Focus on the Forest to Rejuvenate Learning

Focus on the forest to rejuvenate learning

When people ask what LEAF is about, our generalized answer — We support forestry education in the K-12 classroom — often leads to responses like “So you teach children how to be foresters?” Yes… and no! Some LEAF lessons relate directly to the work of foresters, but there is a lot more to forestry education.

Are you working with your middle school students to analyze the carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services provided by the trees along your city street? Are your high school students investigating buckthorn removal to make better deer habitat in your school forest? Are your elementary students learning about the role that Wisconsin’s forests played, and continue to play, for Indigenous peoples? These are all examples of forestry education.

We like to say that we support educators in teaching “in and about Wisconsin’s forests.” If you dig into our mission and vision, you’ll see phrases like actively engaged citizens and healthy forests and communities. We know that children who love spending time with trees and who get opportunities to learn about forests will grow to become adults who support sustainable forestry.

We also know that learning takes place in many ways. Sometimes it looks like measuring trees and learning to identify them, while other times it involves writing poetry, sketching observations, taking time to reflect, or even role-playing as parts of a tree. As a partner from the Wisconsin DNR - Division of Forestry recently said, “It’s about impacting future generations by planting the seeds now.”

There is often a misconception that forestry education only belongs in science or agriculture classrooms. In talking to administrators in particular, but also classroom educators and school forest coordinators, we sometimes hear statement like “once we hire our new ag educator or science teacher, then we’ll start to use the school forest again.” While these folks mean well, they forget that forest-focused learning is best approached by an interdisciplinary team. Why let the science and ag teachers have all the fun? Perhaps a visit to your school forest or school grounds is just what struggling math or ELA students (and let’s face it — teachers) need to rejuvenate their enthusiasm for learning.

Forests are a place where meaningful learning can happen in all K-12 content areas. In the annual survey administered by the Wisconsin School Forest Program, we ask educators to tell us which subject areas have been taught in their school forest that year. In the 2023-24 survey, responders told us that agriculture, art, business education, English/language arts, foreign language, math, music, physical education, science, social studies, and technology education had all been taught at a Wisconsin School Forest that year. This fills our hearts with joy and optimism, because students in these schools are getting opportunities for relevant, hands-on learning. If you are a teacher who engages students in learning in the forest, kudos to you!

DIVE DEEPER!

Introduction to Forestry Education for the K-12 Classroom Workshop

September 25 | Cambridge, WI

$50 registration fee • $125 sub stipend available! • Meets EE stip

Teach students the importance of Wisconsin’s forests to our ecological, economic, and social well-being. This introductory workshop will present principles, activities and techniques to integrate hands-on forestry education into the K-12 science, social studies, agriculture, mathematics, technology education, ELA, and general elementary classroom.

The workshop will demonstrate alignment to standards, STEM connections and literacy. A brief introduction to outdoor teaching will also be discussed. The workshop will include time to begin the process of infusing forestry activities into each teacher’s existing curriculum, and a variety of ready-to-use activities will be supplied so teachers can integrate relevant lessons right away.

Math in the Forest

October 1 | Ladysmith, WI

$50 registration fee

This hands-on workshop for high school math teachers focuses on outdoor applications of algebra, geometry and trigonometry. In addition to inspiring ideas, you'll also get mathematics-related lesson materials to take back to your classroom.

Participants will use geometry to understand the mathematics behind making and using a Biltmore stick to measure tree diameter, and will make their own Biltmore stick and use it to collect data in the forest. Other topics will include basal area per acre, wildlife population estimates, and land measurement.

If you aren’t one of these teachers but would like to be, LEAF has countless resources to help you get there. Our forestry curriculum materials are available for download, and we have kits full of hands-on resources that are free to check out and free to ship. We can also support you through professional development. Our upcoming Introduction to Forestry Education for the K-12 Classroom workshop is worth noting, as we will explore both indoor and outdoor LEAF lessons that help “plant those seeds” in young learners.

No matter your grade level or content area, LEAF wishes you the best in teaching in and about Wisconsin's forests this school year!

FREE FOR TEACHERS! Forest History Association of Wisconsin's Fall Conference

This year’s Forest History Association of Wisconsin’s Fall Conference, being held on October 3-4 at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest.

This year, the FHAW is generously offering free teacher participation in both the Friday tours and the Saturday presentations. (Those unable to attend Friday can still take advantage of the free Saturday registration.)

Whether you are drawn by the history of forest conservation, the legacy of the CCC, the cultural traditions of the Northwoods, or the beauty of Wisconsin’s largest state forest, this conference offers a rare opportunity to connect with experts, explore historic landscapes, and celebrate a century of stewardship.

A limited number of free teacher registrations are available until September 22nd. If you are a teacher and want to register, or would like more information about what is covered by the FHAW’s offer, visit this link: https://bit.ly/fhaw25. Or, feel free to email Nicole to discuss more.

Professional Development

In-Person Trainings

Introduction to Forestry Education for the K-12 Classroom Workshop | September 25 | Cambridge

Math in the Forest | October 18 | Ladysmith

On-Demand Trainings

LEAF On-Demand, Online Offerings

Project Learning Tree On-Demand, Online Offerings

Ag Ed Standards Alignment

We have recently completed LEAF lesson alignment with the new Wisconsin Standards for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, including connections to high school Field Enhancements for the first time.

These correlations can be found in the Standards Addenda under each grade band on our K-12 Lesson Guide page, and are also available in a handy chart format for 5th-6th, 7th-8th and 9th-12th grades.

New and updated kits

Are you looking for hands-on teaching resources for a specific topic? LEAF and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) have an amazing array of educational kits available to formal and non-formal educators in Wisconsin.

We have been hard at work this summer updating and expanding our kit collection. The WCEE's Wildlife Tracks Kit has been updated and we now have three kits, complete with all the original tracks, available for check-out. WCEE has also added a new Wildlife Furs Kit! LEAF has added a new plush Campfire Kit, and has updated our Forest Explorers Kits so there is one option for learning indoors and another for taking learning outdoors.

Most kits can be borrowed for a few weeks at a time and contain fun hands-on props, posters, puppets, and activity guides. Shipping is available within Wisconsin for addresses more than 30 miles from Stevens Point, and we are once again waiving the costs of shipping kits for the 2025-2026 school year.

Explore the kits collection!

School Forest updates

Assessment tools updated

Evaluating the effectiveness of your school forest program is a crucial component in a thriving and growing school forest program. By understanding who uses your forest and why, your program will be better positioned to reach its full potential. LEAF recently updated the school forest data collection tools we offer. Updates include:

School Forest Use Tracking Tool: This tool is now a Google Sheet you can copy and use to track the total number of students, teachers, and community members that use your school forest each year, as well as the activities they engage in at the forest.

School Forest Field Trip Report Form: This form is now a Google Form you can copy then edit to meet the needs of your district. Share your copy with staff members who utilize the school forest with students to record post-field trip evaluations.

School Forest Staff & Community Use Report Form: This form is now a Google Form you can copy then edit to meets the needs of your district. Use your copy to record relevant information about staff and community use of the forest.

If you have questions about these tools or data collection in your school forest in general, contact Steve Schmidt at stschmid@uwsp.edu.

View the tools

The time is now! Plan a tree seed collection project at your school forest

LEAF and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Division of Forestry’s Reforestation Program have been collaborating to get Wisconsin’s School Forests more involved in tree seed collection.

We held a workshop this summer to show educators how to collect

tree seeds to support reforestation efforts at school forests and elsewhere across Wisconsin.

If you missed it but want some help designing a program to lead your students to collect seeds to sell to Wisconsin's State Nursery, please contact Steve Schmidt at stschmid@uwsp.edu.

Wheels to Woods grants due Dec. 31!

Wheels to Woods is a school to forest or forestry related field trip transportation grant program supported and administered by the WI SAF DEI Committee.

This program is open to any Wisconsin K-12 school teacher to apply; however, teachers of underrepresented student populations will receive priority funding.

The grants are up to $350 per classroom to cover transportation costs to and from a forest or forestry industry field tour.

Spring and summer trips: Application deadline December 31.

Learn More!

Registration is now open for the online North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) 2025 Conference (November 3–6) and Research Symposium (October 30).

Join NAAEE and educators worldwide in exploring how we use environmental education to move “Forward Together” to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement.

With more than 200 engaging sessions and keynotes, this conference will delve into how education can inspire action, build environmental stewardship, and create healthier, more resilient communities. NAAEE 2025 offers a rich variety of sessions, workshops, presentations, symposium panels, discussions, posters, and bright spots, along with great opportunities for networking, growth, and change.

NAAEE is committed to making this online experience accessible to all by offering reduced rates for those who need them. Check the conference website for information.

Have questions or need additional resources? Contact us at leaf@uwsp.edu. We are here to support educators and students with forestry opportunities.

Workshops

Kits

Curriculum

Published for August 2025