Transcript Money for Nothing and Trees for Free

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
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~ 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
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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
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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