School Forest Award Recipients | | |
Each year, LEAF recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to school forest programs through our School Forest Awards.
These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have provided leadership and made significant contributions to a local school forest registered through Wisconsin’s School Forest Program.
We are proud to share this year's recipients with you. Nominations for the next cycle open in the fall.
| | Ryan Bargender – Abbotsford School Forest | | LEAF Outreach Specialist Steve Schmidt presented Abbotsford School Superintendent Ryan Bargender with a 2024 School Forest Award during a school-wide assembly in Abbotsford Schools in April. | | |
Ryan Bargender, Abbotsford Schools Superintendent, has been instrumental in starting the Abbotsford School Forest Program.
Very few school forest programs develop from an idea to a program in just a few years, especially converting a field to forest. That kind of development takes an entire community, but it also takes someone with the vision and patience to build that community.
"Ryan has been instrumental in making sure that the community is involved in the process and supports the transition from traditional crops to land restoration," said Amber Kraus, an Abbotsford Spanish/ESL Educator who nominated Ryan for the award along with Abbotsford District Accountability Coordinator Georgia Kraus and DNR Forester Justin Kapusta. "He called on local farmers, who brought tractors to prepare the land, plant the trees, and seed the prairie. Local girl scouts proposed a pollinator and butterfly garden, and Ryan worked with them to get it established. The agriculture department proposed planting some fruit trees, which the family and consumer education department has been using with classes. Test wells were dug in order to monitor the ground water quality, and students of all ages were invited to watch the process."
Ryan continues to move the project forward into its second phase of growth, working with the city to build trails and ensure the success of the plantings.
| | "The impact of Mr. Bargender’s contributions extends far beyond the boundaries of the school district. By creating a space that integrates education, conservation, and community involvement, he has set a standard for what can be achieved through collaboration and vision," said Georgia Kraus. | | LEAF congratulates Ryan and community he has built on this well-deserved recognition! | | Maple Grove Charter School Staff – Maple Grove School Forest | Maple Grove Charter School Principal Robin Hanson holds the 2024 School Forest Award. The school's staff was presented the award by LEAF Outreach Specialist Steve Schmidt during an Earth Day celebration in April. | |
The Maple Grove Charter School's school forest was registered as a school forest in 2017, but has a decades-old history of student involvement in maple sap collection.
Robin Hanson, the teaching principal, is a former student of the school, and had the vision to create a model curriculum that would go well beyond the original goals of the Wisconsin School Forest Program in developing students into stewards of the land with a strong conservation ethic.
"The Maple Grove Charter School Staff have embraced the potential of their school forest in ways not seen elsewhere in my long career as an educator and are models for teachers everywhere to emulate,” said nominator Sandy Benton, Field Edventures Consultant.
Here are some of the things staff and students have accomplished together on their learning journey:
- Created accessible trails
- Diversified the habitats for pollinators and other animals by planting a prairie
- Constructed benches
- Established the importance of play in the forest to learn valuable life skills
- Become careful observers of the seasons
- Learned about the history of forestry by collaborating with John Grossman of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin
- Completed a bioblitz
- Worked with DNR foresters, including Jeff Sorenson, to sustainably manage for a healthy forest now and into the future
- Collaborated with Ms. Benton of Field Edventures to bring her wealth of experience to the school
- Continued the amazing maple syrup program that teaches students business skills and the wise use of a tasty natural resource
| | Three of the school's staff, Treva Etten, Sabrina Riehle, and Emily Szutkowski attended LEAF's most recent school forest summit at Merril School Forest two summers ago to bring back more ideas for teaching Maple Grove students, as well as bragging rights as Maple Grove's maple syrup prevailed as the School Forest Maple Syrup Champion! | | LEAF congratulates Ms. Hanson, the Maple Grove staff and students on their well-deserved recognition as 2024 School Forest Award recipients! | | Edison School Grounds Project | | |
The LEAF Program was delighted to be involved in a recent project at Edison Middle School in Green Bay that will help teachers use their school grounds for teaching and learning outdoors.
With support from the DNR’s Urban Forestry team and ATC and leadership from science teacher Scott Stromberger, Edison planted a schoolyard arboretum, installed a greenhouse, and designed and built a permanent outdoor classroom space. Edison teachers across the content areas also participated in training with LEAF staff to help them feel more confident using these outdoor spaces to meet learning objectives and increase students’ time in the urban forest.
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LEAF On-Demand, Online Offerings
Project Learning Tree On-Demand, Online Offerings
| |  | July Seed Collection Workshop | |
Participants will learn how to identify tree species, practice proper collection techniques and develop a seed harvest plan for their unique setting.
Cost: $50
Date & Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2025
Location: Twin Oaks Environmental Station, Kronenwetter, WI
| | NRF Field Trip: Visit Cadott School Forest with LEAF | | |
Natural Resource Foundation (NRF) members are invited to join Steve Schmidt from LEAF on Thursday, July 17th, for a field trip to the 160-acre Cadott School Forest.
Led by Cadott School Forest educator Keith Becker, participants will hike a 3-mile trail along burbling creeks and through a covered bridge.
Participants will also learn about the nearly-100 year history of Wisconsin's School Forest Program and its importance to conservation.
This field trip is part of 278 field trips the NRF is offering this year exploring Wisconsin lands.
| | FREE NRF Memberships Available! | |
Educators wishing to participate in this field trip can request a FREE complimentary 1-year NRF membership through LEAF.
Email your names and contact information (mailing address, email, and phone) to Steve Schmidt at stschmid@uwsp.edu to get the process started.
Quantities are limited and memberships will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, so act fast to claim this offer.
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Save the Date October 3-4, 2025! Forest History Association of Wisconsin's Fall Conference
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This year’s Forest History Association of Wisconsin annual conference will be held October 3-4, 2025, in Manitowish Waters. Attendees will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest. Free teacher registration for the presentations on Saturday, October 4th will be available. Look for details about the conference and the registration process in our September LEAFlet, or email Nicole Filizetti today at nfilizet@uwsp.edu to be added to a contact list for registration details to be emailed to you when they become available later this summer.
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| Did you enjoy this newsletter? | | | | Feedback is always welcome at leaf@uwsp.edu. | | Have questions or need additional resources? Contact us at leaf@uwsp.edu. We are here to support educators and students with forestry opportunities. | | | | |
