The FORWARD Endowment (Friends of Resources, Wildlife and Recreational Development) is accepting grant requests for 2025 through Dec. 31.
The Manitowoc County trust funds projects related to hunting, fishing, conservation and education.
Supported by local sporting clubs and private donations, the trust recently switched to a flexible unitrust format, which allows for larger and more varied grants.
Eligible projects must:
Applications are online at http://www.mantyfg.org, or email mantyfg071@gmail.com for details.
Grant selections will be made in February or March 2026, based on available funds managed by Associated Bank. Leede Research coordinates the application process.
More than $180,000 has been awarded to local projects so far. FORWARD is a 501(c)(3); donations are welcome and can be sent to Associated Bank.
For more information, contact mantyfg071@gmail.com.
Explore the solar system — family drop-in day at Woodland Dunes
On Monday, Dec. 29, take your family to Woodland Dunes Nature Center for a space adventure inside a portable planetarium.
Enjoy hands-on space-themed activities, crafts, and both indoor and outdoor fun — no registration required!
Drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for an out-of-this-world experience, hosted by Camp Tapawingo and Woodland Dunes. All ages welcome!
Woodland Dunes is at 3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers.
Two firearm-involved incidents reported during 9-day gun deer season
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported the following two firearm-involved incidents from the nine-day gun deer season that ran Nov. 22-30:
During the 2024 gun deer season, the DNR reported one firearm-involved hunting incident resulting in injury.
For the past 10 nine-day gun deer seasons (2016-2025), the incident trend reflects an average of five hunting incidents per year.
Wisconsin has had six fatality-free seasons and all 10 years reflect single-digit incidents.
Anyone with information regarding natural resource violations may confidentially report by calling or texting 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained staff relay the information to conservation wardens. You can also File a report online.
Don’t miss Lights at Lincoln Park — it’s open through Dec. 30
Lights at Lincoln Park has nearly 100 beautiful light displays winding through the serene, wooded park road.
The light show features a variety of wildlife displays, including aquatic and avian creatures, along with animals native to North America and Africa. Drive-through light arches and many other dazzling lighting effects are also included.
Lights in Lincoln Park begins at the fieldhouse on Lincoln Boulevard just off Waldo Boulevard. The light show is open every night now through Dec. 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at a cost of $5 per vehicle. A Family Fun Walk is from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 30 at a cost of $5 per person or $10 per family. All proceeds go to Lincoln Park Zoo.
Merry Christmas!
I want to wish all the readers of this column a very Merry Christmas. Here’s hoping Santa fulfills all your Christmas wishes.
That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.
Outdoors columnist Bob Schuh’s “Scoping the Great Outdoors” column appears each Sunday in the Herald Times Reporter. He can be reached at 920-682-3106 or bobschuh@lsol.net.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc County trust offers flexible funding for local projects
Reporting by Bob Schuh, Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
