Environmental monitoring projects are great ways to get
students involved
with relevant, 
real-world projects that can enhance your
classroom instruction at the school forest. The information that students
collect is used by citizens, scientists, and/or agencies to monitor
environmental quality. Students gain ecological knowledge, learn about data
collection, acquire observation skills, and utilize critical thinking skills.
There are a variety of projects in which to involve your students
Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard is one of
the most aggressive woodland invasive species. Within a few years it can
completely dominate invaded areas and suppress other plants and limit tree and
shrub regeneration. For information on identification, known (official) range
of occurrence, and control methods, visit the WDNR's garlic mustard website. Here's a neat
video that explains garlic mustard identification and control: Link
Journey North
Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and
seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with
classmates across North America. Link
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project involves citizens in collecting data that
will help to explain the distribution and abundance patterns of monarch
butterflies in North America. Link
Project Feeder Watch
Project Feeder Watch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at
backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America.
Citizens help scientists track movements of winter bird populations and
long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. LinkSnow Spotter Network
This season they are
looking for spotters from across the country to report snowfall totals!
WeatherWorks uses many of YOUR reports to help with evaluating current
conditions and creating a post-storm snow analysis of each event. Remember,
there is no cost to join! Link
Who's Who of Citizen Monitoring Wisconsin
The Who's Who of Citizen-based Monitoring in Wisconsin is a directory of
citizen programs and organizations in Wisconsin that focus on the monitoring of
natural resources. You can search by county to find on-going monitoring
projects in your area. Link
Project Wisconsin's Citizen-Based Water Monitoring Project
The Citizen-based Water Monitoring Network of Wisconsin, provided by
UW-Extension, offers citizens multiple opportunities to be part of the process
of monitoring our state's lakes, rivers, and marshes. Link
Wisconsin Classroom Milkweed Monitoring Network
The Wisconsin Classroom Milkweed Monitoring Network uses milkweed plants to
detect ozone air pollution. Classrooms provide plant injury data to DNR's air
management biomonitoring unit and receive direct results about local air
quality. Link
Wisconsin Nature Mapping
NatureMapping is a biodiversity survey program that allows citizens, school
groups, and professionals to enter wildlife observations into a statewide
database. The observations are then used for natural resource management,
scientific studies and environmental education.
Link
Wisconsin’s Volunteer Carnivore Tracking Program
Because carnivores such as wolves, fisher, and bobcats are often secretive and
occupy very large home ranges, it is difficult to monitor them by direct
observation. The Wisconsin DNR relies on your observations of the number and
location of tracks to help them estimate the abundance and distribution of
carnivores. Link
Wisconsin Worm Watch
Survey your school forest
for the impacts of exotic earth worms. By the way, did you know that all
earthworms aren't native to the Great Lakes region? Research is emerging on how
they are slowly changing the face of our forests, but very little is known
about the distributions of earthworms across the region. This is where you come
in! For more information about earthworms and monitoring efforts (including
methods), visit the Great Lakes Worm Watch website