Silent Sports Shorts:  August 2007 Chicago-area workers commute by bike in record numbers Fox Cities Marathon sets challenge Michigan's AuSable River Canoe Marathon turns 60 on July 28 Trail would link towns south of Madison Minnesota ranks fourth in U.S. for wildlife watching Meanwhile, alarming decline in birds reported Sakatah Lake State Park management ideas sought Twin Cities area park district recruiting patrollers Duluth to host national trails conference Sept. 7-11 CXC Ski Team members chosen for 2007-08 season

Chicago-area workers commute by bike in record numbers

More than 2,700 individuals from 205 companies rose to the challenge of bicycling to work in June, according to the results of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.

In its fourteenth year, the Chicagoland Bicycle Commuter Challenge saw a 58 percent increase in participation over the previous year. There was a particularly encouraging response to the new college/university category of the challenge.

Only three of the winners of the 2006 Bicycle Commuter Challenge – the Field Museum, Center for Neighborhood Technology and SRAM Corporation - repeated this year.

Allstate Insurance Company had the highest number of participants while the Pepper Group, Design Integrity, Boulevard Bikes and Spin Doctor Cyclewerks, Inc. each saw 100 percent participation level from their employees.

For the past 14 years, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has organized the Commuter Challenge as a way to encourage commuters to combine exercise and transportation in a region where traffic congestion has become an epidemic.

Participating organizations received a packet of materials, including a how-to guide and maps to help employees plan safe, efficient commuting routes. Chicagoland Bicycle Federation staff were available for on-site presentations on bicycle commuting.

Prizes were to be awarded at a July 27 luncheon from the Commuter Challenge sponsors including SRAM, The Fairmont Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Adler Planetarium, Planet Bike, Clif Bar, Vitamin Water, Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum and Eli's Cheesecake.

2007 Commuter Challenge winners
By category and number of participating employees:

Public Agency: Chicago Department of Transportation (more than 500); Chicago Department of Environment (100-499); Montefiore School's special education program (25-99); Worth Public Library (5-24).

Business/Non-profit: Field Museum (500+); Adler Planetarium (100-499); Center for Neighborhood Technology (25-99); Design Integrity (5-24 ).

Bicycle-Related Business: SRAM (24-99); Chicago Athlete Magazine (5-24);

College/University: Adler School of Professional Psychology (500+); North-western University Library (100-499); Northwestern University Psychology Department (25-99); University of Illinois-Chicago Undergraduate Recruitment Office (5-24).

The nonprofit Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has worked for more than 20 years to engage people in bicycling, encourage physical activity, increase safety and design a world-class bicycle facilities network. The federation is North America's largest bicycling and pedestrian advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, more than 1,000 volunteers and 35 full- and part-time staff.

For more information, visit www.biketraffic.org or call 312/427-3325.

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Fox Cities Marathon sets challenge

The 17th annual Community First Fox Cities Marathon Festival of Races has a way for all area companies to promote health and fitness among their employees.

The Healthy Company Challenge is a friendly competition among all area companies, including nonprofit groups and municipalities. Companies can be located anywhere in northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, or Fox Cities areas, to participate.

The top three companies in each of three employee size divisions will be determined by the highest percentage of local workers participating in any of the five Festival of Races events taking place September 22-23: Time Warner Cable 5K Run/Walk, Orthopedic & Sports Institute Relay Marathon, Community First Fox Cities Marathon, U.S. Cellular Half-marathon and Appleton Papers Power Walk.

To register, participating organizations need only submit a total employee count and a local contact that will spearhead the efforts to promote the Healthy Company Challenge. Employees then need to list their company on the registration form and event organizers will track the number of employees registered in each company. Companies are encouraged to register no matter how many employees may be participating. Registration forms and posters promoting the event will be mailed to the contact for distribution to employees.

The 17th annual Community First Fox Cities Marathon is a nonprofit organization. Saturday, September 22, events include the 5K run/walk and the kids fun run. Sunday, September 23, events feature the marathon, marathon relay, half marathon and power walk.

For more information on the challenge and the races, go to www.foxcitiesmarathon.org.

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Michigan's AuSable River Canoe Marathon turns 60 on July 28

"60" is a milestone most of us will probably meet with some apprehension. However, in Grayling, Michigan, it is a cause to celebrate. The city will celebrate the start of the 60th anniversary Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon on July 28.

The Weyerhaeuser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon is widely recognized as the longest, richest and toughest canoe race in North America. Competitors paddle an average of 50 paddle strokes per minute to finish this grueling race in under 19 hours.

The race starts at 9 p.m. in downtown Grayling with a four-block sprint (requiring the paddlers to carry their canoes) to the AuSable River, then paddle to meet the various cut-offs along the 124-mile course (and portaging around several dams) before reaching Oscoda, Michigan.

As of late June, 64 two-person teams had signed up for the 60th event, 30 of the entrants are first-time racers of "the marathon." Long-time race organizer Joe Wakeley believes the 2007 race will have the largest starting field ever "We could pass the 68 teams that started the race in 2000," he said.

Here are some quick facts about some of this year's competitors:

• Eight teams are co-ed teams and two are all-female teams.

• Canada and Belize will be represented with competitors.

• Paddlers from 16 states will take part, including some from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

• The oldest entrant is Al Widing Sr., 82, of Mio, Michigan, (partnering with Sean Casey), and the youngest is Josh Moggo, 15, of Grayling (paddling with his dad, Doug Moggo).

• Thirteen teams are family members.

For additional information on the Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon, visit www.ausablecanoemarathon.org.

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Trail would link towns south of Madison

FOB (Fitchburg-Oregon-Brooklyn) Trail Advocates is a group dedicated to blazing a recreational trail linking the communities of Fitchburg, Oregon and Brooklyn in southern Wisconsin. The organization hopes the trail will one day extend to Madison and Janesville.

Ideally, the FOB group would like to see a path that follows the rail corridor. Currently, the railroad is slated for reactivation from the north end of Oregon onward through Fitchburg in the very near future. But it remains uncertain if the rail from Oregon to Evansville will be reactivated, in which case, FOB sees it as an ideal trail location.

A rails-to-trails conversion requires extensive cooperation from the communities along its route as well as with the Wisconsin State Railroad Commission, the Wisconsin River Rail Transit Committee and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

"I think it's doable," said FOB's Heidi Fischer. "It's just a matter of getting the public's active support."

Fischer would like to see an intergovernmental committee established, comprised of a board representative from each of the respective municipalities. A volunteer has informally offered to draft a legal agreement for such a committee. This would be a major step toward tackling the tough legal issues FOB must wrangle with in order to bring the trail to fruition.

A $1.9 million appropriation request has been made on behalf of FOB by Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Prospects are dim that the money will be forthcoming, however, because of recent rescissions of millions of dollars in bicycling-related federal grant money to WisDOT.

Nevertheless, FOB Trail Advocates is dedicated to its mission and is seeking new members and volunteers. Help is needed in all capacities, including fund-raising, implementing feasibility studies, surveying the general public in each of the communities involved and rails-trails research. Fischer said she is encouraged by the public support she has already seen.

To become involved or make a contribution, call Fischer at 608/455-1485.

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Minnesota ranks fourth in U.S. for wildlife watching
Meanwhile, alarming decline in birds reported

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released its 2006 National Survey on Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The study and subsequent report are done every five years and reveal that Minnesotans love to watch wildlife.

Some of the Minnesota highlights in the report include very significant increases in wildlife watching activities. This includes wildlife tourism, wildlife photography, bird feeding and wildlife observation.

On a statewide basis, 48 percent of all Minnesotans 16 years of age and older are involved with wildlife watching either around their homes or other locations. This ranks fourth in the nation, after Maine (58 percent), Montana (55 percent), and Vermont (55 percent).

The amount of money spent in Minnesota for wildlife watching increased from $531 million in 2001 to nearly $654.5 million in 2006 – a 23 percent increase. Spending on food and lodging by wildlife watchers in Minnesota totaled nearly $156.5 million in 2006; expenditures for wildlife watching equipment totaled $322.8 million.

"These new figures represent a significant opportunity to work with the fastest-growing segment of the outdoor recreation industry in North America: wildlife tourism," said Carrol Henderson, Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "It is a way of promoting wildlife conservation among new publics as well as among lifelong nature lovers, and hunters and anglers who are interested in all aspects of nature recreation."

The DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program has joined ExploreMinnesota Tourism to sponsor workshops to promote visitation by national and international birders at Minnesota's bed and breakfast inns. The new initiative is referred to as the B&B&B program for "bed and breakfast and birds."

"Wildlife tourism helps diversify the income base of local communities and can help generate public support for wildlife habitat conservation and management among Minnesotans involved with wildlife watching," Henderson said.

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Decline in Minnesota birds

Just as more Minnesotans identify themselves as bird watchers, a National Audubon Society study reveals dramatic declines in many of the state's most familiar birds.

Some of the most recognizable and beloved birds in Minnesota and the nation are declining at an alarming rate, according to the Audubon Society. The recent analysis reveals that many of the nation's common birds nose-dived over the past 40 years, with several down nearly 80 percent.

Of the 20 bird species on the national list showing the steepest declines, 16 species are found in Minnesota, including American bitterns, indigo buntings, meadowlarks (Eastern and Western), northern pintail and the red-headed woodpecker.

"Many of these species have also been identified as 'species in greatest conservation need' by the DNR," Henderson said. "We are currently working on ways to address the threats to their survival." Each year federal funds are made available to Minnesota to address survival and management needs for species in this category.

Audubon's list of common birds in decline stems from an analysis of their annual Christmas bird count program and the results of the annual survey of breeding birds conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The study shows the cumulative impact on birds from the loss of grasslands, healthy forests and wetlands, and the effect of other environmental threats such as urban sprawl, energy development and intensive cropping systems.

Individuals can still make a huge difference by protecting local habitats, landscaping and lakescaping for wildlife and by donating to the Nongame Wildlife Fund online or at tax time.

For more information on Audubon's analysis, go to www.audubon.org. For more information on Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwcs/need.html.

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Sakatah Lake State Park management ideas sought

A new management plan for Minnesota's Sakatah Lake State Park is being developed and the public is encouraged to provide input.

Park manager Kris Backlund said the planning process will include two public open forum events and a series of meetings with a citizens advisory committee that will discuss future issues and make recommendations to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on resource management and recreation development.

The last management plan for Sakatah Lake State Park was completed in 1983. Since then, however, a number of resource, interpretation and recreation concerns and interests have changed. The new plan will set the direction for the park for the next 20 years and will provide park-specific goals, objectives and recommended actions for natural and cultural resource management, interpretive services and recreation opportunities.

Sakatah Lake State Park is located off State Highway 60, one mile east of the intersection of State Highway 13 and 60 in Waterville, or 14 miles west of Faribault, which is south of the Twin Cities.

Situated in the middle of the 39-mile Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, Sakatah Lake provides a base camp for bicycling and inline skating enthusiasts. The Bicycle Touring Camp, two group camps, a camper cabin and 62 shady, semi-modern campsites provide locations where visitors can access trails and relax among the red oaks and sugar maples.

Sakatah Lake also is known for its birding opportunities. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded at the park due to Sakatah's diverse natural communities including bur oak woodland, Southern terrace forest, bulrush-spikerush marsh and dry hill prairie. These habitats attract woodpeckers, warblers, hawks and waterfowl.

In addition to providing access to the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, the park offers five miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails. The park is also popular with canoeists and kayakers who explore Sakatah Lake and surrounding waterways, including a 77-mile ride down the Cannon River from Sakatah Lake to the Mississippi River. Wildlife management areas and county parks line the route.

To sign up for the mailing list or serve on the citizens advisory committee, contact Colin Kelly at 651/259-5606, or by e-mail at colin.kelly@dnr.state.mn.us.

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Twin Cities area park district recruiting patrollers

The Three Rivers Park District in the suburban Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area of Minnesota is recruiting year-round park patrol volunteers. Patrollers help ensure the safety and enjoyment of park guests on park trails and at special events and races.

Park district volunteers earn a Volunteer Fun Pass after 30 hours of service, which offers free or discounted access to park facilities with user fees such as cross-country skiing, horseback riding, golf and alpine skiing. The cross-country ski and/or horse trail fee is waived for patrollers while on duty.

Volunteer orientation and patrol meeting attendance is required as is annual CPR, first aid and trail rescue training. Fees are charged for CPR and first-aid classes. Volunteers may become eligible for reimbursement after patrolling 30 hours.

Park patrollers are needed for a full-year commitment, must be 16 years or older, physically fit and intermediately skilled in their chosen mode of patrolling (cross-country skiing, horseback riding, biking, hiking, inline skating or snowshoeing).

Patrollers on horseback must be 18 years or older and own their own horse. Volunteers are asked to donate about 60 hours a year.

Three Rivers Park District operates 70 miles of cross-country ski trails in eight different parks, including five with lighted trails and one with snow making, more than 100 miles of bike/hike, mountain bike, and inline skate trails in nine different parks plus regional trails, and 59 miles of horse trails in six park locations.

The park district will host a volunteer orientation from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, at French Regional Park in Plymouth. Registration is required. To register or for more information about the volunteer park patrol program or other volunteer opportunities in Three Rivers Park District, contact the volunteer office at 763/559-6706 or volun teer@threeriversparkdistrict.org. View additional volunteer opportunities at www.ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org/volunteer.

Volunteers are an integral part of Three Rivers Park District. More than 800 people volunteer their time and talents each year, providing vital assistance in a variety of positions. Volunteers help with recreation, nature, farm and history summer camps, programs and events, races, natural resources projects, park patrol and other assistance at program centers, golf courses and throughout the park district.

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Duluth to host national trails conference Sept. 7-11

"Healthy Trail Partnerships – Healthy Trail Resources" is the theme of the 11th annual Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails, September 7-11, to be hosted by the Duluth-based North Country Trail Association (NCTA). This theme will focus presentations and workshops on attitudes, methods and approaches to successfully engaging diverse communities and people of all ages in the joyful and healthful activity of sustaining the national scenic and historic trails and the resources that make them special places.

Attendees will learn about new approaches, techniques, projects and programs they can apply to their trail projects back home. The topics will include how to engage new constituencies, collaborate with new partners from business and resource preservation communities, improve fund-raising culture and protect trailside natural resources.

In the plenary and caucus sessions, there will be discussion of projects pertinent to the National Trails System, such as accessibility guidelines, trail expertise training and GIS data standards. Separate caucus sessions will focus on ongoing land acquisition projects along scenic trails.

Evening events will highlight some of the unique places in Duluth such as the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and the Great Lakes Aquarium. All-day and half-day field trips will explore the beauty and heritage of the area.

North Country Trail hike

There will also be a post-conference backpacking trip on the North Country National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin. This four-day hike will cover 43 miles and take hikers along the longest, continuous section of the trail that has been recognized with Gold Star Status by the National Park Service – meaning that the trail has been totally built to standards with signage and campsites.

Hikers will pass through Bayfield County Forest, Brule River State Forest and Douglas County Forest. Among the highlights are small, kettle lakes, the famous Bois Brule River, the Gaylord Nelson Portal, clear flowing streams, artesian wells and the Douglas County Wildlife Area.

The hike will be led by Bill Menke, NCTA's regional coordinator for Wisconsin and Michigan's U.P. and retired NPS manager for NCT. Menke designed and led crews constructing this trail section and will talk about trail standards, routing decisions and items of local interest. Hikers will be expected to be self-sufficient in terms of shelter, food and all personal items.

Reserve your spot on the backpacking trip and exhibit space at the conference by contacting Jen Tripp at 616/617-7688 or jentripp@mac.com. For more conference information, go to www.nationaltrailspartnership.org.

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CXC Ski Team members chosen for 2007-08 season

The Central Cross-Country Ski Assoc-iation announce in late June the CXC Ski Team for the 2007-2008 season. Four male and two female athletes will represent CXC Ski Team and the central region at the SuperTour, U.S. National Championships, Canadian Nationals and other domestic competitions.

Four of the male athletes returning from the last year's team are joined by two female newcomers.

Athletes selected for the CXC Ski Team include Garrott Kuzzy, Andre WattBrian Gregg, Matt Liebsch, Kristina Owen and Johanna Winters.

The woman's side will include Owen, former member of the Michigan Tech University Ski Team, U-23 World Championship Team Member and a top 10 NCAA Championship finisher; and Winters, former member of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Ski Team and an NCAA participant .

Two female athletes – Laura Valaas and Caitlin Compton – graduated from the CXC Ski Team after winning SuperTour sprint and overall titles, U.S. National Championships in the Team Sprint event and qualifying for the 2007 Nordic World Championships in Japan. Valaas graduated to the U.S. Ski Team after a historic second place at the U-23 World Championships in Italy. Compton will serve on the U.S. Biathlon Team after the best season in her athletic career.

Bryan Cook, a member of last year's men's team, will officially take the year off from CXC Team to earn his college degree. He is currently participating in a summer internship program and living in Vienna, Austria.

CXC won three national awards this year presented by the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) earlier in May; USSA Development Coach of the Year, USSA Cross Country Club of the Year and USSA Cross Country Domestic Coach of the Year.

"We worked hard to achieve these results. Everyone worked as a part of the team, from the President of CXC to the dedicated volunteers. We've accomplished everything we planned at the beginning of the year and established a good base for the future of this program. We have very ambitious goals for the upcoming race season and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver", Yuriy Gusev, chief executive officer of CXC, said.

CXC is recognized by the USSA as the sole regional organization governing cross-country skiing in the 10-state central region of the United States. By supporting and training Olympic level athletes, CXC is the Midwest pipeline to the U.S. Ski Team.