Greetings Wisconsin Educators, Would you like to enhance your ability to use your school forest or school grounds as an outdoor classroom? LEAF offers several opportunities to help you do just that.
Two summer courses, Enhancing School Forest Education and School Forest Programs and Administration allow you to earn 1 graduate credit and run from June 17 - July 21. To learn more please view the professional development opportunities below or visit our professional development calendar. Scholarships are available.
LEAF also offers School Grounds workshops designed to help you discover the world of teaching opportunities waiting outside your door. Our workshops will introduce you to activities that have been proven to get kids excited and engaged!
To schedule a school grounds workshop complete the LEAF School Grounds workshop request form or visit our School Grounds website for more information.
As always, we hope you find the information entertaining, useful, and relevant. If there is anything you'd like to see highlighted in the LEAFlet, please send an email to LEAF@uwsp.edu.
Regards, The LEAF Staff
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THIS FRIDAY - APRIL 26 - MARKS the 141st ARBOR DAY celebrated in the United States. And though many Americans have marked this holiday by planting a tree or visiting a forest many still have questions about its origins as well as proper tree planting techniques.
Celebrations and rituals involving trees and tree planting have been part of many cultures and civilizations. From phases of the moon to marking the birth of a child, trees have played a role in cultural traditions for millennia. The first recognized holiday to carry the name Arbor Day took place in Brugg, Switzerland in the fifth century when townspeople planted an oak grove in the town square. After two consecutive, unsuccessful years planting acorns it was decided that every able-bodied man, woman, and child of Brugg would dig up and plant a young oak tree. Successful, the town decided to mark their accomplishment with an annual holiday.
In the United States the first Arbor Day was the creation of nature loving journalist and pioneer J. Sterling Morton who, while serving as secretary of Nebraska, suggested a holiday that would celebrate trees and promote their planting. The date was set for April 10, 1872 and it is believed that more than one million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day.
Today Arbor Day is celebrated internationally and each year Wisconsin observes the holiday on the last Friday of April. To help you and your students celebrate Arbor Day we are highlighting our 4th Grade Lesson "Caring for the Future of Forests" and the PowerPoint presentation "Tree Planting for Arbor Day".
REMEMBER THOSE SUNNY CHILDHOOD DAYS spent learning while you played at summer camp? Never had the chance? Here is your chance to rekindle or discover that feeling of joy.
The Wisconsin County Forests Association, the Marinette County Forestry and Park Department, and the LEAF Program are offering a two-day, community-based learning retreat for teachers and non-formal educators. The retreat will apply project-based learning methods to research the question "What is the environmental impact of using wood products?"
This unique learning opportunity will be held at Camp Bird on Sand Lake in Marinette County. Join us on Sunday evening for our welcome social then stay through Tuesday learning about our forests and the products from them that we use every day.
To register: Fill out the attached registration form and return by June 1.
A Forest for Every Classroom (FFEC) is a year-long professional development series for middle and high school educators, aimed at providing the inspiration, knowledge, and skills required to transform classroom teaching into effective and exciting place-based education. At the heart of the FFEC program is the belief that students who are immersed in the interdisciplinary study of their own place are more eager to learn and be involved in the stewardship of their natural and human communities.
Educators, learn how to increase your ability to effectively use your school forests for environmental education and sustainable resource management. This hybrid course provides information, resources, processes, and guidelines to effectively develop school forests. The course is divided into two components. The on-line component provides background information on school forests and guides participants through important considerations for school forest programs. The information collected during the on-line component will be used to develop the school forest education plan during the one day face-to-face meeting in July.
Are you looking to expand educational opportunities for your students at the school forest?
This online course will help you utilize your school forest as an outdoor classroom. You will become familiar with the forest, look closely at educational resources, and infuse your curriculum with lessons that can be taught at the school forest. The course will focus on the school forest ecosystem, invasive species, exploring how to connect your classroom curriculum to the school forest, environmental education resources and lessons, and community resources available for inclusion at the school forest. The participant will create a school forest field trip for their class as a culminating project.
Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin is a FREE, voluntary certification program to get your school recognized for the progress it is making toward reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and increasing environmental and sustainability literacy.
Learn more about this program and start the process by attending a free one-day (8:30 – 2:30) workshop!
This workshop is provided for up to 10 school teams (4 people each) to learn about how to receive Green & Healthy School certification and recognition.
The teams will be provided with an expense stipend after the workshop of $100 per attendee (up to 4) to be used to cover expenses of attending the workshop (substitute fees, mileage, etc.) or expenses related to Green & Healthy Schools efforts.
If possible, schools teams should be composed of:
Please note: Workshops for the remaining CESAs are still being planned for September, October, and November.
NUTSHELL: In this lesson, students dig in and participate in each step of planting a tree. They learn about the things a tree needs to grow, research and choose the right tree for the right site, and plant a tree. BACKGROUND: By planting a tree, students can be forest stewards . They are taking responsibility to make decisions and take actions today that will allow resources to be maintained in a healthy manner. It is important for students to realize that we all make a difference, no matter how small some efforts might seem. By making informed decisions and being aware of their impact on forest resources, students are practicing stewardship. Staying on trails when walking in the woods, picking up litter, not damaging trees and other plants, putting up birdfeeders or birdhouses, and recycling are all actions students can take. View the lesson.
Second Annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Announced! The U. S. Department of Education has awarded 64 schools for their efforts to reduce their environmental impact and energy consumption and related costs, improve and promote health and wellness, and educate students on environmental education. Congratulations to all of this year's awardees. View the entire list.
Celebrate Arbor Day, April 26, 2013! Tree planting is not the only way to celebrate Arbor Day. The Arbor Day Foundation has compiled a long list of ways that communities, schools, and individuals can celebrate Arbor Day. From pageants and plays to visiting parks and taking a nature hike, there are many ways to celebrate trees and all they do for us.
Visit the Arbor Day Foundation website for a list of ideas or download their guidebook.
LEAF is a partnership between the Wisconsin DNR-Division of Forestry and The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point´s Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education - a center of the College of Natural Resources and UW Extension - Cooperative Extension.