Wisconsin’s School Forest Program

The school forest program serves as a resource for all school forests in the state.

The program is coordinated by Gretchen Marshall, the schoolForestKids.png Wisconsin School Forest Education Specialist, who is part of the LEAF Program. 

The school forest program and the Wisconsin School Forest Education Specialist position are the results of a partnership between the Department of Natural Resources – Division of   Forestry and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education in the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point. 

 

What is a school forest?

A school forest is an outdoor classroom. A school forest is land registered through the state community forest program and owned or controlled by a public or private school, and used for environmental education and natural resource management.


 School Forest Profiles
The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association partnered with LEAF to spotlight school forests in several issues of Wisconsin Wisconsin Woodlands, their member newsletter. Read about your Wisconsin School Forests!  

 

Does your school have a registered school forest?

 
Interactive Wisconsin School Forest Map
 
This map depicts the location and boundaries of the school forest lands registered in Wisconsin with the LEAF- Wisconsin's K-12 Forestry Education Program.

 

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gretchenForSFsite.pngForestry & Outdoor Education Specialist
Contact Gretchen Marshall with any school forest and outdoor education-related inquiries. 

Gretchen can be reached at 715-346-2633 or Gretchen.Marshall@uwsp.edu

 
Services provided to school forests include:
  • Guidance and consultation in developing school forest programs and their education plans
  • Connecting schools with forest management resources
  • Networking and providing information for educators
  • Professional development for educators, administrators, and natural resource managers
  • Information about funding sources and education resources
 
School Forest Registration
Who is eligible to apply?

Any city, village, town or school district who has legal control of forested property. Learn more

 
Wisconsin School Forest Statistics (2019)
  • 234 public school districts
  • 6 private schools
  • 7 higher education institutions
Developing Your School Forest Program
Developing your School Forest Program can
be Challenging. LEAF's School Forest Program  provides several tools to get you started.
Educational Resources For School Forest Educators
LEAF provides several tools and resources you may find helpful as you think about programming to offer at your school forest.