​Our final group walk of the WLP 2023 is Wednesday, August 16th. We will meet at Roschen Park at 6:30 and carpool to Wabasha for a walk along the River Front. We will start at Rotary Park which is just north of Slippery's Bar and walk to the Eagle Center and back.
If you have been keeping track of your miles or minutes of walking bring the tally sheet with you as we will have a drawing for Chamber Bucks for anyone who turns in their sheet.
If you cannot attend on Wed mail the sheet to me , Patty Svien 612 Willers Court, Lake City.

​Wednesday, August 2, the Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) walkers headed out to Old Frontenac to take a look at the outdoor chapel/amphitheater that was built in 2021 and 2022 at the Christ Episcopal Church. Kerby Rigelman, who designed and built the chapel, spoke to the group sharing his story of why and how the outdoor chapel came to be.
During the Covid pandemic the congregation started to have worship services outside as many churches did when it was advised not to have gatherings indoors.  During this period Kerby envisioned an outdoor worship space on the hillside in front of the church.  The congregation supported this vision and Kerby set out to build the outdoor chapel in the fall of 2021.
Kerby, who’s professional career was in construction, planned and built the chapel with the help and support from his family, congregation members and friends who donated their expertise and equipment to get the structure built. Kerby worked throughout the winter of 2022 to finish the project and worship in this space began in the summer of 2022.
The space has seating for 175 with upper platforms for wheelchairs and seating for those who may have difficulty with steps.  The worship space also has speakers for recorded music.
The outdoor chapel has been named “Wakondiota Hillside Chapel”.   Wakondiota, a Dakota Native American word for, “a sacred space created by the cutting of many trees”, beautifully describes this worship space.
Other uses for the hillside amphitheater are being considered and the church is open to looking at using the space for appropriate community events.
The WLP group was also invited into the main church building to see the restoration work done between 2011 and 2018. The original church was completed in 1868. The restoration work as Kerby explained was completed with the goal of maintaining the original features (alter, windows, pews) that makes the church such a historic place of worship.  The WLP group agreed they succeeded in this vision.
Worship services are held Sundays at 9:30 am.  The Wakondiota Hillside Chapel will be utilized for worship as weather permits the rest of the summer.  All are welcome to attend the services and experience this unique worship space. 

On Wednesday, August 2nd, the WLP group will meet up in Old Frontenac and walk to the Episcopal Church on Westervelt Avenue Way. Kerby Rigelman, who designed and constructed an outdoor amphitheater on the church grounds met the group at the church and shared his mission in building this outdoor worship space.

This Wednesday August 2nd  if you want to drive there independently you can do so. Please arrive by 6:30 parking on Wells St. See previous Facebook post and follow Hwy 61 detour.

If you would like to carpool on August 2 meet at the Lake City Hospital parking lot at 6:15. We will carpool driving along Territorial Road to County 2 just outside of Frontenac. Please note Territorial Rd is a gravel road. The County 5 to County 2 detour is paved if you want to drive that.
 
Next week, Wednesday, August 9, the Walking Lake Pepin group will meet at 6:30 pm at the Schleicher Funeral Home parking lot on Hwy 61 and will walk along Camp Lakeview Rd to South Oak and to the site of the Camp Lakeview National Guard Training Camp.
 
Andru Peters, who has written a history of the Camp Lakeview training site will talk to the WLP group about the history of this encampment that was located in Lake City from 1818 to 1931. All community members are invited to attend whether or not you have signed up for WLP.
Continue to watch for Walking Lake Pepin updates in the LC Graphic, on Facebook and on the website; walkinglakepepin.com. Question contact Patty Svien 345-4383.
 

​“Walking Lake Pepin” (WLP) group walk participants are excited to be invited once again out to Manawa Prairie Farm on July 19th to walk the trails and learn about sustainable agriculture.
Deirdre Flesche and Dag Knudsen are caretakers of the Manawa Prairie Farm and are champions for sustainable farming that conserves both water and soil, protects pollinators and increases carbon storage in the soil.
During the group walk Dag will share his passion for saving soil, improving water quality and growing healthy nutrient-rich plants. The walkers are also hoping to see a variety of wildflowers blooming along the trail.
Dag and his wife Dierdre have established a scholarship endowment to support students studying sustainable agriculture and forestry. More information about this fund and to find out how to support this effort can be found at https://www.protectourresources.org/index.html .
Walking Lake Pepin participants and interested community members will meet at Roschen Park on Hwy 61 on Wednesday July 19 at 6:30 pm and carpool out to the farm. The trail will be an uneven surface so walking poles are suggested. All are welcome.
Watch Facebook “Walking Lake Pepin” for change in schedule due to weather or air quality. Contact Patty Svien, 345-4383, with questions.

July 12th the Walking Lake Pepin walkers met at Underwood Park for a walk through the site of the Jewel Nursery which operated in Lake City from 1868 until 1996. Dr. Phineas Jewel started the nursery planting and grafting fruit trees and eventually growing shade trees, evergreens and ornamentals for sale.
 
The Jewel Nursery grew from 10 acres in 1868 to 1500 acres in 1923 and with the Underwoods becoming leading horticulturists of the early 1900s.  The Lindemeier family took control of the nursery until 1997 when the final 800 acres were sold to the developers of the Mississippi Jewel.
 
The walk included a visit to the site of the former green house that had 50,000 square feet of glass covered plant beds.   They also discussed the root cellars that covered 1 acre of storage space in a space that was dug out of the bluff and stayed at a constant temperature year-round.  
 
During the group walk former employees; Jim Schreck, Joe and Sandy Kirkwood and David Danckwart shared stories of their time working at the Jewel during the 1950-60’s.
 
Many of Lakes City’s youngest citizens had their first jobs at the Jewel Nursery.  It was hard work as they often worked on their hands and knees pulling weeds.  But worth it when they were able to buy a bike at the end of the season with their earnings.
 
On Wednesday, July 26th, the WLP group will meet up in Old Frontenac parking on Wells Street off County Rd 2 at 6:30 pm.  The group will walk to the Episcopal Church to look their new outdoor amphitheater.
 
All WLP participants and community members are invited to attend.  Watch for updates on Facebook, “Walking Lake Pepin. Questions call Patty Svien 345-4383 

​After a successful Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group walk at Wacouta on June 21 the WLP group walk was cancelled due to poor air quality and storm predictions on June 28.  The cancelled WLP group walk was planned along South Oak Street to the Camp Lakeview National Guard site. Andru Peters was scheduled to talk to the group about the history of Camp Lakeview and will be re-scheduled later in August.
In a June 9 news release from the Mayo Clinic it was recommended to pay attention to the air quality alerts in your area and heed the warning.
Wild fire smoke contains respiratory irritants of which the most dangerous are the ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. 
To avoid exposure recommendations include; closing windows, staying inside, using the air condition to filter the air, staying hydrated and taking medication for lung function as prescribed.
A standard dusk mask is not adequate to filter the wild fire air.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using an N95 mask as used with COVID 19, as it may offer some protection.
There will no be WLP group walk on July 5.  The next group walk will be on Wednesday July 12 through a part of the historic Jewel Nursery site.  This a walk that is done each year with WLP as there is a rich history to share about this once thriving nursery in Lake City. Former employees of the Jewel Nursery will join the WLP group and share their stories.
WLP participants and all community members are invited to the group walk on July 12.  The group will meet at Underwood Park on 10th Street at 6:30 pm at the shelter near the parking lot,
It is hoped that air quality issues will not be a factor on July 12.  Updates and announcement of cancellation can be found on Facebook (Walking Lake Pepin).  Questions call Patty Svien 345-4383.
 

The heat and air quality improved on June 21 to allow a group of WLP friends to go for a group walk on the Wacouta Township paved trail. The prairie flowers were in bloom along the mile + trail to the delight of the group. Hopefully the weather and air quality will improve the rest of the WLP season so more walkers will want to attend the planned WLP weekly group walks. (See group walk schedule on the "Sign Up" page.}
Wednesday, June 28, the WLP group will meet and park at Schleicher’s Funeral Home parking lot off Hwy 61 and walk to the Camp Lakeview Military encampment near the Lake City Sportsman’s Club on South Oak Street.
Andru Peters, who has written a history of the Camp Lakeview National Guard Training Camp will talk to the WLP group about the history of this encampment that was located in Lake City from 1881 to 1931. All community members are invited to attend whether or not having signed up for WLP.
Wednesday, July 5th, there will be no group walk due to the 4th of July holiday. July 12th the group walk will explore The Jewel and the history of the nursery in the early 20th century. Call Patty Svien, 345-4383 with questions. Continue to watch for Walking Lake Pepin updates in the LC Graphic, on Facebook and on the website; walkinglakepepin.com

​Birding Basics
Binoculars
● Binocular quality is a key factor in birding enjoyment. Try before you buy and get
the best binoculars you can afford. The magnification recommended for birding is
8x42. Contrary to how it might seem, higher magnification just makes finding the
birds more difficult.
Identification and Tracking
● Guidebooks (two of many)
○ National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
○ The Sibley Guide to Birds
● Apps
○ Merlin Bird ID (free, no ads), from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
■ Helps you ID birds from description, picture, or sound. Also has an
“explore birds” option for more information or comparison. It
coordinates with eBird. Worldwide data.
○ eBird (free, no ads), from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a massive citizen
science project, free online module that teaches you how to use it
■ You can create and save lists of the birds you’ve seen on a walk or
in a certain place. You can find places where others go to see birds.
Very helpful for planning outings and discovering what birds have
been seen where you’re going. You can use the “explore birds”
option to learn more about birds you are seeing. Worldwide data.
○ Sibley Birds ($19.99, no ads)
■ ID by description. Great for comparing birds to help with ID. Learn
about the birds you are seeing. North America.
○ The Warbler Guide ($12.99, no ads)
■ Great for comparing different angle views of warblers to help with
ID. North America.

​Learning More/ Community
● Cornell Lab of Ornithology
○ Offers very good online classes about birding and birds. Has many
resources for learning more about birds.
● Guided bird walks
○ Frontenac State Park Association
■ bit.ly/fspa-events
■ Coming dates: June 24, July 8, August 5 and 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 7
○ Zumbro Valley Audubon
■ https://zumbrovalleyaudubon.org/calendar.html
■ Monthly bird walk at Quarry Hill Nature Center
○ Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
■ https://mrvac.org/events/
■ Single day walks and weekends around the state, also sponsor
trips farther afield.
● Frontenac State Park Association
○ Tag us on Instagram @fsapassociation
Contact: