Raise funds for, and promote
health and well-being,
safety and stewardship and
public education
related to the park
Raise funds for, and promote
health and well-being,
safety and stewardship and
public education
related to the park
Raise funds for, and promote
health and well-being,
safety and stewardship and
public education
related to the park
Raise funds for, and promote
health and well-being,
safety and stewardship and
public education
related to the park
We are looking for enthusiastic people to further strengthen our Board and committees. We are hoping to find individuals who are prepared to commit some time and energy over the spring and summer seasons to plan and promote a variety of initiatives.
We are very careful as a board to respect holiday and family time of our volunteers.
Besides the requirement of loving Madge Lake, we are looking for people who may also have:
Please contact Patti Hack at 306-272-7953 or Barb MacLean at 306-789-9872, or email us at friendsofmadgelake@gmail.com if you are interested in this opportunity.
Summer is officially over and we are well into a beautiful fall season. Hopefully all Friends of Madge Lake had a fun, relaxing summer.
Like many organizations over the last couple of years we had a Covid stall. As a result we wanted to kick off the 2022 summer season by ensuring that the projects we had started were completed and ready to be enjoyed.
With some work to the pickle ball courts and nets, we are proud to say that they are good to go and over this past summer the uptake of participants using the pickle ball/tennis courts was wonderful. Lessons were organized by an enthusiastic volunteer in July, and all classes filled. The interest continues for this activity and indoor pickle ball is now being offered this fall in Kamsack.
Next we moved to the basketball court. Work will be undertaken this fall to fabricate an extension arm and install new backboards and rims for completion in the spring of 2023. When that work is complete, the park crew will install the fence and poles around the court and it too, will be ready for some basketball action.
On May 14 and 15, FOML in partnership with the Ministry of Parks piloted a Teacher’s Forest Tour in the park. The participants included teachers and park interpretive staff from the surrounding area. A wide range of topics were covered during the two days and included an overview of forests in Saskatchewan, Duck Mountain’s forest, the role of disturbance (forest fires and timber harvesting) in maintaining a healthy age range, natural forest patterns, ecosystem management and the effects of climate change on forests.
There is a Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” Weyerhaeuser Canada and Dunkley Lumber generously donated over 1,000 white spruce seedlings in early June and FOML along with campers and cottage owners took advantage of this opportunity and planted seedlings throughout the park. We hope to repeat this as often as possible to give our aging forest a boost.
In partnership with Saskatchewan Parks and the Trans Canada Trail organization, FOML will be undertaking projects that expand and improve the quality and sustainability of our network of trails here in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Enhancing the trail infrastructure through improvements such as drainage, and resurfacing sections to accommodate increased number of users, is a priority. Increased signage on the trails through added points of interest and additional mapping will enhance the trail experience. Stay tuned for updates!
We have been asked many times to sponsor something in the park that people could dedicate as memorials to past loved Madge Lakers. FOML is presently building and placing benches in the park and on the trails with consultation and help from the park staff. For a donation of $1,000 donors may designate one of these benches as a memorial of a loved one and place a plaque on the bench. The donation would be receipted as a charitable donation.
FOML has also purchased and installed a memorial bench by the Treats and Treasures store. For a donation of $125, donors may dedicate a portion of that bench and have a plaque installed in memory of a loved one. These donations will also be receipted.
The benches are, of course, property of the park and will be maintained as such. If you wish to have a hand in annual maintenance of the bench you have dedicated, you may volunteer with park administration to do so. If you are interested in either of these bench projects, contact board member Bobbi Wanner at 306-542-3106. We are just in the process of installing two of our benches on Ministik Beach and creating a quiet sitting area for seniors or anyone wishing to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
We had very successful summer at Treats and Treasures, in no small part to having great staff and talented vendors. We thank all of them.
It’s great that we are back to living and socializing - we have people coming forward wanting to sponsor some events in 2023 in collaboration with, and profits going to back to Madge through FOML. If you have ideas and would like to plan and host an event at Madge, please contact us. There is talk of a summer youth triathalon and interested planners are very welcome.
We wish all Friends of Madge Lake a healthy and happy winter season and look forward to seeing you at beautiful Madge next summer.
We publish a newsletter several times a year with news and information about Friends of Madge Lake and our projects.
This is our season-end newsletter to conclude 2022.
If you wish to subscribe, please click the button below.
Friends of Madge Lake is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes the preservation of the natural environment and special natural features of Madge Lake in east-central Saskatchewan for their intrinsic value and for the inspiration and enjoyment of present and future generations as a public trust.
We work co-operatively with the Duck Mountain Provincial Park management and staff to enhance the educational, recreational and interpretive programs, and the facilities in the park.
The Friends of Madge Lake home office and store is in the log cabin up the hill, east from Ministik Beach (by the ball diamonds).
Interested Friends are able to purchase souvenirs and other goods during set hours in summer.
Madge Lake is a beautiful spot and a very important place to many, many people. If you are interested in putting in some volunteer hours with us, call one of the directors or contact us through the message icon at lower right of every page.
We seek to foster appreciation and understanding of the natural ecosystems of the park, and promote initiatives enabling all visitors to enjoy recreational and outdoor experiences.
Friends of Madge Lake exists to:
Volunteers completed 14 counts of loons on the lake in 2021. The final detailed report is now available.
The Ministry of Parks in partnership with Friends of Madge Lake piloted a Teacher’s Forest Tour on May 14 and 15 at Duck Mountain Provincial Park.
Speakers included Mike LeBlanc and Landon Sealey of Weyerhaeuser Saskatchewan, Paul LeBlanc from Louisiana Pacific, Sarah Schmid from the Ministry of Environment, and Thuan Chu from the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.
The participants included teachers and park interpretive staff from the surrounding area. A wide range of topics were covered during the two days and included an overview of forests in Saskatchewan, Duck Mountain’s forest, the role of disturbance (forest fires and timber harvesting) in maintaining a healthy age range, natural forest patterns, ecosystem management and the effects of climate change on forests.
In addition to formal presentations there were also field tours that provided a first hand look at the park’s boreal forest and its unique features and challenges.
Increasing understanding and knowledge as well as maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem ensures the forest environment, wildlife and waterfowl of Duck Mountain Provincial Park will be available for public use and enjoyment into the future and is one of three key priorities of the Friends of Madge Lake.
This event was the first of its kind to be hosted by Friends of Madge Lake and the Ministry of Parks. Over the next few weeks an evaluation will be undertaken to determine how we continue to provide this opportunity on an annual basis.
The Friends of Madge Lake Education and Projects Committee is asking you to suggest new projects for Madge Lake. If you have a great idea for a project that meets the mission and priorities of FOML, tell us about it!
Above are recent major projects undertaken by Friends of Madge Lake.
Click on any of the photos to see a larger version and toggle through the gallery.
We'd love to send you news and information about what's happening at the lake, and keep you up-to-date on the projects and activities of Friends of Madge Lake.
Please fill out the form below, and we'll make sure you are kept informed.
Copyright © 2021 Friends of Madge Lake. All rights reserved.
Friends of Madge Lake
Box 357, Kamsack SK S0A 1S0
Click the blue circle at bottom right of this page to send us a message or contact us on Facebook.
Charity registration number 786708719RR0002
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