Winter Fun 2009

VOLUME ONE’S PROOF THAT

WINTER IS FOR

YOU!

You know how every December you get really bummed out when it starts getting really cold, the sun sets at like 5, and you have to deal with warming up your car and scraping your windshield every morning? You realize just how much you hate winter, and you refuse to do anything outdoors until April. Well stop it. No. Seriously. Stop it. Winter doesn’t have to be this way, and we’ve made this more than 10-page special section just to prove it. It’s high time you rethink what winter means in the Chippewa Valley and embrace all the truly awesome stuff that is just for you.

Trevor Kupfer, Heidi Kraemer, & Bailey Berg // DESIGN: Brian Moen Andrea Paulseth, OJ Hornung, Jesse Johnson, Carolyn Tiry, & Amy Schmitz THANKS: Mitchell See, Kinzy Janssen, Shawn Brunner, the DNR and Duke Welter, & Pookums EDITORS/WRITERS: PHOTOGRAPHY:

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December 24th, 2009

WINTER IS FOR Snowmen are So Last Century

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eVeRYONe SKATEY-MA RINKY-DINKY-DINK

local snow sculpture ideas using household items

THE MENARDS GUY

all city rinks open Dec. 26 and close when ice melts

Grab a blue shirt, a red tie, and some thick glasses to slap on your kinda chubby snowman. Make sure he has a welcoming smile and an outstretched arm, otherwise give him a sweet Menards nametag with Ray Szmanda on it.

Boyd Park 1202 Fairway St., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • Has a great outdoor rink and warming house. Open 4-9pm weekdays, and 1-9pm weekends.

BRETT FAVRE

Chippewa Area Ice Arena 839 1st Ave., Chippewa Falls • 723-1612 • Open skate 7-8pm on Sunday evenings.

With a football and No. 4, this one will be recognizable in Helsinki. But around these parts the use of this snowman will vary. Packer fans can tackle or flamethrow him, while Vikings fans can worship him until their neighbors tackle or flame-throw him.

L.E. PHILLIPS His name is on a bunch of buildings and organizations around town, but does anyone actually know what he looks like? Make a snowman, dress it up, and call him L.E. Phillips. You will seem pretty smart …

BABE THE BLUE OX & PAUL BUNYAN Grab some flannel, an axe, and some crushed up coal for a beard. Well, maybe not a real axe. Maybe a cardboard cutout of one. Make his trusty ox by mixing some blue food coloring in and use funnels for horns.

SNOW CONE STAND You might as well turn a profit during your creative endeavor. So build an awesome stand with a few pillars of snow on each corner and a large base for a service counter. Then all you need are a few Dixie cups to serve your snowy goods.

ADIN W. RANDALL You might not know what this guy looks like, but he is a local legend and he has statue of himself in a park named for him. If you’re not sure about the facial features, toss a trash can on his head, as is customary at the start of the school year.

JACK DAWSON He might have frozen solid and slipped into the frigid ocean on that fateful night in 1912, but his heart will go on through your snowman. Though the Titanic character probably wasn’t even real, teenage girls will weep at the sight of him.

A LEINIE’S BOTTLE If you’re not content with their seasonal Fireside Nut Brown, make your own gigantic bottle of Winter Weiss.

Just use food coloring for the label, dirt for the bottle, and beer for the beer.

SHIP SHAPE Build a snow replica of everyone’s favorite nauticalshaped car cleaning business. Use pipe cleaners for railing, bottle caps for bay windows, and some of those giant red popcorn tins for smoke stacks.

Might as Well Ski Jump

Curling is Actually a Blast ...

I Know, I was Surprised, Too

When I first heard the word “curling,” I was six years-old. At that time, curling was synonymous with babysitters – lots of them, every Friday night from November to March. Eventually I had a hazy idea that my parents abandoned me weekly to play a cold, crazy sport, to which they brought weird foot sliders and brooms without bristles.

Occasionally, when my parents exhausted their babysitter call list, my brother and I had to accompany them to the club, where the only things slightly worthy of a kid’s attention were a Welch’s pop machine and a “Wake Up Giants” game that got old after you understood it was actually math in disguise. On the rink, separated by a pane of glass, the adults were clustered around some arrangement of red and yellow stones on targets – deciphering, calculating, cajoling.

And yelling – lots of emphatic yells of “sweep!” and “Up! Up! Up!”

To this folly, six- or seven- or eight-year-old Kinzy said, “yawn.”

So when my parents approached me and my boyfriend last year with the prospect of joining the Mixed League, I stiffened.

Boring ice game? With my parents? On Friday nights? But we somehow got corralled into attending the open house … signing release forms … and writing out checks to become members.

I somehow came to really enjoy the “lifetime sport” of curling. I welcome the sounds of the rink — the muffled rumblings of 40-pound stones steadily sliding, the satisfying crack of a takeoutrock hitting its intended target. I’ve come to love the sportsmanlike traditions of the game. The hearty handshakes and declarations of “Good Curling.” Skilled shots rarely go uncomplimented, while bad shots are politely ignored.

And now, with the addition of a new “Starter League,” citizens of the Chippewa Valley (aka YOU!) have the unique opportunity to try this strange old Scottish sport. The workshops are free, and your friends are doing it — so we’ve just exhausted that Excuse Arsenal of yours. Throw a rock. Sweep vigorously. Eat, drink, and socialize, because as much as the sport is about upholding rituals and courtesy, it’s also about a kidlike sense of fun, which, ironically, wasn’t clear to me as a child.

Free Curling Open Houses January 4, 10, and 11 • Eau Claire Curling Club on the EC County Expo Grounds (near Action City) • 6-7:30pm • FREE • eccurling.blogspot.com New Curling Starter League Monday evenings, Jan. 18 to March 15 • Eau Claire Curling Club • 6:30-8:30pm • $300 per team for an eight-week season • eccurling.blogspot.com

SILVER MINE INVITATIONAL Jan. 22 and 23 • Silver Mine Hill, Silvermine Drive, Eau Claire • www.ec-skiclub.com If you’ve lived near Eau Claire anytime in the past 123 years and haven’t went to the annual ski jump event, now’s as good a time as any to give it some attention. The 123rd Annual Silver Mine Invitational ski jump event (at Silver Mine Hill on Silvermine Drive) is once again drawing some of the best ski jumpers in the world for USSA-sanctioned competition involving individuals soaring more than 80 meters in mid-air. Competitors this year include the very best of Norway, Canada, Russia, Poland, Finland, the U.S., and even Eau Claire! As an added bonus, heroic and controversial sports figure Lindsey Van will be making an appearance with the U.S. Women’s Ski Team! Lindsey won the first gold medal in the women’s ski jumping event earlier this year, and also is one of many plaintiffs involved in a lawsuit against the organizers of the 2010 Olympics, because no females are permitted to enter the ski jump event in Vancouver. Their presence and the competition are sure to be nothing short of awesome this year.

Dunn County Recreational Park 620 17th St., Menomonie • Open all day.

The only rink in Menomonie with lights.

Hobbs Altoona Sports Center 2300 Spooner Ave., Altoona • www.altoonahockey.com • Open skate times vary.

Check website for times.

Hobbs Ice Arena • 915 Menomonie St., Eau Claire • 839-5040 • They have open skate on Sundays from 5:30 to 7:30pm and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Admission is $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for youth.

Oak Park Circle Oak Park Circle, Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

Pinehearst Playground 523 Delbert Road, Eau Claire • 839-5032 • Outdoor rink and warming house. Open 4-9pm weekdays, and 1-7pm weekends.

Putnam Heights Playground 530 W. Tyler Ave., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • Outdoor rink and warming house. Open 4-9pm weekdays, and 1-7pm weekends.

River Heights School 615 24th Ave., Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

Roosevelt Playground 908 Folsom St., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • Outdoor rink and warming house. Open 4-10pm weekdays, and 1-9pm weekends.

Wakanda Elementary 1801 Wakanda St., Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

December 24th, 2009

A Lawn Game Good for Winter, Too

With three big events held in Eau Claire each year (one of which is the nation’s regional championship), chances are you’ve seen people throwing wooden blocks in a nearby park or you’ve heard a local person utter the word “Kubb” (pronounced Koo-b).

The Nordic lawn game sort of combines the gameplay of horseshoes, bowling, chess, and beer pong.

Though it is typically played on green grass in summertime, the game is likewise a ton of fun in winter. Listen to the beckoning call of the glistening piles of snow in your yard and get your whole family or group of friends outside for a game of this sweet Swedish game. If you are unfamiliar with kubb, its time to familiarize!

Kubb can have any number of players set on two teams. It basically involves throwing wooden sticks in order to knock over the other team’s kubbs (wooden stake things). The goal is to knock these stakes down first in order to get to the king. If you knock the king down before all your opponents other kubbs, you loose.

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Fort Knox? Pssshhhht. More Like Fort ROCKS! THE ICE CASTLE Create a snow fortress fit to keep the toughest army out. First mark where you want your walls by stamping down the snow or spraying colored water. Next, build your walls using various sizes of snowballs and then fill in the gaps with extra snow. Snow shovels really help to cut snowballs and smooth them. For intimidating spikes on top of your walls, use funnels as a mold. Icicles could provide a painful protective wall-topper.

When the weather gets wild this winter, take shelter in a quality snow fort. The art is easy to learn and the more creative juices that flow, the better. Here are some ideas for structures that will keep the wind out.

THE SNOW CAVE Tunnel your way through

mounds of snow for a toasty warm lair. Find a huge mound of snow, a deep snowdrift, or shovel snow into a big pile. Pack the snow down and then dig out a labyrinth (like ants in ant farms). It might get a little dark in there, but a few icicles poked into the roof will bring in light. This is an age-old technique learned from our wise Eskimo friends. If you can’t find icicles, consider Christmas lights or a candle for a snug glow.

Though it was once popularized among Vikings, in recent years kubb has gained a ton of popularity locally. The world championships are held in Sweden, and the UK’s Bristol has a big tournie every year, but the regional and national championships will both be played in humble ole’ Eau Claire in 2010.

So you better get movin’ if you want to make it big. Luckily the local kubb-ers plan a winter event every year to help you get familiarized. Come play on Saturday, February 6, from noon to 2pm at Boyd Park for the Third Annual Kubb Winter Friendly. This is not a tournament, but a friendly gathering of people who are interested in learning and playing the game.

Beginners are welcome and there is no cost involved.

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THE CLASSIC IGLOO Stay toasty in a comfy snow house. Begin your construction by marking out the shape you want your igloo to be. Next, hollow out a pit in the center of the designated area. Cut snow bricks with a shovel or snow-saw if the snow is deep and dense enough. Otherwise you could pack snow into shoeboxes. Then begin building, laying blocks in an upward spiral. For the roof, use pie slice-shaped snow chunks to fill in the top, or leave a hole for a chimney if you desire a fire. Blocks of clear ice are nice windows. Pack holes and crevices. Decorate with some pinecones or evergreen branches if you feel the urge.

THE HAWAIIAN HUT Bring a fruity taste of the tropics to your yard by building yourself a toasty Hawaiian hut. Circular or square, be creative. Use sticks for the roof.

A SNOW TOWER See how high you can get.

Model after the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Use lots of snowballs that could be hollowed out after they harden. Or pile up a huge mound of snow and build a circular wall on top of it. Keep adding layers. Ladders might be necessary.

Going for the Sweep ADULT BROOMBALL register by Jan. 29 for Wednesday night league from February through March • Hobbs Ice Center, Eau Claire • $300 per team • www.eauclairewi.gov/ athletics

Dream of putting on your favorite hockey team jersey and scarf, and hitting the ice, but your skating skills are a little shaky? Maybe Broomball is the right winter sport for you. There are two teams, consisting of six players, and the object of the game is to score more than your opponent by hitting the ball into your opponents’ net. Sounds suspiciously like hockey, right? Well the twist is that you’re wearing shoes and using a broom.

In the past Demmler Park in Eau Claire’s Third Ward has had brooms to borrow, but that rink isn’t operational this year, so you’ll have to improvise or join the upcoming Hobbs Ice Center league.

December 24th, 2009

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Going Downhill... in a Good Way area sledding hills

CHIPPEWA FAIRGROUNDS

Chippewa Falls • They may no longer be serving cheese curds and cotton candy, but the rides are not completely gone when the carnival leaves town. The walk-in entrance to the grounds across from Irvine Park provides a perfect path to safely walk to the top of a rather steep hill. Low person-on-tree collision rates have kept local kids sliding there for years. But look out, because they still like to build a jump or two at the bottom.

DUNN COUNTY SNOW PARK

Menomonie • On the east side of the fairgrounds, there’s a hill that the water tower sits on, ominously looming over the site.

Volunteers have recently spend a lot of time clearing brush, stumps, and debris from the hill, then setting up erosion precautions to create a low maintenance yet fun place for local snow goers. Like any hill, it’s still “ride at your own risk.”

OAKWOOD HILLS

Eau Claire • There’s a great little (unsupervised) hill near the Oakwood Hills Warming House on Golf Road. The hill is open weekends from 1 to 6pm, and could be a pleasant alternative to some of the aforementioned and slightly more treacherous places.

FLAG HILL

Chippewa Falls • Irvine Park has provided a ton of fun opportunities for people of the Chippewa Valley, but many do not realize the awesome potential for its sledding hills.

Venture to Flag Hill once we have gotten a decent amount of snow, and then walk to the edge of the hill in between the parking lot and the Rutledge manor.

There is a wicked hill waiting, but it might take a few runs to pack the high grass/snow down before it’s super fast.

DRAINAGE DITCH RUN

Menomonie • It’s a crazy drainage ditch on the southeastern side of Lake Menomonie that leads out onto the lake.

It might be a lot of fun, but definitively watch out for the lake ice.

THE FLATS HILL

Chippewa Falls • Look to the left going down Pumphouse Road hill, descending from the East Hill of Chippewa Falls, and you’ll find winter bliss waiting. A hill for all ages and skill levels, this place is wide open, with little to no risk of hitting any trees. Be careful of your speed, though, because legends of the hill have been known to clear the train tracks with one epic run.

FOREST HILL aka

“SEVEN BUMPS” aka “DEAD MAN’S HILL” Eau Claire • Right next to the Forrest Hill Cemetery (on Huebsch Boulevard) on the East Side Hill, the slope is small and gentle with no major obstacles (just the thing for weak-hearted novices). In recent years, its easy accessibility has made it a favorite among area snowboarders, but don’t be intimidated by them. If there is an altercation over a collision, they will have a hard time chasing you with their feet strapped to those boards.

MOUNT SIMON

Eau Claire • Known to be an intense thrill-ride, only for the adventurous and seasoned slider. It may not be Cool Runnings, but some bobsledding skills could come in handy. Usually constructed by area snowboarders, one winding trail could help you meet a tree up close and personal, while the other track’s gnarly plunge is not for the faint of heart. So bring a change of underwear, but be warned, parks and recreation does not condone the activities here.

PINEHURST HILL

Eau Claire • On Eau Claire’s north side, the behemoth Pinehurst Hill stands as the mother of all sledding hills. This formidable giant was a downhill ski run

with a towrope throughout the early 70s.

Be careful: if you don’t brake or turn, you’ll end up in a parking lot. Try not to hit anyone climbing up the hill, and pay attention so you don’t get hit yourself.

UWEC CAMPUS HILL

Eau Claire • Feeling adventurous, or maybe like getting flat out arrested? It has long been rumored that the most exciting hill in Eau Claire is also one of the most rare. With the perfect conditions, “The Hill” shooting down from upper campus gets covered with freezing rain then snow and becomes completely impassible. Mach 2 is potentially capable, but make sure to dodge the gate at the bottom … and the cops.

X-HILL

Eau Claire • Just across the road from the Eau Claire airport’s runways, it’s a real treat when jets fly overhead, close enough that you can feel your chest rattle. A crisscross hill unofficially called the “X-Hill,” you can start at one of two steep, twin trajectories that cross each other at a wicked intersection before going off in any number of directions.

This is never the same ride twice and the risk for some intense crashes is high. So if you are on the hill, consider yourself forewarned and therefore, fair game.

WINTER DESERVES

MORe ATTeNTION

Menomonie Gets a Snow Park!

All you skiers and snowboarders, clean the snow out of your ears and listen!

Local volunteers led by Christian Peterson and Bruce Trimble are transforming Dunn County Recreation Park into a snow haven for kids and adults who are looking for places to get some air, complete with rails and boxes. With a half pipe and rope tow on the docket for next winter, we owe these volunteers a huge thank you because this project was passed by Dunn County Facilities Committee, but no money was given for these amazing efforts. Half of the hill is still dedicated to sledders, but volunteers cleared out stumps and trees this fall for the snow park. UW-Eau Claire student and snowboard enthusiast David Allenstein has been eyeing up the hill and rails since fall, and now that we’ve got snow he is dusting off his board. “I’m stoked about this snowboard park! Finally a place to shred that isn’t an hour and a half from Eau Claire!”

In a recent story by Dunn County News, co-developer Christian Peterson said their efforts are all about giving kids a chance to try something new and have fun outside during the winter months. So come grab your sled, board, or skis and check it out! Questions, comments, want to donate, or volunteer? Call Christian Peterson at 308-5002 or email him at sfcwisconsin@gmail.com.

Prepare Yourself for Volume One’s “Cold Flashes”

So here’s the deal: The Chippewa Valley is a fantastic place to be in winter, but it’s possible that a lot of us need a little help to realize that.

And while a full-on Winter Festival on a specific weekend might be a little risky to pull off (No snow? Too much snow? Too cold? Too warm?), some impromptu, temporary celebrations might help do the trick.

So in an effort to get you off the couch this winter, Volume One will organize some unofficial gatherings we’re dubbing “Cold Flashes” – each focusing on getting together a bunch of people for fun, short-lived winter activities. Maybe it’ll be snowman building in Owen Park or snow sculptures on Barstow Street. Maybe a giant fort in Boyd Park or a snowball fight across the Eau Claire River. Or maybe a simple dog sled race down UWEC’s campus hill. You know, whatever.

Either way, we’re not telling just yet exactly how many we’ll do or what they might be (because we don’t entirely know). BUT, when the time comes, it’ll all go down like this:

We’ll look out our office window, maybe poke our heads out the door If the timing and conditions seem right, sometime in the morning we’ll pull out our monstrous bullhorn We’ll blow into that bullhorn (which is actually our website, email list, and our Twitter and Facebook feeds), letting everyone within the blast radius know that we’re calling together a “Cold Flash” for that day or evening All of the information about said event (place, time, activity) will be spread via these electronic and social media channels, along with some old fashioned word-of-mouth. Then, we’ll hopefully see a few dozen hearty locals gather for some chilly outdoor fun.

What you need to do to ensure that you hear about these impromptu events is watch VolumeOne.org like a hawk, follow us on Twitter, befriend us on Facebook, sign up for our email newsletter, and tell all your friends/ loved ones/coworkers/people you meet on the street to do the same. Let’s build a new Chippewa Valley winter.

December 24th, 2009

WINTER IS FOR

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COUPLeS

My Kingdom for a Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride Nothing says romance like the horse-drawn days of yesteryear. Wouldn’t you and your honey like to ride along in an authentic wooden sleigh, through scenic, snowy, winter trails, accompanied by the sound of sleigh bells?

Cabin Ridge Rides 4271 220th St., Cadott • 723-9537 • www.cabinridgerides.com • Offering wagon and sleigh rides through beautiful woodland scenery for groups of all sizes. Gatherings of 16 or more can enjoy bonfires, picnics, and meals in the woods. Two pavilions allow groups to sit around a bonfire to toast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate. (Hot dogs and potato chips optional.)

Private cabin and lodge parties available, along with a wide range of catered meals.

Swiss Shire Farm 626 19th St., Chetek • 837-1102 • Shire horsedrawn sleigh rides through the woods in a three-person cutter, or a large sleigh that can accommodate 15 people. Festive bonfires are also available. Call for reservations.

AERIAL TOURS OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Candlelight Dinner Snowshoeing Can it possibly get more tranquil than an evening snowshoeing trip along picturesque trails illuminated by candlelight? Maybe? OK. What if we throw in free refreshments and a warming fire? Yeah. That’s what I thought.

Candlelight Snowshoe Hike Jan. 15 • Beaver Creek Reserve, S1 Cty Hwy K, Fall Creek • 6 and 9 pm • $1 friends, $2 nonmembers • 877-2212 • www.beavercreekreserve.org • rentals available Snowshoeing by Moonlight Jan. 29 • Chippewa Moraine Ice Age State Recreation Area, New Auburn • 6:30pm • 967-2800 • rentals available

Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe Jan. 30 • Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls • 5-8pm • 967-2800 • rentals available Mid-Winter Candlelight Snowshoe Hike Feb. 12 • Beaver Creek Reserve, S1 Cty Hwy K, Fall Creek • 6 and 9 pm • $1 friends, $2 non-members • 877-2212 • www.beavercreekreserve.org • rentals available

If you’re looking for ideas of a romantic evening this winter, consider chartering a local plane for a tour of the holiday lights in Irvine Park and winter wonderland of the Chippewa Valley. Heartland Aviation will gladly do so, for $70 per half hour and up to three passengers.

Heartland Aviation 3800 Starr Ave., Eau Claire • 835-3181 • heartlandaviation.com

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December 24th, 2009

WINTER IS FOR Downhill Skiing + Snowboarding + Snow Tubing Spots in the Area

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THe ACTIVe WINTER PROGRAMS AT BEAVER CREEK

AFTON ALPS

6600 Peller Ave. S., Hastings, MN • 651-436-5245 • www.aftonalps.com • They boast 48 runs up to 3,000 feet long with possible vertical drops of 350 feet. Two tricky terrain parks, tubing, tow ropes and chairlifts galore, all types of rentals, a ski shop, two chalets, two restaurant/bars, and instruction available.

Looking to get outdoors this winter? Beaver Creek Reserve is a phenomenal winter destination, and not only for their snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails, but also their myriad of events.

CASCADE MOUNTAIN

Cascade Mountain Road, Portage, WI • (800) 992-2754 • www.cascademountain.com • They have 41 runs, the longest being a full mile, and a vertical drop of 460 feet. Six terrain parks will keep anybody occupied, while they have tubing for less intense riders. Towropes and chairlifts, rentals, a ski shop, chalet/restaurant/coffeehouse, and lessons available.

Make Your Own Snowshoes January 9-10 • Wise Nature Center • 9:30am3:30pm • Friends $150, Nonmembers $160 • 877-2212 • beavercreakreserve.org • Make sure you register online and indicate your choice of shoe.

Bring your patience, a bag lunch, tape measure, pencil, scissors, and matches or a lighter.

CHRISTIE MOUNTAIN

W13755 County Hwy. O, Bruce, WI • 868-7800 • www.christiemountain.com • 23 runs up to 4,000 feet long, with a 350-foot vertical drop.

Four terrain parks, tubing runs, towropes and chairlifts, rental gear, chalet, and instructions available.

COFFEE MILL SKI & SNOWBOARD RESORT

99 Coulee Way, Wabasha, MN • (651) 565-2777 • www. coffeemillski.com • They only have 10 runs, but the longest is 5,100 feet long with a vertical drop of 425 feet. A sweet snowboarding terrain park, towropes and chairlifts, rentals, a chalet, cafeteria, snowmaking, and instruction available.

GRANITE PEAK 3605 N. Mountain Road, Wausau,

WI • 845-2846 • www.skigranitepeak.com • A massive place with 74 runs up to 1.5 miles in length and a awesome vertical drop of around 700 feet. They also have tubing, tons of rentals, a ski shop, chalet, lodging, restaurants, snowmaking, and instruction.

MT. HARDSCRABBLE 5

miles east of Rice Lake • 234-7268 • Has six runs, the longest being 2,500 feet, with a vertical drop of 400 feet, and a snowboarding terrain park.

TROLLHAUGEN SKI AREA

2232 100th Ave., Dresser WI. • (800) 826-7166 • www.trollhaugen.com • Has 22 runs, tubing, towropes and chairlifts, rentals, a ski shop, chalet, restaurant, snowmaking, and instruction available. The longest run is 2,500 feet with a vertical drop of 286 feet.

Take “The Plunge!”

While jumping into water at a glacial temperature isn’t really most people’s idea of a good time, the annual Polar Plunge might just be worth the possible case of hypothermia. First off, by participating in the Plunge you’re helping others, as the pledges benefit the Special Olympics of Wisconsin. But there’s also free hot chocolate (oooh, that’s tempting), as well as prize contests such as fastest individual plunger and best group costume (and I have the best idea: Blue Man Group!). Afterwards, check out the post-plunge party.

Listen to music, enjoy a beer, and peruse the silent auction items.

Polar Plunge February 28 • Half Moon Beach in Carson Park, Eau Claire • noon to 2:30 • 833-0833 • www.specialolympicswisconsin.org • Call to register.

Guided Cross Country Ski Outing January 16 • Wise Nature Center • 9am-noon • ski rental Friends and members $3, Nonmembers $5, Fee for Friends $1, Nonmembers $3 • 8772212 • beavercreakreserve.org • Ski under fragrant evergreen cover, cross the creeks on snow-frosted bridges, and get some exercise in a new setting.

Afterwards enjoy some hot chocolate, and hotdogs around a bonfire.

Intro to Snowshoeing February 6 • Nature Center • 9:30-11:30am • Friends $6, Nonmembers $9 • 8772212 • beavercreekreserve.org

Pitching a Tent! Quinzee?

Other Helpful Winter

Camping Tips!

For those of you hardcore folks who go camping in winter, here’s instructions to build a simple shelter – a quinzee.

STEP 1 SHOVEL a pile of snow into a mound big enough that, if hollow, it could hold the number of people in your party. Mix different snow consistencies to help it harden.

STEP 2

SHAPE the mound into a dome, and allow it to harden for 90 minutes. Then begin to hollow out the mound. Dig a small entrance on

the downhill side. Smooth out the walls and ceiling. The walls should be one to two feet thick.

STEP 3 USE the last foot of snow to make elevated snow beds. Dig a narrow trench between the beds all the way to the ground. It’ll allow cold air to flow down and out. Poke a small ventilation hole at the top.

• Jell-O mix makes a great hot drink. Store Jello-O powder in refillable backpacking tubes and add it to hot water. Try cherry Jell-O in instant hot chocolate!

• Bury your water jugs in a snowdrift. The snow insulates the water and keeps it from freezing.

A Bike Race ... in Winter ... on a Frozen Lake WILD MOUNTAIN

37200 Wild Mountain Road, Taylors Falls, MN • (800) 447-4958 • www.wildmountain. com • They have 25 runs, the longest of which is a full mile with a vertical drop of 300 feet. They also have a snowboarding terrain park, tubing, towropes and chairlifts, rentals, a chalet, restaurant, snowmaking, and instruction.

SPRING STREET SPORTS

12 W. Spring St, Chippewa Falls • 723-6616 • www.springstreetsports.com • They have snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing packages for the day or entire weekend to use at the place of your choosing. Prices range from $15 to $30 for the day, or $25 to $50 for a weekend. Rentals also available.

SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY HUSTLE Saturday, Feb. 13 • starts at Waterfront Bar & Grill, 512 Crescent St., Menomonie • registration at noon, race at 2pm • $5 to enter • www.drunkenmasters.org

For the second year running, Menomonie resident Justin Pitts has put together the “coolest” winter bike event in the Chippewa Valley. The catch is that it’s a race that mostly goes down on the frozen surface of Lake Menomin, as racers rush from one checkpoint to the next.

“I’ve been considering mak-

ing it more of a traditional race with a course,” Justin said, “but that probably won’t happen in the immediate future.”

The entry is $5, with half of the proceeds going to Dunn County Humane Society and the other half to the winner. And after the race is over, they relax around a bonfire and have other bike-related

shenanigans such as a bike derby (think demolition derby with bikes).

Justin said the whole thing is to promote biking in winter. “I’ve been doing it for 25-plus years, and discovered the joy of riding on a frozen lake 10 years ago. It’s a really surreal experience and once you get into it, it’s a blast,” he said.

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HEAD FOR THE TRAILS! For Your Cross Country Skis BEAVER CREEK RESERVE 51 Cty. Road K, Fall Creek • 877-2212 • 3.7 miles of trails, with some rental equipment available on site.

CARSON PARk 101 Carson Park Dr., Eau Claire, near the east entrance • Offers several shorter, groomed trails perfect for beginners looking to stay away from steep grades.

CITY WELLS AREA on the east side of Riverview Dr., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • About 3 miles of flat trails across from Riverview Park. A good course for beginners.

FAIRFAX PARK 4200 Fairfax St., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • A fairly flat, roughly 1.7 mile stretch of trails. Another decent course for beginners.

LAKE WISSOTA STATE PARK 18127 Cty Hwy O, Chippewa Falls • 382-4574 • A beautiful and hilly 7 miles of trails.

LOWES CREEK COUNTY PARK Lowes Creek Road, Eau Claire • 839-4738 • Just minutes south of Eau Claire, experience 250 acres of cross-country ski bliss. The two-way, 4.9 mile trail system has many loops and shortcuts giving you a wide selection of route variety. Trails twist up and down hills through creek

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Ice Climbing

Opportunities Within Reach

bottoms and white pine forests, ranging from easy to difficult.

PRINCETON VALLEY GOLF CLUB 2300 W. Princeton Ave. Eau Claire • 834-3334 • They have an excellent “novice” traditional cross-country ski trail that treks around the golf course ... no trail pass or tee time required!

TOWER RIDGE 955 S82 Ave., Eau Claire • 839-4738 • This popular cross-country ski site is the largest 15 miles of groomed trails, both hilly and flat, in west central Wisconsin.

Trails snake through wooded, rolling terrain.

HICKORY RIDGE off Bob Lake Road/225th Ave., northern Chippewa County • 726-7880 • This trail winds 14.2 kilometers through the quiet and scenic hardwood forest. There are three challenging loops with lots of hills and steep grades.

HOFFMAN HILLS STATE RECREATION AREA 730th Ave., Colfax • 232-1242 • Don’t overlook the 707 acres of preserved and restored wooded hills, wetlands, and prairie, scribbled with cross-country ski trails for all levels. Glide through the snow while feasting your eyes on spectacular views of the surrounding countryside over the 8 miles of trails.

For Your Snowshoes BEAVER CREEK S1 Cty Hwy K, Fall Creek • www.beavercreekreserve.org • 877-2212 • A few minutes in your car and you can spend an entire afternoon in the quiet beauty of the woods. Has a number of wooded, groomed trails for snowshoeing. Rental equipment is available there, as well.

BLUE HILLS between Rusk County and Rice Lake • www.bluehillswisconsin.com • If you don’t mind a short drive (about an hour and a half from Eau Claire), check out the Blue Hills quiet winter sports area, named for the blue-tinted forested hillsides when seen through the mist.

CHIPPEWA MORAINE ICE AGE TRAIL from Brunet Island State Park in Cornell to Plummer Lake • 927-2800 • This 14-mile trail segment in Chippewa County meanders through glacial ridges, creeks, ponds, and undeveloped lakes.

HOFFMAN HILLS STATE RECREATION AREA 730th Ave., Colfax • 232-1242 • Head out to Menomonie to enjoy 707 acres of preserved and restored wooded hills, wetlands, and prairie, lined with trails for all levels.

LAKE WISSOTA STATE PARK 18127 Cty Hwy O, Chippewa Falls • 382-4574 • This 1,062 acre park features open prairie, rich forests, and a 6,300-acre manmade lake, around which there are several short trails (from one to five miles) good for snowshoeing.

LOWES CREEK COUNTY PARK Lowes Creek Road, Eau Claire • 839-4738 • Just minutes south of Eau Claire, escape to a scenic winter wonderland with your snowshoes. This 250-acre park provides extensive trails through hills, along creek bottoms and pine forests.

RED CEDAR STATE TRAIL off Hwy 29, Menomonie • 888523-3866 • 14.5 miles of well-groomed trails through the scenic Red Cedar Valley, with prairies, marshland, forests, sandstone bluffs, and a variety of wildlife.

TOWER RIDGE 955 S82 Ave., Eau Claire • 839-4738 • There are hilly and flat groomed trails for all levels. There are about 3 kilometers of lighted trails and a warming shelter that allows for night outings, a nice precursor to a warm fire.

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY 144 miles • 839-4738 FOND DU LAC COUNTY 300 miles • 937-9123 JACKSON COUNTY 260 miles • 284-0224 MARATHON COUNTY 641 miles • (800) 236-9728 OLD AVE STATE TRAIL 19.7 miles • (800) 866-6264

PEPIN COUNTY 113 miles • 672-4342 PIERCE COUNTY 222 miles • 639-5611 RED CEDAR STATE TRAIL 2 mi. (Menomonie) • (888) 523-3866 RUSK COUNTY 300 miles • (800) 535-7874 WILD RIVERS TRAIL 100 mi. (Rice Lake) • (800) 523-6318

• A great place to also look is www. travelwisconsin.com/ snow_report.aspx, which provides up-to-date information on all trails in the state. Provides snow conditions, grooming conditions, photos, and if the trails are open.

Check Out a Dogsled Race. Mush! Mush!

WINTER CARNIVAL AT CHRISTMAS MOUNTAIN S944 Christmas Mountain Road, Wisconsin Dells • February 6 20TH ANNUAL KLONDIKE DAYS Eagle River • February 20 & 21 PINE RIVER RUN Pine River School on Route 64, Merrill • January 9 & 10

NORTH SHORE ICE

with Vertical Endeavors Guided Adventures in Duluth, MN • January 30-31 • $499 a person • www.verticalendeavors.com • An advancedlevel trip that provides the opportunity to further refine and develop your ice-climbing repertoire.

LILYDALE BRICKYARD

For Your Snowmobile BARRON COUNTY 148.2 miles • (800) 523-6318 BUFFALO RIVER TRAIL 36.4 miles • 839-1607 CHIPPEWA COUNTY 281 miles • 726-7880 CLARK COUNTY 265 miles • 743-5140 DUNN COUNTY 233 miles • 235-3294

ICE EXPERIENCE with Vertical Endeavors Guided Adventures at Robinson Quarry in Sandstone, MN • various dates from Jan. 2-March 20 • $199 a person • www.verticalendeavors.com • Learn proper safety and techniques at one of these introductory lessons.

Equipment provided.

LANGLADE COUNTY TRAILBLAZER CHALLENGE Culvers parking lot, Hwy 45, Antigo • January 23 & 24 MEDFORD MUSH Brecke Rodeo Grounds, Route 64, Medford • February 13 & 14

Dogs bark in mass chorus. Teams howl with impatience for the starting gun. Mushers rally their troupe.

Its dogsled racing at it’s best. If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, here are a couple races in Wisconsin.

(aka Cat Litter Box or Brickyards) • downtown St. Paul, MN • season runs Nov. 1-March 31 • $25 annual permit • This area was once a quarry and a storage area for Twin City Brick.

There are a number of small ice bouldering areas and two large bowls. There is enough area to support several top-ropes and plenty of room to hang out.

SHEPHERD ROAD AND HOMER (aka Odyssey

of Homer, or “That slot canyon by the river”) • downtown St. Paul, MN • $25 annual permit • The Shepherd Road climb is a small slot canyon that is fed water through a two-foot concrete pipe from street run-off. It’s only about 20 feet from an intersection and most years it freezes in a way that allows for safe climbing.

EAU CLAIRE RIVER TRAIL

just east of Boyd Park • For experienced climbers only, this stretch of frozen water does not allow a top-rope, so is only navigable by clean lead climbing.

ST. CROIX RIVER Robinson Park, Sandstone, MN

• Said to be the best ice climbing in the region, the town of Sandstone transforms into an ice climbing haven every winter complete with an ice festival in early December and a huge chunk of river for prime climbing.

STILLWATER ICE PILLARS

Stillwater, MN • Also along the St. Croix River, Stillwater has three, 150-foot ice pillars that form every winter for seriously experienced climbers to scale.

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WINTER DESERVES

MORe ATTeNTION Carving Out a Cooler Eau Claire

Bust Out the Shanty and Tip-Ups When was the last time you were out on the ice with an auger and fishing pole?

Yeah, it’s a bit chilly and more work, but we’ll make it a bit easier for you. Our local fishing experts and DNR reps agree that Lake Altoona is the best local spot ice fishing, with good pan fish like perch always biting.

Other legit choices include Lake Wissota, Tainter Lake, Lake Eau Claire, and Half Moon Lake (where there’s bluegills a-plenty).

Snazzy cities all around the world from Chicago to Innichen, Italy make winter even cooler with artistic and cultural festivals surrounding snow sculpting competitions, drawing lots of attention and business.

Local artist and sculptor Steve Bateman has competed in these competitions for quite a few years, winning international awards.

Bateman recently heard that his snow sketch entitled “Snowpra” has just been accepted in the Chicago Snow Days festival.

These competitions are a big deal, and the festivals they are often part of last anywhere from a day to a few weeks.

Bateman wants to bring this winter activity to Eau Claire, though starting on a smaller scale. His vision is to start this winter by having local restaurants and businesses sponsor a sculpture that will be placed outside of their building. Bateman and other local artists will carve the sculptures to start with, but in future years he hopes to have a full-blown competition for kids and adults alike.

“Having snow sculptures around town will give people an idea of what a competition would be like, as well as see how having more public art around town would be beneficial to the community and the businesses” Bateman explains.

Unfortunately, city-wide cooperation is needed for this to work.

“There are lots of road blocks and red tape that are in the way,” says Bateman.

This kind of event stands to enhance the community and winter season, as well as draw people from surrounding areas. So come on, Eau Claire! Let’s knock those irritating roadblocks down and slice right through that red tape. Just imagine how much more magical your stroll through town would be if creatures such as wild-eyed jackalopes and graceful swans emerge through the sparkling snow, illuminated by soft city lights.

If you’re ready to help make this happen, give Bateman a call at 308-2790.

How Others Have Made Cities More Vibrant in Winter Many cities around the world offer inspiring examples of how creative Placemaking allows people to enjoy public spaces and lively city streets in winter.

• Quebec City, famed for its winter carnival and street vendors selling hot bread, is a prime example of making winter into an asset.

• Same for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, where the Rideau Canal becomes the focal point of civic life in the winter as folks strap on their blades for a chance to skate through a wintry landscape rather than just making circles around a rink or pond. People even commute to work that way.

• The Toronto suburb of Mississauga fashioned a long-distance skating course by flooding a walking trail.

• New York stands out among

Dear City of Eau Claire,

American cities. Rockefeller Center is famous for its ice rink, which becomes the beloved heart of Midtown Manhattan by attracting a handful of skaters and the crowds of onlookers who love to watch them glide back and forth.

• Large European cities keep their street markets open up to Christmas, taking on a holiday theme (with tree growers, artisans, hot beverages, chili, toasted sandwiches, etc.). This has spread to many large markets in the U.S., as well.

• St. Paul, Dartmouth, and Quebec City are known for their amazing winter carnivals or festivals, each lasting more than a week.

• Paris and Edinburgh are the beacons of the creative use of light in business districts, public squares, and key gathering points.

HERE’S AN IDEA!

You know that chunk of land you recently razed out on First Avenue (where , Just Local Food used to be)? Well since nobody s aching to build there just , , yet, here s a crazy idea: what about a temporary ice skating rink? It s , right across the walking bridge to downtown, it s right by the West Grand , business corridor, it overlooks the river, and there s a parking lot right , there. It s genius! Just let Parks and Rec do their thing with the ice, then set up a little shack where you can rent equipment and sell refreshments , (both at a cost, of course). That way you re making money off unused land. , It s just a thought ...

Sincerely, Citizens of the City

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TeeNS

Go Throw Them From the Mountain With snow comes snowplows. With snowplows comes truly massive snow piles. With massive snow piles comes dangerous games. Know what I’m getting at?

What better way to celebrate this little gift from mother nature than a rousing game of King of the Mountain? One of the most barbaric of playground games, King of the Mountain involves scaling to the top of a large snow-pile and staking your claim, tossing would-be royalty off without letting them de-throne you. Generally any place that has a big parking lot will have a big hill suitable for playing, so scout those out, and let the games begin. Officially: King of the Mountain is really dangerous, especially as you plummet down to the concrete. Plus it’s really naughty, as most businesses in charge of parking lots don’t like it.

Unofficially: It’s a blast.

Paintballing It Up!

PICK UP SOME PUCKS & HIT THESE OPEN NETS city-run rinks open on Dec. 26 and close when the ice melts

Boyd Park 1202 Fairway St., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • A great outdoor rink with hockey nets and a useful warming house. Open 4-9pm during the week, and 1-9pm on weekends.

Dunn County Recreational Park 620 17th St., Menomonie • Open all day.

The only rink in Menomonie with lights and hockey nets.

Snowball Fights “the perfect snowball” and a war strategy

Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center 3456 Craig Road, Eau Claire • 552-1200 • Has pucks and nets to use for free during open gym times. Not on ice. Call ahead to find out open gym times, as they vary day to day.

To a teen, a snowball fight means war. War that involves soaring balls of snow, strategy, and pain. And it’s time to start preparing your heavy artillery: the snowball. The art of making the perfect snowball depends on what results you are looking for.

LAUGHS These snowballs are light and explode softly and beautifully on your victim. The best snow for this is powdery. It is difficult to pack, but if you warm it with your body heat or scoop snow near a heat source (like a house), packing is still possible.

Or use a spray bottle. Gloves work better than mittens for this.

These snowballs are good for young children, grandparents, and the sickly.

STING If you are aiming to make your opponents’ eyes water, and there is a slightly wet and heavy snow, pack it tightly into small balls and aim for tender, yet covered areas of your victim. This is where knowing your victim comes in handy …

BRUISE These snowballs will not only leave a mark physically, but also psychologically. Heavy, wet snow is best for these weapons.

Pack into very tight, hard balls with visible lumps. The lumps are key for adding that extra punch that leaves a nice, deep bruise. Aim for thinly covered areas or skin.

BLOOD These snowballs are the black diamond of the battle field. Make a hard snowball from wet snow with ice shards and small rocks inside of it (preferably sticking out). Add some red food coloring for intimidation. Chuck as hard as you can, and aim for skin. To protect yourself from such attacks, shields are great. Try a trashcan lid or lunch tray.

NEAR-DEATH In war, preparation is necessary. Form snow into a ball inside your house where it will melt a little bit. Then place snowballs into freezer. If all goes well, you will have a basket of deadly ice balls. Aim for the head.

Choose your teammates based on strength, speed, brains, bravery, loyalty, and snowball-making quickness. Choose your position carefully. Natural barriers such as trees, rocks walls, or ditches are desirable. Looking down on your enemy from the top of a hill or deck is awesome, too. Dump a huge snowball or pile of snowballs on unsuspecting victims below. You are going to need some sort of fort to keep snowballs in and hide in or behind (cars, playground equipment, sheds, etc.). If snow conditions are wet, build a nice snow wall with large snowballs.

If you like playing paintball when it’s warm outside, you’re gonna love it in winter. It’s exponentially more fun. You’re already dressed in layers and won’t be in pain when shot. There’s a lot less running around, and a lot more mental strategy. And it’s a lot easier to de-fog a mask.

We personally suggest playing capture the flag in a wooded area, where a great hiding place to snipe opponents is essential.

Try it at one of these area paintballers, both open in winter.

First Strike 10327 Highway 29, Chippewa Falls • 577-1488 • Sweet idea of scheduling “night games” around the full-moon weekends and it runs from 6pm until players are done playing at night. They even have a heated field house that allows players to warm up between games. Set up groups as call-in reservations.

Battlefield Paintball W12151 Vold Road, Osseo • 597-6644 • Check out their winter special of all-day paintballing for only $25 per player.

HERE’S AN IDEA

CONTACT SPORTS + SNOW = MORE FUN, LESS INJURIES Pickup games of full-contact football, dodgeball, rugby, and several others are made infinitely more enjoyable and less painful with a few feet of comfy snow. Find a decent-sized backyard or park around town and wear extra layers (snow finds its way to skin and inside ears almost always).

Hobbs Ice Arena 915 Menomonie St., Eau Claire • 839-5040 • In addition to a ton of leagues, Hobbs offers youth open hockey clinics on Wednesday evenings. Open skate times are Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Rentals available.

There is an admission fee.

Oak Park Circle Oak Park Circle, Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

Pinehearst Playground 523 Delbert Road, Eau Claire • 839-5032 • An outdoor rink with a warming house. Open 4-9pm during the week, and 1-7pm on weekends.

Putnam Heights Playground 530 W. Tyler Ave., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • An outdoor rink with a warming house.

Open 4-9pm during the week, and 1-7pm on weekends.

River Heights School 615 24th Ave., Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

Roosevelt Playground 908 Folsom St., Eau Claire • 839-5032 • An outdoor rink with a warming house. Open 4-10pm during the week, and 1-9pm on weekends.

Wakanda Elementary 1801 Wakanda St., Menomonie • Open all day. No lights or warming house.

Hobbs Altoona Sports Center 2300 Spooner Ave., Altoona • www.altoonahockey.com • Open skate times vary based on hockey leagues. Check website for times.

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FAMILIeS

Endless Kidsy Activities in the Snow Winter can be a dangerous time for parents with children of any age.

It is a scientific fact that when kids are trapped inside of their house for too long (can be as little as 15 minutes) they transform into wild beasts, rampaging, banging into things, starting fires, etc. If you are smart, you’ll have some fun outdoor winter games up your sweater sleeve. Here are some atypical ideas:

Winter Olympics Team up for a slip-sliding variation of tug-of-war. Tramp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the midline. Then, take up positions at the ends of a long, thick rope and let the tugging and towing begin. Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins.

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Play flag-football in the snow. Have each team tie different colored scarves around their waists to identify them.

Create Build a miniature snow city. It’s like making a sand castle, but much more durable and long lasting. Use a metal spatula to smooth walls. Spoons help scrape out doors and windows. Use some food coloring to add life to your white village. You could make any sort of dwelling, from a ski resort complete with chair lifts and skiers to a snow village with little snowmen and ice skating ponds.

Let your children stretch their imaginations. Don’t forget to snap a photo when you are finished.

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Paint a snow picture. When your yard is covered with a fresh sheet of white snow, fill water bottles or squirt guns with water and food coloring. Then let your kids make some wild snow pictures.

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Tie a white cloth to the end of a short stick. Then give each child a chance to hide it by staking it anywhere within a predetermined set of boundaries. Keep track of how long it takes the rest of the group to find it. Whoever hid the flag that takes the longest time to spot wins.

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Snow hurdles. Kids like to run and jump. Tire them out with this fun game. Help your kids make a series of hurdles with snow by rolling a bunch of snowballs and packing them together.

See how high they can jump.

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Snow Treasure Hunt. Pack a cooler full of fun treats and surprises. Bury the cooler in the yard under a pile of snow.

Leave a trail of clues wrapped in plastic bags around the yard or neighborhood and send your kids on a treasure hunt!

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Rolling contest. See who can roll the biggest snowball. When finished, make something with them. A fort, an animal (caterpillars are easy), or an object (a snow stage for a theatrical show).

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Target Practice. Make a huge colored bulls-eye target with food coloring in spray bottles in your yard. See who get the most points by throwing their snowballs most accurately.

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Pin the nose on Frosty. Have your kids make a snowman (or any other animal or character). When finished, blindfold them and have them stick a carrot nose onto the snowman to see who is the most accurate. Or take an old hat and take turns trying to throw Frosty’s hat on his head.

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Shovel a path through your backyard like a maze, have kids try to army crawl through it.

Ice bowling. Odds are you have a decent-sized patch of ice somewhere near your home. That’s the lane. Fill some plastic bottles or aluminum cans with water and freeze them. These can be the pins and the balls. For a real workout, use milk jugs.

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Feast Snow feast. Have your children help you craft a quality table out of snow in your yard.

Decorate the table with tree branches, garland, pinecones, etc.

You can even have each child make their own chair. Then serve up some hot cocoa, cookies, or other wintery treats. Great for a warmer winter day with melty snow.

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Old fashioned maple snow candy. In a tall saucepan, boil maple syrup until it thickens.

Let it cool a bit then take it outside and pour it on fresh snow. It becomes a sweet taffy treat that you can scoop with your hands or fork. Make fun shapes and get the whole family involved!

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Icy Legos. Using Jell-O molds, yogurt containers, muffin tins, ice cub trays, etc, freeze a bunch of different-colored water outside or in a freezer. Bring all the frozen blocks outside and have your kids build things with them. A bit of water will help frozen ice parts stick to one another.

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Fun photo opp! Before adding the head of your snowman, let the kids take turns mugging as Frosty, corncob pipe and all.

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Why do Christmas trees have to be inside and only during Christmas season? Jazz up bare trees with colorful streamers and homemade ornaments.

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Snow candles. Get your hands on a bunch of old candles or crayons. Then, melt them down in an old pan or jar that you don’t care about semi-ruining. Next, find some wicks, or something you could use as one. Now, go outside and create a mold in the snow by packing it into a crazy shape, making sure to get it really packed tight, then carefully pour in the wax followed by the wick. It should harden up quickly, leaving you with a brand new candle recycled from old ones.

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Ice-o-Lanterns. There are several ways to do this project, but it fundamentally boils down to creating a hollow space in the middle of a large chunk of ice. Use anything from a tin can to a five gallon bucket to create a large block of ice, and melt the middle after it has frozen to create a cavern. Then flip it over onto a lit candle and it will create a decorative winter glowing contraption.

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Blowing bubbles is not just for summer. Check out what happens when you catch it on the blowing stick and let it freeze. Or you can buy edible candy bubbles.

Blow one, let it freeze, and enjoy!

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Make some homemade ice cream. You’ll need two clean metal cans, both with lids, one larger than the other.

Combine one cup of very cold milk, one cup sugar, one teaspoon vanilla, and if you want chocolate, one tablespoon chocolate syrup in the smaller can. Place the smaller can inside the large can. Fill the space between the small and large can with ice and salt. Seal the large can and have your kids push the can around the snowy yard for about 30-45 minutes. Open it up and enjoy!

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Building Your Own Backyard Ice Rink INGREDIENTS:

A hose, a bunch of plywood, a plastic tarp or liner, a yard.

HOW:

The first thing you need to understand is that no yard was created equal. You might think your backyard is perfectly flat, but there’s a good chance one side is a few inches taller than the other. Here’s what you do: First thing’s first, decide how big you want your rink to be. With that you’ll be able to figure out how much plywood you need to make the perimeter.

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The perimeter can be made one of two ways. The more efficient option is cut a line in the yard and wedge the board into the earth. However if you’re worried about the safety of your lawn, the other option is to sandwich the board into a standing position with some snow. Whichever way you choose, make sure the height of the boards are level with each other (for instance, the steeper side of the yard will need the taller chunk of plywood, and vice versa).

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Attach your liner. You can either staple the plastic to the outside of the plywood, or if your tarp is big enough, wrap it over the boards and tuck it underneath like you would do a sheet and a mattress.

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Fill it. You are now ready to fill it up. It is best to wait until you are getting some consistently cold temperatures, but this is often hard to predict. Fill it from with a hose to a depth of two inches at the shallowest.

When it freezes it will expand making it a little deeper.

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Wait. It will take awhile to freeze all the way through, so be patient.

If you get on the ice too soon it will just break and freeze uneven. Try and fish out any leaves, branches, or critters that find their way into the water.

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Have fun.

I Really Like This Track If your kids are really into animals, a perfect game that takes almost no preparation is out in your yard or nearby park. Look near bird feeders, gardens, or tall grass for animal tracks in the snow. Try to decipher what they might be.

Your dog, a bird, a deer, a yeti, or the evasive and rarely seen Tarantupotomus?

Follow them until the kids get bored, or you wander into a bear den.

P.S. If you’re one of the unfortunate souls whose yard has very little wildlife tracks, throw your kids off by making strange tracks out of plywood to slip on the bottoms of their shoes.

WHO’S BEEN HERE? WINTER TRACKING FOR KIDS February 27 • Beaver Creek Reserve, Fall Creek • 9:30 and 11:30am • $5 friends, $8 nonmembers • A naturalist will guide kids on an outdoor tour of track identification that includes making a plaster cast of a track to take home.