Friends News
Congratulations to Jim Carter!
Baraboo native becomes the next superintendent at Devil’s Lake State Park.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO JIM CARTER!
Baraboo native becomes the next superintendent at Devil’s Lake State Park. Jim Carter begins officially on Monday August 31st but has been acting in the role since the departure of Steve Schmelzer earlier this year, who was promoted to the Southwest District Parks Supervisor.
Born and raised in Baraboo, the park has been a part of Carter’s life in both work and play. Growing up, his family spent long days on the south shore beach before there was a boardwalk along the lake. “My mom was a teacher and we would meet other teachers' families for long days during the summer, swimming in the water and playing in the sand.” The swim team he was on would hold end-of-season picnics on the north shore, and his cross-country coach in high school introduced him and others to rock climbing. Carter’s dad taught his brother and him how to sail at the lake, and his first experience turkey hunting was also at the park. Carter met his wife when they were both in college and working as LTE-Park Rangers during the summer at Devil’s Lake. After graduating from UW-Madison, he was hired as the Maintenance Supervisor and later became the Assistant Superintendent in 2011. Carter is most excited about the wealth of recreational opportunities the park has to offer and the far reaching and diverse population of visitors that come to explore. “This park has afforded me some of the greatest recreational memories of my life, and it’s those experiences that I am excited to continue to offer to others.”
Be safe, be well,
Friends of Devils Lake
Cancellation of Music in the Park 2020
After considerable deliberation with the Wisconsin DNR, the park superintendent, and the board of the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of our "Music in the Park" concert series this summer due to COVID-19.
After considerable deliberation with the Wisconsin DNR, the park superintendent, and the board of the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of our "Music in the Park" concert series this summer due to COVID-19.
We have had a long history of supporting these concerts so the decision was not an easy one, however the safety of our community and park visitors is, and will always be, our top priority. The Friends look forward to bringing back "Music in the Park" for Summer 2021, and thank you all for your support of our concert series over the years!
Please check out and support the bands that had originally been set to perform this summer:
The North Code
https://www.facebook.com/thenorthcode
Swing Crew
https://www.facebook.com/TheSwingCrew
Noah John and the Ringing Iron
https://www.facebook.com/ringingiron
Devil's Lake State Park Returns to Normal Hours
We received this note from the Wisconsin DNR on Friday, May 22:
We’re happy to announce changes to some of the conditions put in place on state park system properties earlier this month. The weekly Wednesday closures will be repealed effective Wednesday 5/27, and limited property hours are repealed effective Saturday 5/23. We will still be implementing capacity closures as needed to manage admissions and overcrowding. Park admission and trail passes will continue to be required and will be available for purchase over the phone or online. Additionally, camping will remain closed through June 7th. Please see the press release for complete details. Thank you for your continued support of the Wisconsin State Park System.
Devil's Lake State Park to Re-open Friday, May 1st
Effective, May 1, 2020, nearly all Wisconsin State Parks properties will be open. Annual admission passes and/or trail passes are required. New hours for all properties will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All properties will close weekly on Wednesday.
Effective, May 1, 2020, nearly all Wisconsin State Parks properties will be open. Annual admission passes and/or trail passes are required. New hours for all properties will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All properties will close weekly on Wednesday.
Camping will remain closed through May 26, 2020 – full refunds will be issued to those with reservations.
The following properties will remain closed for the health and safety of the public, staff, and property integrity:
Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area
Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area
Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area
Dells of The Wisconsin River State Natural Area.
There will be no opportunity to purchase admission passes on-site. If you haven’t already, please purchase via phone at 1-888-305-0398.
Capacity will be limited at all properties to prevent overcrowding.
All facilities, including restrooms and drinking fountains, will be closed.
We will continue to monitor property conditions and make adjustments as needed to limit the spread of COVID-19, protect natural resources and provide safe and accessible opportunities for Wisconsinites to enjoy the outdoors.
Visitors are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace principles, maintain social distancing and choose opportunities for outdoor recreation that are in their local community to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
For more specific details, visit: https://dnr.wi.gov/covid-19/
Devil's Lake State Park Closed Until Further Notice
Due to unprecedented crowds, littering and vandalism, the following Wisconsin State Parks are now closed effective Friday, April 10 for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency
Due to unprecedented crowds, littering and vandalism, the following Wisconsin State Parks are now closed effective Friday, April 10 for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency:
NORTHEAST REGION
High Cliff State Park
SOUTHEAST REGION
Big Foot Beach State Park, Harrington Beach State Park, Havenwoods State Forest, Kohler-Andrae State Park, Kettle Moraine State Forest Lapham Peak, Loew Lake, Mukwonago River, Northern Unit, Pike Lake, Southern Unit, Lakeshore State Park, and Richard Bong State Recreational Area
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Aztalan State Park, Belmont Mound State Park, Blue Mound State Park, Cadiz Springs State Recreational Area, Capital Springs State Recreational Area, Cross Plains State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park, Fenley State Recreational Area, Governor Dodge State Park, Governor Nelson State Park, Lake Kegonsa State Park, Lower Wisconsin Riverway, Mackenzie Center, Mirror Lake State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, Nelson Dewey State Park, New Glarus Woods State Park, Rocky Arbor State Park, Sauk Prairie State Recreational Area, Tower Hill State Park, Wyalusing State Park, and Yellowstone Lake State Park, Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area, Pewits Nest State Natural Area, Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area and Dells of the Wisconsin State Natural Area Our goal is to maintain the safest environment for visitors and staff. If you’re looking take a break in the outdoors, public health officials are advising you to walk, run, hike and bike in your local neighborhoods and maintain a social distance of 6 feet or more.
Questions? Contact DNR Customer Service:
1-888-936-7463
7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily
For more information, visit the Wisconsin DNR news release.
State Park Events Cancelled Through March 31st
The Friends of Devil's Lake State Park is cooperating with the Devil's Lake State Park DNR staff in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While the park will remain open for visitors, all DNR events are now cancelled through March 31st (mainly the remaining two Weekend Wild Walks).
Update on March 20, 2020 at 11:20am: The Wisconsin DNR has issued the latest press release yesterday on March 19, 2020 at 3:25pm.
Wisconsin State Parks and Trails will remain open to the public. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources continues to receive the most up-to-date information and will adjust operations as conditions change. We will continue to monitor on-the-ground circumstances each day to determine if park closures become necessary. […]
The Friends of Devil's Lake State Park is cooperating with the Devil's Lake State Park DNR staff in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While the park will remain open for visitors, all DNR events are now cancelled through March 31st (mainly the remaining two Weekend Wild Walks).
We will hold off on posting any new events hosted by the park or the Friends for the time being. Our currently scheduled Music in the Park series will remain on our calendar since this is three months out.
➡️ You may view the DNR's calendar of future Devil's Lake events here (cancellations may be noted):
https://dnr.wi.gov/calendar/events/parks/…
Thank you all again for your patience and cooperation. Please stay safe!
The Friends
Recap: Members Brainstorm Meeting
The Friends of Devil’s Lake hosted a member’s only brainstorm meeting for members to share their hopes, ideas, and talents for our beloved state park. The brainstorm meeting was held at the City of Baraboo Municipal Building at 101 South Boulevard on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 5:00-8:00 pm.
The Friends of Devil’s Lake hosted a member’s only brainstorm meeting for members to share their hopes, ideas, and talents for our beloved state park. Members received notice of the meeting in the Winter issue of the “Advocate”, via email, and on social media. If you missed the meeting, and would like to contribute, don’t worry. We will have additional opportunities to contribute your ideas, and you can always contact us at friendsofdevilslakestatepark@gmail.com.
The brainstorm meeting was held at the City of Baraboo Municipal Building at 101 South Boulevard on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 5:00-8:00 pm.
The meeting was held to share information on the process of updating the future master plan of the area including Devil’s Lake State Park and to formulate recommendations the Friends will be making to the State at a later date on behalf of the Friends group.
Park Superintendent Steve Schmelzer explained the importance of updating the Devil’s Lake State Park master plan since the last update of the master plan occurred on February 25, 1982.
The categories focused on at this meeting were trail management, amenities, recreational activities, solutions to current issues, and other items (misc). After placing suggestions up for each category, each member was allowed to go through each suggestion to help rank the suggestions based on priority per category.
To all of our members who joined in on the brainstorm meeting, thank you for your valuable input, and helping the Board in prioritizing the suggestions!
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