Located in South Central Wisconsin, the village of Lodi is home to less than 3000 people. However, during the first weekend in March this little town buzzes with a plethora of activities. For five consecutive years the entire community has gathered together to read aloud from cover to cover Aldo Leopold's classic book A Sand County Almanac. Three full days are devoted to a celebration of Leopold. This year activities begin on Friday, March 5, with a workshop entitled "Lodi Learns about Leopold" to be held from 9-3 at the Public Library. This Leopold Education Project workshop introduces an innovative environmental education curriculum based on essays from A Sand County Almanac, written by renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. The lessons focus on teaching students and adults about humanity's ties to the natural environment in an effort to conserve and protect the earth's natural resources. To register for the workshop contact Treva Breuch - 608-238-3212.
Formal reading of the book will begin at 7:00pm Friday (at the library) and continue 1 to 5 pm Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening during dinner and Sunday afternoon 1 to 4 pm. Other weekend events include a dinner on Saturday evening beginning at 6 pm, featuring Nina Leopold Bradley as reader and speaker, a trip to the Leopold Shack, Leopold bench building, crane watching and tours of the Lodi marsh. At 3 pm on Saturday, Al Carr of Prescott, AZ, will give an interpretive performance entitled Al Carr as Aldo Leopold. In 2003, visitors came from 6 states and the readers included school children, community leaders, and dignitaries from around the state. For information call the Lodi public library (608-592-4130) or check the calendar on the website at www.sceniclodivalley.org.
To date major sponsors of the event include the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Chapters of Pheasants Forever and AMCORE Bank of Lodi.