Wisconsin School Forests:Opportunities for Student
Monitoring
Jeremy Solin
Wis. School Forest Education Specialist
August 20, 2004
Wisconsin School Forest Program
• Statewide School Forest Program
• Example Programs
• Discussion
• LEAF - the Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program
• Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Forestry
• www.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf
School Forest History
• School & Community Forest Law - 1927
• 1st School Forests at Laona, Wabeno and Crandon
• Goals•Reforestation•Income
School Forests Opportunities
• Meet state education standards
• Integrate environmental education
• Demonstrate sustainable natural resources management
• Strengthen school/community relationships
• Provide income for schools/school forests
School Forests Statistics
• ~ 325 School Forests
• 190 different public school districts (45%)
• 66 of 72 counties
• Range of sizes (>24,000 acres in total)
School Forest Education Specialist
• Public relations – build awareness
• Communication networks – website, email
• In-service/training programs
• School forest funding
• "How to Grow a School Forest" handbook
Opportunities for Monitoring
• Access to land
• Statewide distribution
• Established program ripe for networking
• Continuity
• Dedicated teachers
• Exotic species
• Deer browse
• Tree growth
• Ephemeral ponds
• Plant diversity
• Birds
Example Programs:Tri-County SF
• Environmental counselors: researchers/educators• Forest, wetland, and prairie monitoring• Bluebird nest monitoring – Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin
Example Programs:West Salem SF
• Partnership with Fort McCoy
• Blanding’s Turtle monitoring
• Real data, real success
• Sandhill Wildlife Internships
Example Programs:Portage SF/River Crossing Charter School
• School forest restoration – prairie/oak savannah
• Partnership with Wis. Waterfowl Assoc.
Summary
• School forests are incredible educational and scientific resources
• Huge potential for student monitoring
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf/schforest.htm