Spring and Summer Walks and Paddles in and around Milwaukee

 Hello Easy Walkers, Rollers and Paddlers!

Jennifer and I have been planning some easy walks with multiple League of Women Voters groups in southeastern Wisconsin.  Stay tuned as a quarterly pattern of walk/rolls emerges for each season.

Upcoming events:

June 7 2pm starting at Racine Heritage Museum (free), 

Racine Abolitionists and Joshua Glover Underground Railroad Story

Join us during Juneteenth month for a walk/roll about a Lake Michigan story of freedom.  Dr Karen Lemke, interleague liaison for the Lake Michigan League of Women Voters and co-author of "Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee," co-leads an easy walk/roll which begins at the Racine Heritage Museum and visits some of the historic markers recognizing Racine's history of community members supporting the abolishment of enslavement in the 1800s.  Joshua Glover was a formerly enslaved person who was working in Racine when bounty hunters had him arrested and jailed in Milwaukee.  Abolitionists in Milwaukee broke him out of jail and a network, the Underground Railroad, helped him escape to Canada, where a park in Toronto also recognizes his story.  Join us for this easy walk/roll on paved surfaces and in a non-fully-ADA-accessible museum (free admission). https://greaterracinecounty.com/roots-of-freedom-racine-county-underground-railroad-history/. (I will also visit the Toronto park in July!)

June 10th: Karen Lemke will be leading a walk/roll during the Vision Zero Summit event at the Central Branch of Milwaukee Public Library, free.  Visit the event website for more details.

June 22 Solstice Walk in Firefly Grove Park in Tosa (Troll Park) event with Ozaukee/Washington County League of Women Voters along with members from the Milwaukee County League and Sheboygan County League.  Free, but registration requested here:

June 22 Wauwatosa's Troll Park: https://www.lwvozaukee.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=986869&item_id=2962662

Troll Sculpture in Firefly Grove Park in Wauwatosa.  "Wauwatosa" means Firefly in local Indigenous language.

Aug 16 "We Are Water" event, easy walk to the art festival in McKinley Park hosted by Milwaukee Water Commons

Check out this article about Easy Walks and Paddles in MKE Lifestyle magazines.  Flip to page 36 of the online edition.

Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee 2026

 Hello fans of Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee!

Now that Spring is here, a calendar of Walks, Rolls and Paddles is emerging.  "Bog Slogs" are new storytelling opportunities for Karen Lemke, aka the Bog Witch, to talk about wetland and cultural ecology in bogs and other wetland systems throughout the upper midwest.  Most of these events are free, and we ask you to complete a rsvp reservation when applicable in case we need to cancel/reschedule due to weather.  

You can purchase a copy of the Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee book at fine bookstores throughout Milwaukee including Boswell Books, MJ's Apothecary and Gifts, the Milwaukee Mitchell Park Domes, Historic Milwaukee Inc Bookstore, Lion's Tooth Bookstore, Milwaukee Kayak Company, the Amtrak Intermodal Station Travel Mart, Outpost Co-op, Woodland Pattern Bookstore as well as the e-book on Amazon.  We will also be selling books at events like the WalkEE Way Fashion show and the Wellness Body Mind Spirit Expo.

Sisters Jennifer and Karen Lemke, co-authors of Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee, walking along the Milwaukee River

Save the Date:

March 31 Bog Slog at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes near Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland during the Midwest Climate Summit

April 7 VOTE! check out vote411.org to learn about the candidates in their own words

April 8 Registration opens for Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin 2026 Field Trips

April 11 Bog Slog at League of Women Voters Earth Day Event at Lac Lawrann Conservancy ($10 registration supports LWV scholarship fund)

April 12 WalkEE Way Fashion Show where we'll be signing and selling books

April 26 Wellness Body Mind Spirit Expo where we'll be signing and selling books

May 2 Menomonee River Water Walk

May MKE Lifestyles magazine article about Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee book

June 3 Easy Paddle on the Oconomowoc River.  This is part of a monthlong celebration of the tributaries to the Mississippi River, such as the Rock River and the Oconomowoc River.  Details TBA.

June 10th Vision Zero Summit and Easy Walk, Jane's Walk

From the City of Milwaukee Vision Zero website: "Join local leaders, transportation professionals, advocates, and residents for the Vision Zero Summit: a high-impact gathering focused on eliminating traffic death and building safer, more equitable streets across our city. This event is free and open to the public." There will also be a tie-in to the annual Jane's Walks with the Milwaukee Turners.

June 17 Rock River Stories: Easy Walk in Aztalan State Park and visit to Milton House Museum.

July Two Row Paddle on the Grand River, Ontario

Aug 16 Milwaukee Water Commons We Are Water Event, Easy Walk/Roll to Celebration with League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County (free registration rsvp link coming soon)

Sept 27 Harbor Fest/Sturgeon Fest Very Easy Walk/Roll to the event with League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County (free registration rsvp link coming soon)

Easy Walks, Rolls and Paddles June 2025

 Hello Milwaukee Easy Walkers, Paddlers and Rollers!

It's finally warming up, and here are a few events on our radar:

June 3 Milwaukee RiverKeeper $5 boat tour, birding by kayak, photography and more: https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/event/mrk30-boat-tour/
June 5 Sturgeon Protectors informational walks at Estabrook Park Dam (see below)
June 6 Events in MKE Parks, like sound bathing and monthly walk in South Shore Park https://mkeparksfoundation.org/news-and-events/
June 6 Jane's Walks Kick Off party at Turner Hall (Karen will be selling books/promoting walks)

https://www.milwaukeeturners.org/janes-walk Jane's walks MKE run June 6-22
June 22 League of Women Voters Black Nite Uprising Monument Walk/Roll https://lwvmilwaukee.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=152606&item_id=2634273

If you're as excited about sturgeon returning to the Milwaukee River estuary after 170 years of too polluted water as we are, you might want to take a guided walk with Sturgeon protectors/Waterway Restoration Partners during "office hours" at Estabrook Park Beer Garden.  RiverKeeper Cheryl Nenn writes: "... [C]onstruction is set to begin soon on the Estabrook Falls Fish Passage Project—an important effort to help native fish, like lake sturgeon  (and other fish like northern pike), move upstream to reach vital spawning and nursery habitat. As you know, Estabrook Falls is currently the largest remaining barrier to fish passage in the lower Milwaukee River. This project will modify the falls to improve year-round fish movement and support a healthier, more connected river system. The Waterway Restoration Partners (which is the umbrella group working on cleaning up our [US Environmental Protection Agency] Area of Concern), is hosting Office Hours + Guided Walks at Estabrook Park Beer Garden on Thursday, June 5 from 5–7 PM and Sunday, June 8 from 11 AM–1 PM. The project team will be on-site to answer questions, and short guided walks will leave every 30 minutes. Construction is expected to run from late Spring through Fall 2025, with temporary weekday closures of the west side trail and weekday river closures. This could also impact paddlers, so spread the word!! For details and project updates, visit mkewaterwaypartners.org/estabrook-falls.

Walks, Paddles and Birding Beyond Milwaukee: check out the 2025 Field Trip Guidebook for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconservation.org/field-trips/

If you'd like to receive emails about Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee events, send us an email at EZWalksPaddlesMKE@gmail.com.  Have an Easy Day! Karen and Jennifer Lemke

This receipt from Milwaukee Public Library got me in my eco-nerd dopamine receptors, telling me I "saved $18.59 using the library today." Yes. yes. Tell me again.

October Easy Walks Rolls Paddles Talks

 Hello easy walks, rolls and paddles friends,

Jennifer got a chance to release a baby sturgeon during HarborFest last weekend, and I (Karen) got to walk with and witness the Every Child Matters Truth and Reconciliation walk, honoring Native children who disappeared from residential schools in the Milwaukee area in the 1800s.

This week (Sept 30-Oct 6) is Week without Driving: https://weekwithoutdriving.org.  1/3 of all US people have no access to a car.  If you happen to have the privilege of a car at your disposal, imagine how you would get around this week if you didn't, and how you can support the built environment infrastructure in the event you find yourself unable to drive in the future.  So far this week I replaced half a car trip by walking for an errand, but I miscalculated how heavy the thing I was picking up would be so accepted a ride for the return trip.  Multimodal transit is a climate solution as well as supportive of peoples' autonomy and agency through different ages and health statuses.

Edit suggestion from Dorothy Dean: October is pedestrian safety month.  Reminding drivers of the people they share the street with.  Especially with children, people with disabilities, and other slow walkers.

Some notable dates for October:

Oct 5 Sat, 11a-1p Blessing of the Animals at Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit, 3127 S Howell Ave.  If you're planning on walking your dog in Humboldt Park Saturday, swing by the church near the southwest corner of the park to get a pet blessing for your furry friend.

Oct 13 Sunday MKE HKE, a free/donation hike through Riverside Park to support Urban Ecology Center Programming and enjoy the fall colors. https://www.urbanecologycenter.org

Oct 20 Sunday noon-4 pm Regenerate MKE Permaculture Principles Passport Fun 

MKE Outdoor Indoor Exchange, 3044 S Delaware Ave

Street fair organized around design principles like "produce no waste" and "integrate rather than segregate".  Swap your outdoor gear, learn about climate solutions and community organizations and go for a tiny walk to Texas Point, near the Oak Leaf Trail south of South Shore Park. Corner of Oklahoma and Delaware Aves in Bay View, MCTS 51 bus line.  Using the PermaculturePrinciples.com, we're celebrating organizations which use at least one of these concepts in their work.  If you'd like to be involved, message Karen at ezwalkspaddlesmke@gmail.com FREE

https://www.linkedin.com/events/regeneratemkestreetfair7244473234434187265/comments/

Oct 23 Wednesday 5pm: "Trail Access for All" easy roll/walk and talk at Kuumba Juice and Coffeehouse.  Jennifer and Karen will talk your ears off as we walk along the adjacent BeerLine Trail followed by presentation/discussion in the cafe.  Sponsored by Sierra Club Wisconsin Great Waters Group.  FREE.  Help us spread the word for this event by printing out the attached pdf and tacking it up in your favorite coffeeshop/bulletin board space.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QXM2PIrb1i7splOkNSY9BV75DXnW1VfS/view?usp=sharing

Oct 29th is "Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee" book's first birthday.  Leave a review to celebrate: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM397F35#customerReviews

Tuesday, Nov 5th is Karen's birthday and Election Day.  Check your voter registration status here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ and VOTE

November TBD "Let's Dig In" Regenerative Food Film/Panel series

Sunday, Dec 1, 10-2 pm: Jennifer and Karen Book Signing/Holiday book sale at The Domes in Mitchell Park.

It isn't advertised yet, but in January 2024 the Horicon Marsh Friends hosted a luminaria-lit evening hike and other activities.  I'm hoping to attend this January.

May 5, 2025 Osher Talk

Follow MKEPottyLady on Instagram to witness her quest to find accessible bathrooms in Milwaukee https://www.instagram.com/mkepottylady/

Have an Easy Day! 

Easy Walks, Rolls and Paddles in Milwaukee September

Greetings People who move with Ease,

I don't want to say goodbye to the summer, but September is here nonetheless.  Jennifer says she is buying Lime Scooter passes week by week now because we don't know when they will disappear overnight for the season.  If there are things on your summer to-do list that you didn't get to do, write them on a piece of paper to paperclip to "June" in your new 2025 calendar, and pick up where you left off next time.  I didn't kayak, bike and walk as much as I wanted to this season, but I did get out on the rivers and Lake Michigan twice on Milwaukee Riverkeeper events, rode my bike in the Mayor's bike ride, and visited several events in parks and on the lakefront.  If you follow Jennifer's Instagram accounts, you'll see she's still visiting multiple parks per week on her quest to unlock the bathrooms. https://www.instagram.com/mkepottylady/ and https://www.instagram.com/ezwalksandpaddlesmke/

Labor Day weekend brings the end of the summer season, but there are still a few events coming up this month and next to enjoy the outdoors on purpose.  Autumn color is already starting!

Saturday, September 21 9am is Outreach for Hope's Roll, Walk, Run.  My group will be at Petrified Springs near Kenosha.  I'm registered to fundraise for the Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit in Bay View neighborhood.  There is no fee to walk with us, so sign up if you like, or donate a few dollars which will support Great Spirit's Nourishment Ministry food programs. https://ofhrrw.softr.app/all-teams-list

Saturday, Sept 28 is DoorsOpen MKE: https://historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open/

Saturday, Sept 28 also brings a unique opportunity to witness and participate in Native American LaCrosse ceremony/game at the historic Indian Community School.  The 15 mile relay walk isn't "easy" but what an opportunity to learn some history, bear witness, and celebrate culture and ceremony. https://www.facebook.com/events/1051836073197736

Sunday, Sept 29 is HARBORFEST in the Harbor District.  I sponsored a baby sturgeon to release into the Kinnickinnic Basin that day here: https://riveredgenaturecenter.org/program/sturgeon-fest/

Sunday Oct 13: HKE MKE in Riverside Park, an easy roll/walk starting at Urban Ecology Center https://secure.qgiv.com/for/hkemke2023/event/hkemke2024/

Sunday, October 20 noon to 4pm: Regenerate MKE Street Fair, corner of Oklahoma and Delaware Aves in Bay View, MCTS 51 bus line.  Using the PermaculturePrinciples.com, we're celebrating organizations which use at least one of these concepts in their work.  If you'd like to be involved, message Karen at ezwalkspaddlesmke@gmail.com FREE

Wed Oct 23, 5pm: "Trail Access for All" easy roll/walk and talk at Kuumba Juice and Coffeehouse.  Jennifer and Karen will talk your ears off as we walk along the adjacent BeerLine Trail followed by presentation/discussion in the cafe.  Sponsored by Sierra Club Wisconsin Great Waters Group.  FREE.

https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000IgJ8TIAV&mapLinkHref=https://maps.google.com/maps&daddr=Trail%20Access%20for%20All@43.082226,-87.90764

Tuesday, Nov 5th is Karen's birthday and Election Day.  Check your voter registration status here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ and VOTE

Sunday, Dec 1, 10-2 pm: Jennifer and Karen Book Signing/Holiday book sale at The Domes in Mitchell Park.

It isn't advertised yet, but in January 2024 the Horicon Marsh Friends hosted a luminaria-lit evening hike and other activities.  I'm hoping to attend this January.

Have an EASY day, Karen

Easy Walks, Rolls and Paddles in Milwaukee August 2024

Hello Easy Walkers, Rollers and Paddlers, 

We ease into this month with a 9 am Saturday Aug 3rd guided tour with Bay View Historical Society's historian and author Ron Winkler at United Church of Christ, near the southeast corner of Humboldt Park, corner of Lenox Ave and Oklahoma Ave, on or near the MCTS 51 and 52 public transit lines: https://bayviewhistoricalsociety.org/event/annual-august-walk-southwestern-border/. $5-$10 cost 

Then head to the party (free lunch and dessert!) in Pulaski Park to celebrate Plastic Free Milwaukee 12-2 pm: https://www.plasticfreemke.org/july-2024-newsletter "Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee" is a proud supporter of Walk for Democracy at the state capitol building in Madison on Tuesday Aug 6: https://www.facebook.com/events/298944889852271 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-for-democracy-wisconsin-tickets-902724091057 

 Aug 9 Urban Ecology Center Free Canoeing: https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/programs-and-events/take-it-outside-days

 Aug 11 5-9 pm "We are Water" Mni Wiconi Somos Agua at McKinley Beach https://www.milwaukeewatercommons.org/we-are-water 

 Aug 13 Vote, then Kinnickinnic River sunset paddle https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/muwt-2024/ 

 Aug 17 Havenwoods State Forest Area of Concern Project: PRESENTATION AND HIKE Saturday, August 17, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/97151 

 Aug 18 Red Magic Art Festival in Jackson Park: https://www.facebook.com/events/jackson-park-milwaukee-35th-forest-home-ave/red-magic-art-festival-2024/1470369630579188/ 

 Aug 21 5:30-7:30pm — Summer Fair Future Meetup at Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, McKinley Marina. 

 Aug 23 Vegetable/Fruit gleaning Friday am, TBD, text 4143699249 for details 

 Aug 24 Blessed Vegetables and Rummage Sale at Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit 

 Aug 25 1:30 Havenwoods State Forest Walk, Talk and Roll 

 Aug 29 Senior Water Advocacy Network (SWAN) Plastic-Free MKE boat tour ($15 lunch and learn) https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/boat-tour-2024/ 

 Sept TBD Bay View Historical Society Slow Roll/Walk and Talk 

 Sept 21 Outreach for Hope Walk & Roll Kenosha Petrified Springs 

 Sept 29 Harborfest/Baby Sturgeon Release https://harbordistrict.org/harbor-fest/ 

 Oct 5-8 Savanna Institute in Madison https://www.savannainstitute.org 

 Oct 12 Gen Regen conference in Madison, Tour D'Art D'Tour 

 Oct 20 Regenerate MKE Bay View Street Fair with MKE Indoor Outdoor Exchange 

 Oct 23 Sierra Club WI Easy Walk/Roll and "Bite sized Adventure" "Trail Access for All" at Kuumba Juice and Coffee/Beerline Trail 

https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000IgJ8TIAV&mapLinkHref=https://maps.google.com/maps&daddr=Trail%20Access%20for%20All@43.082226,-87.90764 

 Nov TBD Community Food Conversations 

Nov/Dec TBD MKE Maker Market wait listed 

 Jen and Karen's next project involves documenting accessible bathrooms throughout Milwaukee public parks. 

 Have an Easy Day, Karen and Jennifer Lemke

Easy Walks, Rolls and Paddles in Milwaukee July 2024

Hello! Enjoy our curated list of transit- and wheel-accessible events in Milwaukee, based on our book "Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee" available at many local bookstores as well as on Amazon. 

Paperback available at Outpost Co-op, Kuumba Juice & Coffee, Lion's Tooth, The Domes Gift Shop, MKE Intermodal Station, MKE Kayak, Historic Milwaukee, Inc., MJ's Apothecary & Gifts, Milwaukee Public Library and online at Boswell Book Company. 

Find the interactive map of the book's walks and paddles here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1iGL0o7u5hr3lTRtsTmYY9uKKDVMDZGw&ll=43.02281904517415%2C-87.94195715&z=12

Share your email if you'd like this list emailed to you monthly: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSl4JNUn_7xyWbADgNZpLtVDqQEiVxNUSrd5zSEIvNn2JJ8A/viewform

Below find some links to activities in July and beyond, and have an EASY Day! :) Karen

July 7 9-1 So. Humboldt Park Farmstand Market at Lutheran Church of the Great Spirit 

https://www.facebook.com/LutheranChurchGreatSpirit/

July 14 Enderis Park Farmers Market Book sale and 1:30 pm Jane's Walk Bathroom Accessibility Kick-off: https://lwvmilwaukee.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=152606&item_id=2331911

July 24 FREE MKE RiverKeeper Boat Tour with Mermaid Echo

https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/2024-mermaid-boat-tour/

July 26 Critical Mass Bike Ride beginning in Red Arrow Park

https://www.mkecriticalmass.com

July 28 1:30 pm Humboldt Park Forest Walk/Roll, meet at Bandshell

July 30 Vote in local elections, then 6:15 pm Menomonee River Sunset Paddle

https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/connect/events/

Aug 6 4-6 pm March for Democracy in Madison

Aug 11 5-9 pm We are Water at McKinley Beach

https://www.milwaukeewatercommons.org/we-are-water

Aug 13 Kinnickinnic River sunset paddle

Aug 25 1:30 Havenwoods State Forest Walk, Talk and Roll

TBD Walk/Roll/Talk at Kuumba Juice and Coffee/Beerline

TBD Walk/Roll/Talk at MKE Indoor Outdoor Exchange

Sept 21 Outreach for Hope Walk & Roll

Sept 29 Harborfest/Baby Sturgeon Release

Oct 5-8 Savanna Institute in Madison

Oct 12 Gen Regen conference in Madison, Tour D'Art D'Tour

Oct 23 Sierra Club WI Easy Walk/Roll and Library Talk "Bite sized Adventure"