Last Updated: Monday, June 30, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
New trails in the works at CAVOC
By Michael Skubal - Daily news Staff
Local hikers have been given a gift in the form of two miles of new trails at the Cedrig A. Vig Outdoor Classroom (CAVOC).
CAVOC is an outdoor environmental education center for the School District of Rhinelander. St. Mary’s Foundation recently donated $2,000 to create over two miles of additional trails. Some of the funds will also be used to create a one-quarter to one-half mile wheelchair accessible trail.
The Nordic Ski Club helped to design and locate the new trails. DNR forestry and fire control Equipment is being used to build the trails and Wisconsin DNR turkey stamp money will be used to seed the trails for wildlife.
When completed, the CAVOC trail system will have four to six miles of trails. CAVOC will be open to the public for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when the trails are completed. People of all ages will enjoy the trails and the beauty they offer. The trails range in terrain from flat, easy to very steep, black diamond.
CAVOC provides an opportunity to be physically active close to home. The Oneida County Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition promotes physical activity for Oneida County residents. Walking the trails can decrease obesity, prevent heart disease, reduce high blood pressure and prevent diabetes.
Recently CAVOC had its first timber sale which generated $130,000 of revenue and $65,000 worth of lumber for the engineering and technology departments. The money generated was put into a segregated account which pays for and supports environmental education for CAVOC and the School District of Rhinelander. CAVOC has been self-supporting and off the general school budget for the last eight years.
CAVOC is part of the school forest lands owned by the School District which has a 50-year timber sale plan. This plan will fund CAVOC indefinitely. CAVOC allows environmental education for students in the Rhinelander School District including parochial schools from grades K-12. The Rhinelander Environmental School Academy (RESA) has numerous research projects in progress at CAVOC and other school forest properties.
“I was at an Oneida County Biking and Walking Council meeting,” said Roger Day of the St. Mary’s Foundation. “I approached Dr, Judy Pagano, a Foundation board member, about donating to the trails. It has been a community effort. The foundation believes walking and hiking are healthwise a good thing.”
DNR Forestor Mannie Oradei said, “We’re trying to set all our trails up for the public, hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.”
For more information on physical activity opportunities in Oneida County go to www.co.oneida.wi.gov. Click on public health. Click on physical activity opportunities.
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