This geocache is part of the West Bend GeoTour:
Twenty geocaches have been hidden throughout our historic city that highlight the best of West Bend in any season!
To earn a geocoin, teams must pick up a West Bend GeoTour Passport from the Chamber of Commerce (preferred method) or download a passport. Collect 25 points as detailed in the passport. Link to Updated Passport: West Bend GeoTour Passport.
Remember to record the password from this cache in your GeoTour Passport!
GeoTour Stop #12: Lac Lawrann Conservancy
In 1846, William Caldwell acquired 40 acres of future Lac Lawrann for $1.25 an acre until Andrea and Walburga Schmidt, German immigrants, purchased much of the “Lac Lawrann” land from him in 1866. Their descendants lived on the land over 100 years. Schmidt road running past the farm was named after the family, and the old farmhouse still stands as the Conservancy volunteer center. In 1955, Lawrence and Ann Maurin purchased 18 acres and named it Lac Lawrann. They devoted countless hours improving the habitat and donated the land to the City of West Bend in 1979 as a wildlife and conservation area.
Lac Lawrann Conservancy has grown to 136 acres of Nature at Your Doorstep. With glacial landforms, deciduous woodlands, tall grass prairie, wetlands, lakes, ponds and a pine plantation, Lac Lawrann provides the experience of "wilderness" within city limits. Over the years, well over 200 species of birds have frequented LLC. Deer, squirrel, beaver, mink, and muskrat can be seen while hiking the trails at LLC. Our state mascot, the badger, has burrows in one of the hillsides overlooking the lake.
Lac Lawrann Conservancy has 4 miles of trails that lead hikers through deciduous woodlands to kettles, kames, an esker, as well as to ponds, wetlands, prairie, and a red pine plantation. During winter, the conservancy offers 2.8 miles of groomed classical cross-country skiing on the Lake Loop, Pine Plantation, Railroad Spur, and Prairie Trails. Snowshoeing is encouraged on the Northern Wetland, Esker, and Railroad Spur Trails.
In 2013, the Friends of Lac Lawrann Conservancy opened a Learning Center to provide year-round educational opportunities and expand programming. Electricity for the Learning Center is generated by a bank of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels located on the north edge of the Conservancy’s parking lot. The recently renovated 1860s barn is a three-season gathering place for conservancy activities. Perhaps you have visited for the Big Cedar Bluegrass Concert in September or the annual Wildflower and Perennial Sale held each May. To learn more, visit www.laclawrann.org
The Geocache: You are looking for a clear lock-n-lock container. This cache is available any season. Special permission was granted to the West Bend Chamber to hide this cache.