As Wisconsin winters warm, a way of life is melting away

On the first day of March in Havenwoods State Forest, the ground was bare, and the snow from a recent fall had melted. Mia Noel, a natural resources educator at the park, hunted for animal tracks in the mud.

Noel is a winter evangelist. She sleds on weekdays after work and hosts outdoor winter games for friends (they compete for hot drinks). Her seasonal catchphrase is “BWE” — Best Winter Ever, that is, owing to her belief that each winter can be the best yet, with the right attitude.

Noel leads snowy walks at Havenwoods, drawing participants’ attention to winter`s ability to reveal things you can`t see during other parts of the year...
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