Collins Marsh will hold its Fun Fest & Treasure Hunt at the Neustadter Nature Center, County JJ in Collins, July 12 (rain date is July 13).

Follow the treasure map to collect tokens through the marsh for prizes.

They will have rough fish assassins’ interactive demonstrations, kids’ crafts, kayak rentals, climb the tower to the top and much more.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Enjoy free fun for the whole family!

Kudos to Conservationists Hall of Fame Banquet organizers

As noted in last week’s column, Manitowoc County Conservationists held its 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet June 18 at Maribel Sportsmen’s Club. Larry Bonde was master of ceremonies. As always, he did a great job.

Cooks at the Maribel club served an outstanding meal to award winners and guests. We were treated to turkey, ham, pork shoulder, mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut and dumplings, salads, veggies, desserts and much more.

Enshrined were Dan Dufek (sponsored by Larrabee Sportsmans Club), Bob Mehorczyk (sponsored by Francis Creek Sportsman’s Club), Bill Peroutka (sponsored by Manitowoc City Unit of Fish & Game) and Chuck Stenzel (sponsored by Maribel Sportsmen’s Club).

Receiving Special Achievement awards were Gerald “Bullet” Fischer (sponsored by District 8 of the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association), Suzette Gove (sponsored by Maribel Sportsmen’s Club), Jay Ney (sponsored by Francis Creek Sportsman’s Club), Paul Tittl (sponsored by Manitowoc City Unit of Fish & Game) and Judy Yanda (sponsored by Maribel Sportsmen’s Club).

The Hall of Fame Committee put in a ton of work to pull this banquet off and deserves a huge thank-you from all of us.

The next Hall of Fame Banquet is set for June 2027. Clubs should start thinking of who they might want to honor at that banquet, either to be enshrined into the Conservationists Hall of Fame or for a Special Achievement Award.

Reward grows for info about Izaak Walton League property vandalism

Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association held its June directors meeting at Viking Bow & Gun Club.

One of the topics brought up was the vandalism at the Izaak Walton League property on the West Twin River.

The directors pledged $2,000 for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who did the vandalism.

That brings the reward purse up to $4,000 because of the $2,000 Don Kiel pledged to start the fund.

I am sure there will be more clubs and individuals who will help grow the reward fund. Jim Schnell of the Izaak Walton League is keeping track of the fund and its growth.

If you or your club would like to help grow the reward, email schnelljim@yahoo.com and include the name of the person or club you represent.

No Fish & Game meeting in July

Manitowoc Unit of Fish & Game wants to remind its members and the community there will be no July meeting. Be safe and enjoy the outdoors.

The Manitowoc Unit will return to its normal meeting schedule at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at Lincoln Park Cabin No. 1.

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