New friends group looking to gain local members

A new non-profit organization is looking for members with an interest in nature and recreation. The Friends of Brunet Island State Park supports the interpretive, educational, historical, scientific and recreational services at the park.

“Right now, the group is pretty much being spearheaded by the same folks that are active with the Lake Wissota State Park friends group,” said Zachary Thon, park manager.

He says he would like to see local interest in the group grow. Thon says people of all ages are welcome to get involved, though children should be accompanied by an adult.

The amount of time each person wants to commit to the group, is also flexible. Thon says members can do as little as sending in their membership fee to help financially support the Friends of Brunet Island State Park, or they can volunteer to help with programming or maintenance around the park.

“It’s totally up to them,” said Thon. “There are no commitments.”

Thon says there are a number of friends groups across the state. He says Lake Wissota has had a friends group for quite some time and partnered with Brunet Island State Park to help with on-site firewood sales about five years ago.

“A couple years later, that expanded into starting a canoe and kayak rental program,” said Thon.

He says it was about a year ago, when they decided to create their own friends group for Brunet Island State Park.

Thon says, for now, the friends group is still providing the firewood sales and the rental program. He says the profits from those activities have been used to purchase equipment that help with maintenance tasks on the property and to provide educational programming.

“The intent of some of the funding is to do more recreational and educational programming on the property,” said Thon.

He says the programming can be done by friends members, if they have those types of talents, or the group can use funds to hire outside vendors.

One project in the works, suggested and spearheaded by Friends members, is a bike repair station, with a tire pump. Thon says the tentative plan is to install the repair station at the Cornell Main Street trailhead of the Old Abe State Trail. Thon says he asked the Cornell Area Betterment Association (CABA) to help sponsor the project, and they agreed to jump in with $500 toward the project.

He also says many friends groups also have group activities for members, and hopes that the new group will follow suit, with activities such as bike tours, interpretive hikes and programs, canoe and kayak outings, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, guest speakers and picnics.

“They [friends members] get a little discount if they do want to do the kayak and canoe rentals,” said Thon.

Members also receive access to the friends newsletters.

If anyone would like more information on becoming a Friend of Brunet Island State Park, they can call 715-2396888.