Winneshiek County Conservation is teaming up with Upper Explorerland and the Decorah Public Library to offer a Tree Planting Bike Ride on Sunday, October 20th, 2024, at 1:00 pm, starting from Miller Park in the Minowa Heights neighborhood. Bring your own bike.

Participants will help plant trees while biking along the most beautiful (and challenging) part of the Trout Run Trail. A free meal will be provided afterwards for all participants. Registration is required by noon on October 16th to help us prepare enough food. Space is limited. Please register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TreePlantingBikeRide5R5RQ9N.

The trees we will be planting are funded by the Iowa DNR’s Trees for Kids grant program. Winneshiek County Conservation was awarded $7,500 through this grant program this year to complete three different tree plantings of 54 trees in total. Trees will be planted this month along Trout Run Trail, at Walden Pond County Park near Castalia, and within the City of Spillville. Youth cyclists from Decorah, students from Postville High School, and 2^nd graders from St. Teresa’s in Spillville will help plant trees. Winneshiek County Conservation, the Iowa DNR, the City of Spillville, and the Safe Routes to Schools program are also partners in these projects.

The goal of the Trees for Kids program is to teach young people proper tree planting techniques as well as importance of native trees for humans and wildlife.