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Fall has come to the Northwoods. Things are quieter, more peaceful, and we sit back to enjoy the moments of bittersweet warmth and sun before the coming winter.

Colorama is upon us. Historically, Colorama is marked in Boulder Junction with the grand tradition of Colorama Dinner. Once a wild game feed with game buffet tables groaning under the weight of many donated prizes, we are now a softer, gentler meal, served by North Lakeland students and parents as has been a tradition for many years.

Colorama is also marked by our last outdoor craft and farmers market event of the year and the weekend promises to be delightfully warm and sunny.

The Community Foundation of Boulder Junction wishes you and yours a very enjoyable season of leaves, rides to see the color, pumpkin spice and one last hike.

May that hike be commemorated with a famous poem that lies in the heart of every northerner:

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The Town of Boulder Junction North Creek Loop Trail Committee is holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony marking the completion of the newest addition to the Heart of Vilas County Paved Bike Trail System—the North Creek Loop Trail. The ceremony will take place on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 10:30am at the wayside located at Highway H and Highway K in Boulder Junction.

The Boulder Junction Community Foundation has been the proud fiduciary of the North Creek Loop Trail Project and has helped fund the project through our grant program. We are looking forward to attending the celebration and hope to see you there as well.

The event will commence with dignitaries speaking at 10:30am, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony. In the spirit of celebration, complimentary cake and refreshments will be served.

The North Creek Loop Trail Project began in 2017, initiated by residents and businesses along Highway H who sought safe access for biking, walking, and other non-motorized activities into Boulder Junction and the existing Heart of Vilas County Trail Bike Trail System.

Spanning 3.3 miles of paved trail, the North Creek Loop Trail now completes the new 14-mile loop of the Heart of Vilas County Trail system in Boulder Junction, running from Highway K to North Creek Road. Trail users can then connect via North Creek Road to access the existing bike trail along Highway M, creating a seamless route back to Boulder Junction. This new trail provides a safe and picturesque option for campers at Camp Holiday and Upper Gresham Lake State Forest campground, as well as residents and bicyclists in the Boulder Junction area.

Residents and visitors all joined together earlier this summer to make Hoop-a-looza a community success! The Boulder Junction Community Foundation was pleased to support our Parks and Recreation Committee during the spring grant cycle in their efforts to fund raise for a new and improved basketball court which is adjacent to the new playground, restrooms and bike trail. The Boulder Junction Community Foundation is the fiduciary of this project. Donations to the basketball court can easily be made using our online form. Our little community is doing mighty things together and we thank you all for your support!

The Boulder Junction Community Foundation, since affiliating with the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, can now offer the option of helping interested donors in setting up Donor Advised Funds. 

Donor Advised Funds provide a straightforward and tax-efficient method of streamlining donations, making it easier to support the causes you care about.  Once you establish a Donor Advised Fund by making a gift, you remain actively involved in the process by suggesting the grants you wish to make to the nonprofit organizations you want to support.  The ease of use and potential tax advantages make donor Advised Funds the fastest growing charitable giving vehicle in the nation today. 

When it comes to philanthropic giving, Donor Advised Funds are a popular and practical option.  Compared to family or corporate foundations, these funds are generally more cost effective and less complicated to manage. Not only can you establish a fund today and make grant recommendations at any time, but you can also involve future generations in suggesting grants from your fund.  By doing so, you can create a lasting legacy of family philanthropy.   

Click here to learn more about this great new way to be involved in donations through the Boulder Junction Community Foundation, and scroll down to Donor Advised Funds. 

The generosity of your donations to the Boulder Junction Community Foundation enables the organization to invest back into local organizations like these twice a year. Your gifts continue to fund a shared vision to create a better future for our local area.

It is a great honor for the Foundation to grant the following requests:

• Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce has been awarded $1,820 for the purchase of additional trail counters to be used on bike, hiking and snowmobiling trails in our area. The data gathered will assist the Chamber in ranking and promoting these amenities to visitors considering our community for their recreational fun.
• Boulder Junction Volunteer Fire Department expressed their request for a grant to address their need for drop tank upgrades to replace two older tanks that are near the end of their useful life. The award of $5,500 will ensure readiness for emergencies the department faces in their service to the community.
• The North Lakeland Discovery Center will use their grants funds of $1,970 to provide an exciting new, free, three-part educational series focusing on Boulder Junction’s woods and water resources. An evening presentation, a 3-mile hike and a full-day canoe trip are planned.
• The Town of Boulder Junction will receive grant assistance of $5,000 towards the Parks & Recreation’s exciting Basketball Court project, which will provide a new, enlarged and updated sports court feature that will be located between the Community Center and the Playground/Ballpark facilities.

Thank you for your continued support.

The fall grant application cycle closes on September 10, 2024.

2023 was an exciting year! We are pleased to present the Boulder Junction Community Foundation’s 2023 Annual Report. This detailed publication shines a light on the exceptional accomplishments made achievable through the collaborative contributions of our donors. It also celebrates the Foundation’s historical achievements, marking a significant stride forward in our mission.

The Boulder Junction Community Foundation is proud to announce that we are now able accept grant applications online. This is a new benefit through our affiliation with the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin.

Twice a year, the Boulder Junction Community Foundation receives grant requests from qualified organizations in our community which helps us to achieve our mission to preserve and enhance Boulder Junction for present and future generations. Past grants have been awarded to local organizations including but not limited to the Boulder Junction Volunteer Fire Department, the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce, and the Boulder Snowmobile Club; as well as organizations outside of the Boulder Junction area that have an impact on our community like the Northwoods Alliance.

Spring grant applications are now being accepted until April 10. Applicants should review our grant guidelines prior to applying and, while it does not guarantee we will fund your grant, are strongly encouraged to discuss prospective proposal ideas with a Foundation Board Member prior to submitting an application.

You can help the Bounder Junction Community Foundation to achieve its mission anytime by giving to the fund that is right for you.