During the September meeting of Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association, directors voted to fund the annual wood duck and bluebird house project headed up by Maribel Sportsman’s Club.

This sponsorship ensures the project will be in good shape for spring 2024.

With the increased cost of materials, the directors upped the sponsorship to $2,000 plus an additional gift of $20 from a deceased member, bringing the total to $2,020 from Fish & Game.

Read last week’s column:Lakes Association banquet deadline nears, and more news in Bob Schuh’s Manitowoc outdoors report

Scoping the Great Outdoors: Read on for more outdoors news from throughout Manitowoc County and Wisconsin.

Jim Knickelbine retiring as Woodland Dunes executive director

Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve, Inc., in Two Rivers has announced the forthcoming retirement of Executive Director Jim Knickelbine.

The organization plans to transition into new leadership early in the 2024 calendar year.

Knickelbine, the executive director for 19 years, is only the second person to hold the position in the organization and will be missed greatly by all who have worked with him.

His career years have been spent living out his passion and managing Woodland Dunes’ mission: conservation of natural resources and educating the public about the value of nature.

In his tenure, the preserve has grown to more than 1,500 acres, and more than 15,000 trees have been planted to mitigate the damaging effects of the emerald ash borer.

In 2020, a beautiful meeting room and natural history exhibit area were added to the nature center.

Knickelbine has continued to emphasize the value of grade school education. To date, more than 170,000 children have been part of Woodland Dunes’ instruction.

FORWARD Endowment seeks projects to fund

The FORWARD Endowment, the Manitowoc County trust established to fund projects focused on hunting, fishing, conservation and related education, has announced it will begin accepting requests for its 2023 funding cycle.

FORWARD stands for “Friends of Resources, Wildlife and Recreational Development.” It was founded by the Manitowoc Unit of Manitowoc County Fish & Game. It is now supported by a combination of funding from area sporting clubs and private donations. Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association has been a major supporter of the fund through its annual banquet proceeds each year.

The FORWARD Endowment has announced the 2023 grant season is now under way, celebrating its 30th year.

FORWARD announced approximately $9,000 in total funding will be available for this giving cycle. They will accept applications for grants through Dec. 31. Selection of grants will be made at the Gift Committee’s meeting in March 2024. The date will allow the Gift Committee to have accurate information about the funds available from the trust, which is managed by Associated Bank. Leede Research will again be coordinating the gifting process and aiding in filling grant request materials.

A simple application form asks for details of the requests and organization. Both hard projects and related education programs are eligible for grants. It was noted that while the endowment understands the stress the pandemic has placed on many organizations, its charter does not allow for the funding of budget shortfalls or operations.

Projects must have public benefit and tie to hunting, fishing and conservation and must be based in Manitowoc County.

The group has automated the applications, which are available through the mantyfg.org website. Contact emails can be sent to mantyfg071@gmail.com.

The FORWARD Endowment has provided more than $145,000 in grants awarded to projects and groups in Manitowoc County. These represent completed projects in the community.

FORWARD is a 501(c)(3) and donors can make checks payable to The FORWARD Endowment c/o Associated Bank. Only interest incomes from the fund are spent so the fund will continue to grow and be there for future generations. Memorial or estate planning gifts are possible with the fund. Those making end-of-year charitable donations are invited to consider the fund.

Open trap shoot set at Maribel club

Maribel Sportsman’s Club will hold an open trap shoot Oct. 14 for the general public. Shooting will be 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Notice to youngsters who took hunter safety this past year: you can redeem your Northeast Wisconsin Youth Shooting Program, Inc., coupons for a free round of trap that day.

Maribel Sportsman’s Club is next to Interstate 43, exit 164, State 147, Maribel.

Kettle Range snowmobile safety course runs Oct. 24, 26 and 28

Kettle Range Snow Riders is holding its snowmobile safety course Oct. 24, 26 and 28 at the Mishicot Sportsmen’s Club.

Cost is $10 per person and students must attend all three classes.

To register, go to the DNR website, gowild.wi.gov, and you will need your DNR customer number when doing so.

Read more Bob Schuh:Click here for more ‘Scoping the Great Outdoors’

Get deer butchered in Valders

Deer hunters in our area have been losing meat markets and processors of venison for the past decade or more.

Scott Bratz of Valders is still doing the cutting of venison in his new facility. He can de-bone your deer, cut the steaks and grind your meat into hamburger.

He is not able to do any sausage-making or processing, but once your deer has been butchered, you can take your meat elsewhere for that sort of processing.

Scott does have a walk-in cooler, so your deer will be cooled down quickly.

To make arrangements for Scott to handle the butchering of your deer, give him a call at 920-901-8486.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.