflands:

Join us on Saturday, 7/18, for a bonus hike in addition to our Second Saturday hikes, to search for and identify bumblebees and to identify the plants on which they are nectaring and gathering pollen. This hike, "Bumblebees and Blooms" will complement the one on 7/11 which focused on other native bees. Led by Mike O'Brien and others, we will search for common and rare bumblebees...and maybe see the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee!

When: Saturday, 7/18, at 9:00

Where: Park near W5788 Thistledown Drive in Arbor Hills

Difficulty: This is an easy hike on mowed trails on a small, flat, planted prairie right next to the parking area with boatloads of bumblebees! Wear long pants, good hiking shoes, and bring water and a snack if needed. We'll have bug spray and some printed bumblebee guides.

La Crosse Bike Rodeo!

 

BIKE RODEO! THURSDAY, JULY 23 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Myrick Park lower level trailhead parking lot

Join the City of La Crosse for an afternoon of bicycle skills training, music, and more!

This program is "geared" towards elementary aged youth who would like to increase confidence and skills maneuvering on their bicycles including yielding, stopping and looking both ways as well as what to do around other riders. Complimentary bike quick checks and helmet fittings will also take place.

Youth are encouraged to bring their bicycle and helmet to participate in the skills course.

Volunteers are welcome! Please sign up if you are interested in volunteering.

Birders

 

This Saturday, July 11th from 8 to 9 a.m., explore the Myrick Park Marsh Loop! The meet up is inspired by the Feminist Bird Club with a goal of establishing a local chapter here in the Driftless region. You can learn more about them here: https://www.feministbirdclub.org/ 

CONTACT: NicoleBrookeEllis@gmail.com (904) 553-2609 for more information. 

No birding experience required!