Camp Agnes Arnold has a new feature
 A
big cheer for the finally finished Shadow Lake Nature Trail
at Camp Agnes Arnold. It’s been three long years of
work, but it’s done!
Every troop will want to hike this trail. If you want a
guided tour, just sign up at the check in station at Camp
Agnes Arnold. Forester Henry Steitz makes two guided tours
almost every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The limit is
about 25 Girl Scouts per trip.
This nature trail features a bird watching blind, native
tree identification, and stories about how these trees are
used by wildlife for food and shelter. Also, girls will learn
how people use the trees for houses, furniture, nuts for food,
handles for tools, paper, and even oxygen for breathing. At
the new long bridge is a low platform where wetland plants
can be closely seen. There’s even a bridge across a
small spring-fed creek where Girl Scouts can learn about how
the forest helps the water cycle on which we all depend.
Many man-made features can be enjoyed along this trail.
Five rustic wooden bridges span Shadow Lake and cross small
steams. Two Adirondack shelters provide shade or shelter during
sudden rains. Nine benches are placed at the entrance and
at interesting places along the trail. There are signs to
help people as they navigate the route.
The bridge and benches were made from salvaged trees that
were destroyed by a tornado or killed during the drought,
all from the forest around camp. Universal Forest Products
treated the wood, at no cost, to prevent decay and insect
attack to the wood.
Camp property mangers did much of the construction work.
They were helped during the United Way Days of Caring by United
Parcel Services (480 volunteer hours over a period of three
years) and Hewlett Packard (160 volunteer hours). Society
of American Foresters volunteers also helped two days and
provided $1,300 of grant funds.
Now it’s time for Girl Scouts to enjoy the trail. Have
fun! |