“Don't take this the wrong way, Amy,” a fellow tennis player said to me, “but I just have to tell you.” 

I brace myself for what she's going to say. We had just finished a doubles match, and although I’d missed several shots, I was playing pretty well for me. So, I didn’t think it had to do with my performance. 

She kept staring at my outfit. I was wearing my tournament t-shirt, shorts, and black and floral knee socks. My teammate continued. “You look like a camp counselor for the chipmunks.”

I blink.

“You know. The nature leaders who take the little kids walking around the woods.”

I laugh. “That is my dream job.” 

So indulge me here, dear readers, and let me achieve my dream of being a camp counselor and suggest fun activities for you to do for Earth Week. Pick your favorites.

• Grab supplies, a friend, or a small “chipmunk” or two, and head outdoors. Challenge yourselves to an “Earth Day Scavenger Hunt,” and then report back to me, your camp counselor, on how you did. Here’s a scavenger hunt I designed that correlates with one of my nature books. Print it off. http://bit.ly/42vkGoJ 
• Join the fun-loving, hard-working Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells Project Clean group on May 3rd, 8:30 a.m., for their spring cleanup and celebration lunch, paid for by the Rotary Club. Meet in the Mirror State Park parking lot.
• A similar option is to adopt your own stretch of road or highway. Contact Dave Clemens (dclemens541@gmail.com or (608) 408-8941) or Debbie Kinder (608) 712-8895 to discuss which stretch you’d like to adopt. These wonderful community leaders will even have garbage bags if you want to swing by their homes and pick them up.
• Plant a sapling or two. The Dells gives away trees as an Arbor Day event. Stop by the Municipal building at 300 LaCrosse St. on April 28 from noon to 4:00 and pick out your sycamore, swamp oak, or redbud sapling.

I’m guessing you’re already doing a lot to help the Earth, like using reusable grocery bags, composting, avoiding plastics, and picking up litter on walks. Your camp counselor would like to close this column with seven fun activities that will be good for your soul. Grab a litter bag, lace up your hiking boots, and get out there and enjoy.

• Explore a hiking trail you’ve never done before, such as Ableman’s Gorge State Natural Area near Rock Springs. It’s a dramatic gorge with ancient quartzite rock faces. Bring a container and fill it with water from an artesian well near the site. 
• Unplug and relax by hiking a section of the Ice Age Trail, a 1,000-mile Wisconsin footpath. For more information, go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/. 
• Chapel Gorge Trail is a 1.8-mile loop trail near Birchcliff Resort in the Dells. Hike through a densely wooded area and reflect on the time it takes a forest to grow. At the midpoint, enjoy the view of the impressive Wisconsin River, including the Narrows.
• Visit the Great Blue Heron rookery at Devil’s Lake. Bring binoculars, a camera, and maybe chairs so you can soak in the sounds and sights of these entertaining herons. (Contact me for specific directions.)
• Mirror Lake has popular hiking trails such as Echo Rock, but did you know there are also trails south of Fern Dell Road? Grab a map and explore.
• If you want some quiet time, choose a seldom-used “Dells of the Wisconsin River” trail. It’s at 804 61st St, Wisconsin Dells, and allows you to hike down to a sandy beach.
• Park near the River Walk Pub and enjoy a leisurely stroll on the Wisconsin Dells Riverwalk, which begins downtown. This lovely trail hugs the river that made Wisconsin Dells famous. Pause to soak in the beauty of this amazing area and reflect on Earth Day 2025.