Tag Archive for: Sask Storyteller
Friends of Madge Lake, Building Community Beyond the Cabins
ELLA-VATED TRAILS
Tracing prairie trails through memory, discovery, and home.
By Ella Gidluck, SaskTrails Storyteller
Friends of Madge Lake, Building Community, One Project at a Time
Madge Lake is more than a summer getaway. For many, it is a second home, a place for family traditions, and a hub for community connection. At the heart of keeping that spirit alive is the Friends of Madge Lake, a volunteer driven organization that has been raising funds, rallying neighbours, and supporting projects that make the park better for everyone.
I sat down with Barb McLean, Chair of the Friends of Madge Lake, to learn more about their work, their challenges, and their vision for the future.
Enhancing Health, Wellbeing, and Community
The mission of Friends of Madge Lake is simple, to enhance and support health and wellbeing through community projects. Their work spans everything from playgrounds and trail maintenance to arts and culture. Recent highlights include:
- New playground equipment built with the help of 21 volunteers who braved the rain to assemble it.
- Murals on the Recreation Hall doors, painted by a young local artist who had just graduated high school.
- Flood mitigation along the Trans Canada Trail, ensuring cyclists can ride from Madge to the Manitoba border without getting stuck in swampy spring water.
- The upcoming bocce ball courts, adding to an already vibrant recreation hub with tennis, basketball, and pickleball.
Even the mud could not stop volunteers from making the playground a reality.
Community members braved the rain to build the new playground at Madge Lake.
A vibrant mural by a young artist now brightens the Rec Hall doors.
A Partnership Approach
One of the group’s biggest strengths is working hand in hand with partners like the provincial park and local clubs. As Barb explained, “We do not own anything. Every project has to be done cooperatively.” That has meant building relationships with the park, the Nordic Ski Club, and other local organizations.
This cooperative model ensures that projects not only get built, but are also maintained for the long term.
Funding and Support
Friends of Madge Lake relies almost entirely on community fundraising and donations. Sometimes it is golf tournaments or family bingo nights, other times it is the ever popular Treats and Treasures store, where hoodies remain the best selling item year after year.
Treats and Treasures is the heart of summer shopping at Madge Lake.
Barb noted that many supporters “like to know that there is a project,” and once they do, they are quick to donate money, time, or both.
Looking Ahead
The board is always balancing big dreams with practical realities. Long term visions include:
- Exploring ways to expand and enhance trail experiences so more of the park’s natural spaces are accessible for hikers and bikers.
- Expanding arts and culture programming to engage youth and schools.
- Building stronger partnerships with local First Nations and Métis communities, recognizing their long history with the park.
As Barb shared, “Whether it is trails, heritage, or culture, the goal is always about bringing people together to enjoy this place in new ways.”
A carved bear welcomes hikers on the trails around Madge Lake.
How to Get Involved
If you would like to support Friends of Madge Lake, you can:
- Visit Treats and Treasures to shop local products and merchandise.
- Follow the group on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
- Donate directly through their website or volunteer for upcoming projects.
Closing Reflection
Friends of Madge Lake shows what is possible when a community takes pride in its park. From playgrounds to murals to trail connections, every project leaves a mark not just on the landscape, but on the people who live, camp, and play here.
“It does not magically look good over a lifetime, it takes people who care.” Barb reminded me. And clearly, Madge Lake has plenty of those people.
This article is part of the SaskTrails Storyteller Series. Thank you to the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and Trans Canada Trail for supporting this initiative.
Ella Gidluck is the Saskatchewan Trails Association’s 2025 Summer Storyteller. She’s a university student with a love for quiet places, trail snacks, and telling the stories behind the paths we walk.
Madge Moments Part 2: Trails Worth the Bug Spray
ELLA-VATED TRAILS
Tracing prairie trails through memory, discovery, and home.
By Ella Gidluck, SaskTrails Storyteller
Madge Moments Part 2: Trails Worth the Bug Spray
In Part 1 of this Madge Moments series, we met April and Jordan from Duck Mountain Lodge and explored why this place has such a strong pull for locals and travellers alike. But let’s be honest, the trails are what keep people coming back season after season. Whether you’re chasing butterflies, biking with your family, or just trying to dodge mosquitos and your emails, the forest paths around Madge Lake have something for everyone.
Fen Trail
The Fen Trail is a little out of the way, tucked near the ski hill on the edge of the park. It’s a bit of a drive to get there, but I wasn’t complaining. Call me Miss Daisy. I was in full passenger princess mode while my mom chauffeured me down winding roads with no cell service and vibes only.
By the time we reached the trailhead, the signal had vanished entirely, which made the journey feel like a portal into a different world. No texts, no emails, no directions. Just moss, trees, and the distant sound of birds plotting.
This trail is gentle, with a stunning raised boardwalk through the wetland. It’s cool and quiet, with ferns and filtered light that make it feel like you’ve stepped into a moss-covered secret.
Ferns, fairylike lighting, and the boardwalk of dreams.
My mom, MVP of the day, carried the bag with all the essentials. Water, bug spray, sunscreen, bear spray, snacks, sweaters, and for reasons I will never question, a sudoku book. Because nothing says “prepared hiker” like the option to sit on a bench mid-trail and do a logic puzzle in the shade.
Ella-vated Trail Rating: 5/5 moss patches. Magical with minimal effort.
Madge TCT
This segment of the Trans Canada Trail starts near the tennis courts at Ministik Beach and winds its way into the Pickerel Point Campground. The beginning is bright and open, with trees that make just enough shade to keep things cool. As the trail continues, it passes cabins and starts to feel more enclosed, with thicker forest and a narrower path that pulls you deeper into the trees.
Starting the TCT loop like a local, tennis courts to trees in under five minutes.
I didn’t see many people, just the occasional squirrel and birdsong. If you’re looking for a trail that offers a bit more distance without feeling overwhelming, this one’s a good pick.
If you’re into geocaching, this stretch is even more fun. One of the STA board members recently replaced a hidden container near the bridge along this trail (GC4F0Y7 for the real ones). Nature walk meets treasure hunt? Sign me up.
Choose your own forest adventure. Left or right, it’s all trees.
Ella-vated Trail Rating: 4/5 quiet forest vibes. Best enjoyed without a destination.
Damselfly Trail
I cannot confirm whether I saw an actual damselfly on the Damselfly Trail. What I can confirm is that a mysterious bug landed on a stick I was holding. Did I freak out before we could identify it? Yes, and my mom caught it on camera.
Welcome to the Damselfly Trail: bugs, beauty, and bear warnings included.
This trail is a nice middle ground: not too long, not too short, with enough changes in scenery to keep it interesting. It’s the kind of hike where you start pointing things out to no one in particular, just to keep the conversation going.
Ella-vated Trail Rating: 3.5/5 mysterious bugs. Great scenery, minor emotional damage.
Batka Lake Lookout
Batka Lake Lookout is not a fancy lookout. It’s a dirt pull-off with a couple of picnic tables, a woodpile, and a view of the lake if you walk around a bit and stand in the right spot. There’s no sign announcing you’ve arrived, just a “No Motor Vehicles” gate and enough shade to make you stay longer than you planned.
I wandered around while my mom scouted ahead and casually carried every possible hiking essential on her back like it was no big deal. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t feel like much, until you realize how peaceful it is. No crowds, little to no cell service, just trees, birds, and the occasional frog judging your footwear.
Not a fancy lookout, just a picnic table and peace.
If you want to keep going, the trail to Moose Lake starts nearby, and there’s a geocache tucked somewhere along it (GC9X4QX) if you’re the type who enjoys finding things hidden in the woods by strangers on the internet.
Ella-vated Trail Rating: 4/5 picnic tables. Not much going on, in the best way.
Trail Sampler: Quick Picks You Might Like
There are a few more trails that deserve a mention, even if we didn’t do a deep dive this time:
- Green Lake Trail – An easy loop through the trees. In the winter, the warm-up shelter is a cozy place to stop while snowmobiling. It smells like woodsmoke and good memories.
Green Lake Trail, where snowmobilers and hikers alike find their forest fix.
- Pelly Point Nature Trail – My family loves to bike this one. It’s gentle, open, and is a good opportunity to get the heart rate up (depending how seriously you take it).
Green tunnel vibes: Pelly Point Trail bringing the forest immersion.
- Fire Tower Trail – A short, easy path that loops near the back of the golf course. No towers to climb, just a good walk and a cool name.
No fire tower to climb, but still worth the loop.
- Tamarack Ski Shelter – You can reach it with a short walk off the ski hill road. If you’re into geocaching, there’s a container hidden nearby (GC4D03P). Not a full hike, but still a little adventure.
And for the truly committed, there’s even a cache hidden on an island in the middle of Madge Lake (GC2CHKR). Bring a canoe, or a very brave friend.
Bonus Ella-vation Tip: Green Lake in winter hits different. Bring mitts and a thermos.
Coming Up Next…
In the next Madge Moments blog, we’re hitting the road, literally. I’ll be sharing highlights from the scenic route to Madge from Regina, with some trail stops and prairie towns you won’t want to skip along the way.
Until then, grab your bug spray, charge your phone, and let me know which Madge trail is your favourite. And hey, if you spot a damselfly, send me a pic. I need closure.
This article is part of the SaskTrails Storyteller Series. Thank you to the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and Trans Canada Trail for supporting this initiative.
Ella Gidluck is the Saskatchewan Trails Association’s 2025 Summer Storyteller. She’s a university student with a love for quiet places, trail snacks, and telling the stories behind the paths we walk.
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