Duane Hicks
The Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists is looking for individuals and businesses to sponsor signs for the Cranberry Peatlands Interpretive Trail in Alberton.
Eight years after opening, the “bog walk” continues to be well-used, visited by hundreds of people each year—some from as far away as Germany and Australia.
But the local group is hoping to enhance the interpretive trail now that it is one of the district sites featured in the National Geographic Society’s “Heart of the Continent” geo-tourism program.
RRVFN president Terry Kawulia said the group is trying to land funding for signage to post along the trail.
These signs would convey information about the wide variety of birds and plants users of the trail might see during their trek.
He noted the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club was very successful in getting individuals, families, and businesses to sponsor signs at its Rocky Inlet trails.
As such, the RRVFN is hopeful it can garner similar support from the community to sponsor sign for the interpretive trail, which is located at the west end of Whitmore Road.
Kawulia said there is a large sign at the beginning of the trail, which explains the history of the bog, and there are numbered lookout posts along the trail.
But the RRVFN would like to put up more signs.
“What we’re trying to do is get some photos of the animals and plants we’re going to see out there—the sandhill crane, the dwarf birch, maybe the cala lily,” he explained.
“The group’s in the early process right now, deciding which signs are going to be chosen,” added Kawulia.
“So we’ll have a photo of the species we’re trying to identify and a short little piece of interesting tidbits below it.”
Kawulia admitted the RRVFN is “a small group with not very deep pockets.”
“So we’re just looking for some public support, corporate or private,” he remarked.
Kawulia said the RRVFN has gotten an estimate from a sign-maker, with each sign to cost about $60.
The names of sign sponsors will appear on them.
To sponsor a sign, call Kawulia at 274-8739.
The trail officially opened in July, 2006 after four years of hard work on the part of volunteers.
The Cranberry Peatlands Interpretive Trail description on National Geographic Society’s “Heart of the Continent” website recounts the origin as follows:
“A wildlife photographer [Bill Morgenstern] became enthralled with the bog and brought its attention to the Rainy River Valley Field Naturalist club, and along with others, it was decided this area’s story could provide an educational experience, as well as a chance to immerse into a living, listening, and speaking world.
“With the co-operation of the Township of Alberton, government funding secured by the Rainy Lake Conservancy, and many volunteers, a boardwalk was born.”
The “Heart of the Continent” website can be found at www.traveltheheart.org
