FOS July 2020 Update: Holiday Riding and Camping and Cancellation of Work Day

Cancellation of July 8 Group Work Day.

The FOS Board and the Shimek DNR staff have decided to cancel the July 8th scheduled FOS Work Day.  The wet conditions we are currently experiencing make it unlikely that we can do any work on the dirt trails nor can we paint or stain unless the wooden tables and posts have thoroughly dried.  These issues combined with the continuing risk of COVID-19 mean we are cancelling this group work day.

Holiday Camping and Riding

If you are camping and riding over the holiday at Shimek, please stay off the dirt trails which are closed to avoid damage to them while they are so wet.  Right now the Wet Weather Trails are open, but rains are still in the forecast.  The trails status is posted by DNR  at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures In addition a phone message is left on the DNR Shimek Headquarters phone at 1-319-878-3811 regarding trail status.  FOS also posts this information on Facebook as quickly as we learn of any changes, but our posts are unofficial.

Do your Part to Keep your Friends and Family Safe.

As you camp and enjoy the forest over this holiday weekend , please remember to follow the CDC guidelines to keep a safe distance from others and to wear face masks when around others as well.  Bring your hand sanitizer and use it often! We are all being asked to help slow the spread of this dangerous disease by not unknowingly infecting others when near them.  Many people have few if any symptoms while in the the early, highly contagious stages of the disease.  The person you save from COVID may be your best friend.

FOS Work Day Report 8/27/2012

FOS Work Day Report from August 27^th, Lora Conrad -Coordinator

Thanks to volunteers Ann Bennett, Judy & Art Duke, Marsha & Bob Achenbach, Pam Larson, Shirley Mulligan, Ringo and Brenda Covert, Alice Dobbs, Randy Dillon and Ray & Lora Conrad and DNR staff John Byrd and Frank Boyer for your work at our FOS Volunteer Day on August 27th.  The upper campground looked wonderful when we left and much had been done.  The campsites had been carefully cleaned of all manure and debris, several tables had been cleaned and painted, all the new posts in the campground, along the road and even over in the primitive campground not in Lick Creek had been painted.  Six boards were installed in the upper campground stalls, and extra lag bolts put in several other boards, the wire in three sections of the pen was taken down and new wire installed, three gates were hung better so hopefully they will not fall off anytime soon, and string, ropes etc were removed.  Some additional gate hanging and related pen repairs were also done at the lower campground.  That area had also been cleaned by volunteers on Sunday. 

So--I've never seen the entire place looks so good in the 12 years I've lived here.  With all of the hard work by John and crew on the trails and all your hard work on volunteer days---and  no flooding---Shimek is really looking good.  In addition, Ann and Shirley took off bags and bags of recyclables too!

Art, Bob and Ray tackle installing new boards.

Ringo and Brenda check for loose boards



Reinstalling a loose board



Judy Duke cleans and paints table legs
 

Sirley Mulligan painting table
 legs



New boards are up--now its time to install new wire across the top

Bob and Art fastening wire to the post

Mulit-tasking---
Alice Dobbs talks on her cell phone while  painting



Randy Dillon talks with John Byrd and Frank Boyer

Cutting wire to fit between the stall posts



Ann Bennett and Shirley Mulligan collect and bag the recyclables