About

The "Friends of Lapham Peak Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Inc." (FLP) is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization; our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is: 39-1650068.

Board Meeting Minutes (with Officer and Director Names)
Annual Reports (with IRS 990's and FLP Bylaws)

Mission/Goal

Our mission is to promote, support, and perpetuate activities at the Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.  The Friends' goal is to develop and promote outreach, educational, recreational and conservation programs, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising projects and events that support the Lapham Peak Unit, in cooperation with the DNR.

History

The FLP was founded in 1989 as a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting and promoting the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit in a variety of ways.   Some of the activities include sponsoring or promoting special events, fundraising for special projects, organizing volunteer work days and offering additional services to park visitors while also helping the DNR's Park Personnel.  Park Map.  The park is located 3/4 mile south of I-94 on County Hwy C (Delafield exit #285), Delafield, Wisconsin.  For donation options, please see our member information and Donations pages.

Our first project was to raise funds and enlist volunteers to light the 2.5 mile cross-country ski trail, and later added snowmaking operations to annually provide made snow on some of the trails (see our snowmaking pages here).  Our other projects over the years have included:

• Developed Disabled Accessible Trail
• Funded Trecker Lodge - fireplace, furniture, rubber flooring, trail lights
• Built kiosks
• Purchased snow grooming equipment, including the snow cats and storage building for the equipment
• Fundraising for snow making project - electrical power, underground piping, hoses with quick connects, high-efficiency snow guns, and a high pressure pump to deliver the water
• Funding for Lupo Pond (water supply for snow making)
• Volunteering at Hausmann Nature Center on weekends June-October
• Purchased plants and shed for Butterfly Garden, while also establishing a Memorial Brick walkway inside the Garden
• Kids Korner interactive displays at Hausmann Nature Center
• Displays in Hausmann Nature Center
• Picnic shelter at Evergreen area and Homestead Hollow area
• Resided the Evergreen shelter
• Constructed 100 Memorial Park benches for the trails
• Purchased UTVs for projects and DNR personnel work
• Constructed campsite shelter
• Projects done with the DNR, including new signs, fire rings, picnic tables

FLP ACTIVITIES

• Lapham Loppet ski race – January
• Candlelight Ski/Hike - January
• Fright Hike - Mid to late October
• Weekly Nordic Ski Series - January-February
• "Feel the Burn" run/walk race - June/July
• Colorama run/walk – first Saturday in October
• Annual Meeting – first Wednesday in November
• Summer Solstice (concert fundraiser)
• Events:
  • Work Days in spring and fall
  • Adopt-A-Trail Clean-up on Glacial Drumlin Trail
  • Bluebird Trail Monitoring
  • Butterfly Garden plantings and maintenance (daily or weekly through the spring, summer and early fall)
  • Garlic Mustard Pulls
  • Spring Bird Hikes
  • Nature Center
  • Snowmaking Committee & Operations
  • Habitat Restoration/Forest & Prairies (daily or weekly clearing of buckthorn and other invasive trees & plants)
  • Firewood production for fire rings, and fire places, Evergreen Stove, etc., at the park, provided for donations to raise money to help with the expenses of habitat burning at this park