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