Take a hike on National Trails Day, and more in your latest Manitowoc outdoors report

Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve in Two Rivers is hosting a hike June 1 for National Trails Day.

Reset your batteries, support your fitness goals, and enjoy the sweet bliss of nature.

Guided hikes and nature-based scavenger hunts are offered for children at designated times, or guide yourself at your own pace throughout the day.

Get a hike token from your guide for a buy-one-get-one-free craft beer or soda at Cool City Brewing Co. in Two Rivers.

Register to win a prize from Wild Birds Unlimited of Green Bay, and receive a free Nalgene or neck gator from REI for the first 100 hikers.

Hikes last from 45 minutes to an hour and meet at the Nature Center entrance at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. Registration is required for the 8:30 a.m. but not the other hikes.

For more details, go to https://www.woodlanddunes.org/national-trails-day-saturday-june-1-2024/.

Woodland Dunes is at 3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers.

Read last week's column: Manitowoc County sporting, conservation clubs in urgent need of members — plus more in your latest outdoors report

Spring Hearing questions and results are online

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said more than 18,800 people responded to the 2024 Spring Hearing questionnaire either in person April 8 or online April 10-13, and the results and questions are now available on the DNR website.

“I’m really pleased to see the amount of participation we had for this year’s Spring Hearings,” said Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chairman Rob Bohmann. “There were a lot of different topics and issues included, and I’m very happy with the input and public discussions we had both in person and online this year. It tells me the public is interested in being engaged in resource management in Wisconsin and it clearly matters to them; it’s great to see.”

The annual Spring Hearing is a chance for the public to provide input on natural resources-related proposed rule change questions presented by the DNR and advisory questions presented by the Conservation Congress.

The public also has the chance to provide input on resolutions members of the public previously submitted.

Public input received through this process is advisory to Natural Resources Board members, department staff and anyone working on these issues.

Results from the public input will be considered by the Conservation Congress at its annual convention in May and will be forwarded to the DNR and Natural Resources Board in June.

Larrabee club’s antique tractor pull is June 2

Larrabee Sportsmans Club, 16306 Harpt Lake Road, Maribel, will hold its antique tractor pull June 2.

Tractor weigh-in is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the pull starts at noon.

Tractors from 1960 and older will be competing. Food and refreshments will be served all day.

Maribel club announces scholarship winner

Maribel Sportsman’s Club’s May meeting included clean-up of club grounds and a fish fry put on by club members.

The scholarship committee also met and made its selection for this upcoming year. Logan Kaderabek, son of Mark and Deb Kaderabek, was chosen this year.

Logan attends Valders High School. This fall, he will be attending UW-Stevens Point majoring in wildlife ecology.

The $500 scholarship is paid out after meeting GPA standards and showing proof of second-semester enrollment.

Westshore club offers $500 scholarship

Westshore Sportsman’s Club is offering a $500 scholarship.

To be eligible, one must be a member, a child of a member or a grandchild of a member of the Westshore Sportsman’s Club and have completed their second year of college by June 30.

Applications can be obtained by contacting Mike Casebeer at 920-553-1255 or download from westshoresportsmansclub.org. Applications must be returned or postmarked by June 30.

Free Fun Weekend is June 1-2

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is inviting the public to head outdoors for the 12th annual Free Fun Weekend June 1-2.

State Park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all visitors on those days.

With 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams, and roughly 15,000 lakes, Wisconsin has a little something for everyone to enjoy.

“Free Fun Weekend is always an exciting opportunity for DNR property teams to welcome new and returning visitors,” said Steve Schmelzer, DNR bureau director of parks and recreation management.

“If you’ve never visited a state park, forest, trail or recreation area, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the outdoors in our state,” Schmelzer added.

More Bob Schuh: Click here for more 'Scoping the Great Outdoors' columns by Bob Schuh

Free Fun Weekend is also a chance to try fishing for food or fun before purchasing an annual fishing license.

Justine Hasz, DNR bureau director of fisheries management, explained: “This is a great chance to try fishing or catch a meal. Even if you don’t have any fishing gear, you can still get involved. The DNR has tackle loaner sites across the state and hosts events to help you make the most of Wisconsin’s waters.”

Free fishing clinics are held during Free Fun Weekend at state and municipal properties to instruct beginning anglers. Visit the DNR’s Events Calendar and Wisconsin State Parks webpage for a list of events and more about state properties.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.

Outdoors columnist Bob Schuh’s “Scoping the Great Outdoors” column appears each Sunday in the Herald Times Reporter. He can be reached at 920-682-3106 or bobschuh@lsol.net.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Hike at Woodland Dunes on National Trails Day: Manitowoc outdoors news