Challenge The Outdoors, Inc

 WELCOME TO CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC.

SEPTEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

www.ctoforme.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Carl Gierke It’s exciting to see all the positive changes going on within CTO. We’ve talked about the Peter’s Pond project at Angelica and the progress that’s been made on the clubhouse. Although the building is basically completed, the next phase of creating fishing piers and improving access is in progress. However, these landscaping and construction issues prevent the safe use of the property at this time. These improvements will hopefully be finished later this year or possibly early next year. The improvements mentioned above are going according to the plans laid out by Steve and Kristi Nooyen, who have so generously sponsored the project. However, next year we’ll also be developing the additional acreage on the property to possibly include an archery/shooting range and nature trails. These will be CTO’s responsibility, which is why we are looking at additional funding sources for these projects and are also holding an exclusive CTO fundraising banquet in January. Please take a look at the information in this newsletter regarding the January 27, 2024 banquet and help spread the word. It should be a fun night with a lot of great prizes available. It's also great to see new people always stepping up to help. In addition to the great work of CTO’s board of directors, we’re thankful that other members have stepped up to help with things like propose and organize new events, maintenance at Peter’s Pond, provide rides so disabled members can attend events, and so many other contributions of time, financial assistance, and generosity. More and more people are spreading the word about CTO and we’re always excited to welcome new members, help them participate in events, have some fun, and help the organization grow. Sadly, summer is winding down, but September and October are busy months with a lot of events still ahead. Hopefully we’ll see you at one soon.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

GREEN BAY BOTANICAL GARDEN TOUR RESCHEDULED- Keith Pamperin After canceling this event due to the 95+ degree heat on August 23, we’re rescheduling. Please help spread the word. Challenge the Outdoors will sponsor a visit to the Green Bay Botanical Garden, including the new 2.5 acre, $13.5 million Bells Children’s Garden, on Wednesday, September 6th. We will meet at 10:30 am in the Education Center for a preview of the garden and distribution of maps! We will then proceed to tour the garden at your own pace! Bring a lunch and we can have lunch on the patio. The garden has fully accessible paved paths! A limited number of scooters are available to be signed out for use within the designated pathways! Please contact Keith Pamperin by email kjpamperin@aol.com or phone 920- 639-9275 if you plan to attend.

YOUTH AND LADIES DAY – Carl Gierke J&H will be hosting its annual Youth & Ladies Day of Outdoor Instruction on Saturday, September 9th. Registration will be from 9AM – 3PM and activities will run until 4PM. This is a free event for all ladies and kids up to age 18. Activities will include shotgun, .22 rifle and BB gun shooting stations, archery, fly casting and the trout fishing will again be sponsored by Challenge the Outdoors. There will be displays by the DNR, Al Meier’s Taxidermy and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ladies Group. Food is also furnished along with a door prize for each participant. For more about the activities or if you wish to make any donations, please contact Diane at J&H at 715-758-8134 or e-mail at jhclub@tds.net. CTO is looking for helpers at the Trout Pond. If you would like to help the youth and ladies bait hooks, unhook fish or join those who clean the trout after they are caught, please contact Carl Gierke. It’s always a lot of fun seeing the smiles on kid’s faces when they catch a fish. You’ll enjoy it!

MENTORED LEARN TO HUNT WATERFOWL / DUCK HUNT - Keith Pamperin After nearly 10 years of participation we have learned that persons over the age of 16 are not eligible to participate in the Mentored Learn to Hunt, Waterfowl Hunts for ducks when they are held outside the federally designated duck hunting season! Therefore, only persons 16 and younger are able to participate in The Green Bay Duck Hunters Mentored Learn to Hunt Waterfowl. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, September 15th for training and meet your mentor and the hunt occurs on Saturday, September 16th. There are still openings! Any persons 16 and under that wish to participate are encouraged to contact Kent Menhe of the Green Bay Duck Hunters Association at 920-609-1977.

SUNDAY/THURSDAY SPORTING CLAY SHOOTS - Randy Swille/ Steve Harvey /Roger Urmanski There are six Sunday/Thursday Sporting Clay Shoots scheduled this year and CTO will cover the cost of up to four shoots for each member and their mentor. We hope to see many new faces along with our friends that have had fun shooting in the past. New hours at J&H will have us starting at 9:30AM with our get-together lunch at around noon. The Thursday Shoots will be September 14th, October 12th, and November 9th. If you would like to take part, call Roger Urmanski at 920-468-8872 to sign up for Thursday Shoots.

SHAWANO LAKE & PONTOON BOAT 2023 -David Paul The boating season will be coming to an end on Wednesday, September 13th when the boat will be removed from Shawano Lake for winter storage. Please take advantage of the boat over the next two weeks before it’s removal. Reserve the boat by calling me at 920-740-2775.

CTO END OF SUMMER OUTING AT OUTAGAMIE CONSERVATION CLUB - Barb Kaun

WHAT: CTO End of Summer Outing -- rain or shine

WHEN: Saturday, September 16th, from 10 AM until 2:30 PM

WHERE: OUTAGAMIE CONSERVATION CLUBHOUSE, N3502 Mayflower Rd, Hortonville, WI

WHO: CTO members of all ages and abilities. CTO will provide lunch and water at 12 o’clock noon, with open bar to purchase beverages. Activities available include: • Trap shooting - with CTO picking up the cost of a round or two for those taking part. OCC has a few shotguns available to borrow. You are welcome to bring your own shells, or purchase some there. CTO will pick up the cost of a box of 12 or 20 gauge shells purchased at OCC for use at the outing. Instruction is available if needed. • Pistol range - Bring your pistol and ammunition. Targets will be supplied, or bring your own if you wish. • Fishing - catch and release, at the stocked pond, unless the fish is deep hooked and won’t survive. Bring your favorite rod and tackle. CTO provides live bait or you may bring your own as well. The pond is stocked with trout, panfish and largemouth bass. • New this year Frisbee golf geared to all abilities, and Lawn Yahtzee. Flat terrain around the pond and the entire OCC grounds, make getting around fairly easy, but you may want to bring a power scooter as the activities are spread out. For meal planning purposes, please contact Barb Kaun at 920-720-9689 to sign up. Check out OCC on their website: http://www.wiocc.com

OCTOBER DISABLED DEER HUNT- David Paul This year’s hunt will begin on Saturday, October 7TH with a mandatory brunch meeting at NOON at the Lessor Town Hall, W4055 Landstad Road, Bonduel, WI. The doors will open at 10:00 with food being served at NOON. . Landowners, helpers and volunteers are also welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. This is the same location we have been using over the past several years. After our meeting, hunters can pack up a lunch from the food that CTO has provided. Hunters will be allowed to begin their hunt after the meeting on Saturday. On Sunday hunters are welcome to hunt in the morning and throughout the day. Brunch will be served Sunday morning starting at 11AM but there will be no informational meeting . Hunters will receive an email with more information in mid-September. We are currently filled up for this year’s hunt with over 40 hunters. You are responsible for reading this email. Hunters who have hunted in the past and know where their hunting blind is located may hunt Saturday morning as long as they notify me ahead of time. Hunters should not enter any land reserved for the hunt until October 7th and should not contact landowners before or during the hunt. Hunters are strongly encouraged to sight in their guns prior to the hunt. Some options for sighting-in are mentioned below. Questions can be directed to David Paul, 920-740-2775 dcp7576@gmail.com

FREE GUN SIGHT-IN FOR YOUTH AND CTO MEMBERS- Joe Palmer Manitowoc Rifle and Pistol Club is offering an opportunity for our members and youth to sight in their weapons for the upcoming deer hunt for free. The club is located at 7227 Sandy Hill Lane, Two Rivers, Wisconsin 54241. This event will take place on Sunday, September 10th from 9AM-3PM. If anyone can volunteer to help out with this event, please contact Joe Palmer at 920-901-9018. Volunteers do not need to be members of CTO.

FREE GUN SIGHT-IN FOR CTO MEMBERS – Deb Delie Sunday September 17 10am to Noon Oneida Sportsman Club W324 Pearl St. Oneida Wi 54155 MUST RSVP to Debi Delie by Friday Sept 15. 715-305-5687 No charge if rsvp is received

NAVARINO TROLLEY RIDE – Carl Gierke On Wednesday, September 27th, CTO will offer its annual trolley ride through the Navarino Wildlife Area. We’ll meet at 11am at the Navarino Nature Center (W5646 Lindsten Rd., Shiocton) located about two miles northwest of the town of Navarino. The plan is to take the trolley and then have lunch, both courtesy of CTO. The trolley ride, which lasts about an hour, is narrated by Nature Center staff and is a great opportunity to enjoy the fall colors and see some of the wildlife that inhabit the 15,000 acre property. You’ll also have a chance to check out the many displays at the Nature Center. Please arrive before 11am so we don’t leave without you and watch the weather forecast and bring warm clothing if necessary. If you’d like to attend, please contact me as soon as possible, as space is limited, but no later than September 25th.

FALL PHEASANT HUNT- Carl Gierke The hunt will take place Sunday, October 22nd starting at 8 AM until noon at J&H Game Farm, W5810 J&H Road, just West of Navarino. CTO has arranged for pheasants to be released, dogs and handlers, machine operators, back-up shooters, cleaners and baggers and great food. It’s always a great day to share stories and get to know other CTO members. Shooters will be in two shifts, 8:30 until 9:30 and 9:45 until 10:45. Each disabled hunter will be allowed two pheasants. If you don’t have your own gun, there will be guns available at J&H for you to use. Shotgun shells, (12 gauge and 20 gauge) will be provided and you will need to wear orange. Each hunter is welcome to bring family members or a friend to assist them, but pheasants are put out only for the disabled CTO members. Lunch is courtesy of CTO and is made by the fine folks at J&H. Please sign up by October 18th if you are interested in being part of this hunt. If you have any questions, please contact Carl Gierke.

1st ANNUAL FUNDRAISING BANQUET FOR CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC. - Sharon Lefevre This will be held at Stadium View in Green Bay on Saturday, January 27, 2024. We are in need of volunteers for that day, as well as members to get items for silent auction and prizes for the event. If you are able to help in any way, please contact Sharon LeFevre at 920-615-2356 or at bookmom53@gmail.com. I will have a form available next week for members to take with them for donations from businesses or if you have items you would like to donate. This is your club so please help in whatever way you can to make this a success. There will be tables available to purchase in November for the event. If this is something you or your friends are interested in, please send questions to me as well. Thanks for all you do for this great organization.

RECAP OF RECENT EVENTS 2023 ANNUAL BANQUET RECAP- Sharon LeFevre

The banquet was held on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at Stadium View in Green Bay, WI. We had 110 registered for the event and served 102 people that day. We send our condolences out to the families unable to attend the event due to deaths in the family that day. All attendees were given a ticket and had an opportunity to take a chance at a donated prize. We also had a silent auction of five items which was a great success. We had a great meal, conversation and time to connect with old and meet new friends. We handed out two scholarships to CTO member Andrew Atnip, and Megan Grotenhuis from Fox Valley Tech. Everyone had a great time and we all look forward to next year. Both of the nominees for re-election were voted back in for new terms on the board of directors. They were Keith Pamperin and Sharon LeFevre. Thank you to everyone that helped, attended and was a part of the banquet.

WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS GAME – Carl Gierke On August 12th, CTO sponsored its annual event to watch the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Appleton. We had 43 people attend, including many families and children and the weather forecasters blessed us with a perfect night to watch the game. The Timber Rattlers hosted the Dayton Dragons that evening in a hard-fought, entertaining game and unfortunately the Rattlers came out on the losing end of a 5-3 score. The newly remodeled stadium was beautiful, with improvements including new decks in left and right field and a giant corkscrew slide in left field, which the kids really enjoyed. Before the game, attendees were treated to a brat and burger dinner with side items, drinks, and desserts. After the game, there was a fabulous fireworks display and kids got to run the bases. It was a fun night - we plan on doing it again next year.

SHOOT YOUR CHOICE – Steve Harvey On August 20th we had beautiful weather and a great turnout with 24 members signed up to shoot. They could pick whatever course they would like to try their skills on. Each received two boxes of shells and a delicious lunch put on by J&H while they visited with other members. Would like to thank J&H and CTO members and helpers for making event a special day for everyone.

CHASING RAINBOWS – Carl Gierke On Saturday, August 26th, about 35 members and guests of CTO attended the event at Wilderness Springs Trout Farm west of New London. It was a beautiful morning, the rainbow trout were biting and many big fish were caught. Jeff Zirbel took home the biggest fish trophy with an 18 inch lunker. After catching their fish, everyone relaxed around the picnic tables, shared some fish stories and then enjoyed a great lunch served by our fabulous food crew consisting of Chris Savka, Barb Kaun, and others. Thanks to the Fosters at Wilderness Springs and everyone that helped out, whether it was providing rides, baiting hooks, releasing fish, preparing and serving food, or eating enough to make sure we didn’t have too many leftovers. Everyone pitched in to make it a fun day!

NON-EVENT INFORMATION

PLEASE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS - Mike Lautenbach, Scott Tedford, Greg Bishop, Quin Bader, Dakota Korstad, Jason Roberts, Brent Maxam and family, Crystal and Jeron Jackson and family.

MEMBER PARTICIPATION/CANCELLATION POLICY (implemented JUNE 2011) An event chairperson(s) may bar a CTO member for one (1) year from participating in the same event, if the member signs up for an event and fails to attend the event without giving prior notice to the event chairperson(s) that she/he will not be attending. There shall be exceptions given for sickness, injury, equipment failure, or a death. The event chairperson(s) will have final authority to say if a one (1) year ban from the following year’s event is warranted depending on the circumstances surrounding the absence and impact on the event. This policy was implemented because occasionally, people unable to attend events did not notify CTO or event chairpersons, causing spaces to go unfilled. Please notify the chairperson as far in advance as possible if you can’t attend an event you’ve signed up for. We just want to ensure that as many people as possible can attend events. Thanks!

CTO ONGOING PROGRAMS - CTO has several programs designed to supplement the cost of outdoor activities and encourage disabled members to get out and have some fun. To be eligible for these programs, you must be a member for at least one year (except awards). See the website for further additional information and application forms. Otherwise, please contact the chairperson if you have questions.

These include:

1) Shooting Policy – Designed to encourage participation in shooting sports, allows up to $50.00 per year toward membership in sporting/gun club(s). Original receipts must be submitted for reimbursement. Contact – Randy Swille

2) Adaptive Equipment – Supplements the cost of disability-related equipment necessary for a disabled member to take part in a hunting or fishing activity. Original receipts must be submitted for reimbursement, which is half the cost of the item up to a maximum of $100 annually. Contact – Randy Swille

3) Field Grants – Supplements the cost of hunting or fishing trips up to a maximum of $200 per year, with a maximum of three in a lifetime. Applications should be submitted two months before the event and receipts for reimbursement are required. Contact – Debi Delie

NEWSLETTER - David Paul The Challenge the Outdoors Newsletter is published every two months at the beginning of January, March, May, July, September and November. We strongly encourage recipients of the newsletter to get it by email, as it saves considerable time and expense. If you currently receive a hard copy of the newsletter, but are able to receive it by email at home or through a friend or family member, please contact me with an email address - David Paul at dcp7576@gmail.com or 920-740-2775.

CTO BOARD MEETINGS - CTO’S Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5pm, currently alternating between Appleton (American Legion) and Green Bay (Home Instead). If you would like to take part and offer your ideas, help with events, or just find out how things work, you’re welcome to attend. If you have a question for a specific board member, please refer to the list below.