Headlines
NEW WI School Forest: Rudolph Environmental Center Plans Underway for New School Forest Area School Districts Stand Behind School Forests Creepy Crawlers Don't Bug Kids

Awards
School Forest Champions 2007 Teacher: Pat Hoffman School Administrator: Karen Dostal Resource Professional: Tom Quilty Community Member: Liz Roy Details

School Forest Awards

Each year LEAF recognizes individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to school forest programs. Awardees are individuals and organizations who have provided leadership for local school forests and their programs.

Award Categories
There are 5 categories in which awards are presented. Nominees in any category can be individuals or organizations.

• Teachers (K-12 public or private school teachers, teacher organizations, etc.)
• Students (K-12 public or private school students, student organizations)
• School administrators (district administrators, principals, curriculum directors, etc.)
• Resource professionals (extension agents, educational or environmental organizations, college faculty, state agency staff, natural resource managers, etc.)
• Community members(citizens, community organizations, etc.)

Criteria
Awardees are selected based on the following criteria:

• Involvement in the advancement and improvement of education programs at local school forests through leadership or development of programs, projects, and/or initiatives
• Sustained commitment to the school forest program

School Forest Champions 2007

Congratulations to this year's school forest award winners!  The School Forest awards were presented as part of the WAEE Awards Program at the Midwest Environmental Education Conference in Stevens Point.  LEAF's School Forest Program recognizes the following individuals and group for their exceptional commitment to Wisconsin's school forests:

2007 School Forest Award Winners:
From l to r: Pat Hoffman, Karen Dostal, Liz Roy and Tom Quilty with Jeremy Solin (center)

Teacher: Pat Hoffman
Nominator: Karen Dostal

Pat Hoffman has worked as a naturalist at the Boston School Forest for 16 years.  During that time, she has been a dedicated teacher to thousands of students each year. Pat continues to appreciate the newness of each child's experience at the school forest. Teachers and staff bringing students to the forest greatly appreciate her excitement for teaching and dedication to the school forest program. She has also contributed much of her individual time and skills to the development of the Boston School Forest program and facilities.

School Administrator: Karen Dostal
Nominator: Sue Anderson

As the director of the Boston School Forest for the past five years, Karen Dostal has brought a strong commitment to expanding and improving the program. She has revised the K-6 environmental education curricula to meet state standards. She has also worked to develop a comprehensive forest management plan that will guide stewardship of the land into the future. In addition, Karen has led major efforts to include the local community in school forest activities including hosting a new series of "Leave No Family Inside" events.

Resource Professional: Tom Quilty
Nominator: Darrell Hines

Tom Quilty is a retired Department of Natural Resources forester who spent over 24 years in Juneau County. During this time he has taught countless students about forestry at the school forest and in the classroom. Tom helped prepare high school students for the state FFA forestry contest, presented tree planting and fire prevention programs to fifth-graders, and worked with individual students to acquire trees for planting on private lands. He has worked with the school board to ensure that income from the school forest be dedicated to the agriculture education program.

Community Member: Liz Roy
Nominator: Dr. Bruce McMuray

Liz Roy is a retired teacher from the Oakfield School District. She has been a tireless supporter of the school forest program for over 20 years. She continues to be very involved with efforts to develop the school forest as a an education resource. She has received several grants, worked with numerous community groups, and trained teachers to enhance utilization of the school forest. Liz was also a catalyst in efforts to address the enrollment criteria for school forests. Changes to the program have allowed smaller parcels of land (often adjacent to schools) to be enrolled in the program.

 

School Forest Champions 2006

The 2006 awards were presented at the WAEE conference in Manitowoc.  LEAF's School Forest Program recognizes the following individuals and group for their exceptional commitment to Wisconsin's school forests:

Teacher: Cindy Edlund
Nominator: Dr. Richard Peterson

Cindy Edlund is a high school teacher in the Crandon School District.  She has worked tirelessly in the acquisition and development of the district's new school forest.  Since the donation of the Hovind Family School Forest, she has facilitated the school forest committee and coordinated a dedication event in which community members, high school students, and all K-8 students participated.  Cindy also provided a district-wide in-service about the curricular opportunities provided by the school forest.  She is currently designing and implementing a challenge and orienteering course at the school forest.  Additionally, she earned a master's degree in environmental education, serves as an adjunct faculty for the KEEP program, and facilitates WET, WILD, PLT, and Aquatic WILD workshops.  Her leadership has provided for the continued, effective utilization of the school forest.  

School Administrator: Don Aanonsen
Nominator: Deb Gerard

Don Aanonsen is the principal of the Tigerton Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.  He has been the "visionary, project manager, and cheerleader for development of the Tigerton School Forest.  He encourages teachers to provide full-day experiences for students at the school forest and often participates in their activities.  During the past year, he has orchestrated the development of a new school forest including constructing an outdoor classroom.  Don has facilitated in-service programs for district staff focusing on forestry and outdoor education opportunities.  His involvement and encouragement have been instrumental in teacher interest and utilization of the school forest.  For Don, the school forest is about "creating a sense of place in the hearts of the community for years to come."

Resource Professional: Upper Chippewa Area, WDNR-Division of Forestry
Nominator: Gary Vander Wyst

The Upper Chippewa Area DNR-Division of Forestry includes foresters and forestry technicians  in Taylor, Price, Rusk, and Sawyer Counties.  These foresters and technicians have been instrumental in efforts to kindle a renewed and continuous interest in school forests in their counties.  Collectively, they have been involved in developing and implementing forest management plans within 14 school districts.  In addition, they have provided professional development and educational events for teachers, students, school administrators, and the public.  Their exceptional efforts reflect the role that Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry (and its predecessor the Wisconsin Conservation Department) has played in the school forest program since its inception in 1927.

Community Member: Wayne Jenson
Nominators: Linda Luger, Suzanne Deans, and Pamela Rossmiller-Peters

Wayne Jenson has been involved with the Burlington School Forest for 46 years as a teacher and now as a community member.  As a teacher, he integrated school forest experiences into the biology curriculum and initiated a forestry class.  Since retiring 8 years ago, he has continued his advocacy for utilizing the school forest.  He assisted with professional development for 125 K-8 teachers at the school forest, served as project manager for the construction of a restroom and field station, and mentored elementary teachers in their use of the forest.  In addition, he has overseen the planting of over 20,000 trees by Burlington area youth.  His thousands of hours of volunteer time have helped transform the school forest into an effective environmental education center.

 

School Forest Champions 2005

The LEAF program presented nine School Forest Awards at the School Forest Summit on December 1, 2005. The current strength of the school forest program would not have been possible without contributions from these individuals and organizations as well as others that play important roles at the local level. 

Back row: Mark Stephens (accepting the award for Rollie Alger), Chris Langenfeld, Dr. Dennis Yockers, Manny Oradei, Tracy Swedlund, David Scholz, Darrell Hines, Jeremy Solin, Gary Vander Wyst. Front row: Members of the Montello FFA: Brendan Wegner, Jessica Smith, Sarah Mateske, Liz Dahlke

Rollie Alger recently retired from the Rhinelander School District where he worked for seven years as the assistant superintendent of curriculum & instruction. Upon arriving in Rhinelander, he recognized the potential of the Cedric A Vig Outdoor Classroom (known as CAVOC) and set about to improve and expand it by forming a school forest committee with diverse representation to oversee its development. Rollie initiated many efforts that greatly enhanced CAVOC including curriculum development, professional development, and designation of income into a school forest account. He was tirelessly involved in all aspects of CAVOC operations.

Darrell Hines is the agriculture education instructor with the Mauston School District, where he has taught for over 20 years. The students in his forestry classes have worked extensively at the school forest. During this time, he has initiated five major silviculture projects at the school forest including planting more than 14,000 trees. He has also worked with closely with resource professionals to provide chainsaw training, career information, and forest management methods to over 800 students.

Chris Langenfeld is the coordinator of the Coloma School Forest. He has implemented a number of activities that have served to rejuvenate the Coloma School Forest and to connect it to the other school forests in the Westfield School District. He has delivered programs for all K-6 students and has established a school forest club in which 40 students and their parents participate. Chris also coordinates the annual community school forest picnic. His work has greatly enhanced the educational opportunities provided by the school forest. It has also helped to make stronger connections between the community and the district.

The Montello FFA has been involved with the management and maintenance of the district's school forests since 1952. Students have been involved in all facets of the school forest program from forest management to education. The FFA has planted and pruned thousands of pine trees through the years. They have established and maintained a 36-station interpretive nature trail on one of the school forests. The students also have worked closely with foresters to develop long-term management plans and timber sale contracts.

Many Oradei is a DNR forester in Oneida County. He has been instrumental in the development of the Cedric A Vig Outdoor Classroom as well as forest management for all of the Rhinelander School Forests. He has recently been involved in ensuring the district recognizes the long-term value of their school forests and  doesn't over-emphasize the potential for short-term economic gain. Manny is a member of the district's school forest committee and works closely with teachers, administrators, and community members to ensure that the forests are appropriately managed and that students have opportunities to learn about sustainable natural resource management.

David Scholz is a kindergarten teacher with the Phillips School District, where he has taught for nine years. In addition to the outdoor teaching he has done with his own class, Dave is leading the efforts to increase utilizations of the Phillips School Forests. As chair of the school forest committee, he has helped to organize professional development and curriculum planning opportunities for all the teachers in the district. He has also been instrumental in gaining support of and involving resource people from the community, the DNR, and UW-Extension.

Tracy Swedlund is a science teacher in the Medford School District where he has taught for eight years. He is an activist for the district's school forest, which was in danger of being sold in 2001. Since then, Tracy has worked to revitalize the school forest  through strategic planning, curriculum development, and professional development for teachers. He has initiated and been involved with several efforts that have led to the school forest now being used by multiple grade levels throughout the year.

Gary Vander Wyst is the DNR assistant area forester for the northern region. Hes based out of the Park Falls service center. He has worked extensively with the Butternut School District to revitalize their school forest program. Gary is a strong advocate for forestry education and has talked with the school board, administrators, and teachers in the district about opportunities that the school forest provides. He has developed lesson plans and created events for students to learn about forest management, timber sales, forest products, and forestry careers. His efforts have inspired the Butternut School District to embrace their school forest as an important educational opportunity.

Dr. Dennis Yockers is an environmental education specialist with the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education at UW-Stevens Point. In this and his previous positions with the DNR and DPI, he has worked directly and indirectly with school forests for over 20 years. He has been involved with numerous workshops, meetings, and resource development projects to facilitate the development of EE curriculum for use at school forests.  He continues to play an active role in assisting school forests through presentations, consulting, and serving on the statewide school forest advisory committee.

 

School Forest Champions 2004

Wisconsin's school forest program was created more than 75 years ago to allow schools to own property for forestry programs. The primary focus was to engage students in replanting our forests. Since those early days, the program has grown and evolved considerably due to the efforts of many individuals and organizations.

In celebration of the 75^th anniversary of the school forest program and 100 years of forestry in Wisconsin, the LEAF Program recognized "School Forest Champions" who have played a critical role in the development and growth of the statewide school forest program. 

The 2004 School Forest Champions

Pictured L to R: Bill Sylvester, Jeremy Solin (SF Program Coordinator), Ted Peterson, Eden Koljord (WFREA), Genny Fannucchi, Al Curtis, Gail Gilson-Pierce (Trees For Tomorrow), Hugh Curtis.

Elbridge (Al) Curtis
Al Curtis directed the Merrill School Forest for 33 years.

Hugh Curtis
Hugh Curtis directed the Wausau School Forest for nearly 35 years.

The Merrill and Wausau School Forests were among the first school forests in the state to have highly developed education programs and facilities. The programs and facilities the Curtis' developed have been looked at as models, not only in Wisconsin, but nationally. Hugh and Al are held in high regard for their pioneering efforts in establishing outdoor environmental education. In addition to their school forest efforts, they served on many statewide, regional, and local committees to advance conservation and environmental education. Their efforts have touched the lives of tens of thousands, and continue to produce benefits for the environment today.

Genevieve (Genny) Fannucchi
Genny Fannucchi is the Forest Resource Education and Awareness Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. During the last ten years she has coordinated the development of a forestry education program for Wisconsin. Mrs. Fannucchi has directed and tirelessly advocated for various educational initiatives such as: funding for the LEAF Program; release of forestry account dollars to support forestry education and the school forest grant programs; and funding to support a statewide school forest education specialist. She also coordinated a survey of school forest coordinators that has provided important information about the status of the state's school forests. Her efforts will have a long lasting impact on forestry education and the statewide school forest program.

Dr. Ted Peterson

Ted Peterson was an UW-Extension forester for more 37 years and worked for the Wisconsin Conservation Department prior to joining Extension. Youth development was an important part of his Extension responsibilities during the 1950s through 1970s. Dr. Peterson provided educational programming leadership in forestry and conservation projects for 4-H, VoAg, and school forests. During that time, he provided numerous workshops across the state for teachers and resource professionals on school forest education and management. He also published several articles for statewide distribution on the opportunities provided by school forests. In addition to school forests and youth education, much of Dr. Petersons career focused on forest products marketing and utilization. Youth development through natural resource education continues to be of primary importance to Ted.

William (Bill) Sylvester

Mr. Sylvesters early forestry education efforts included showing 16-millimeter movies on a battery-operated projector. As chief forester for Trees For Tomorrow, he developed some of the first forest management plans for school forests. While an associate professor at UW-Stevens Point he dedicated time to coordinating the statewide school forest program during which he conducted surveys to determine the management and education efforts on school forests. His 70-year career also included forest fire protection and prevention, pioneering forest management practices on private and publicly owned forest land, providing forestry workshops for teachers of agriculture, loggers, and 12 years of teaching forestry in the College of Natural Resources at UW- Stevens Point.

Trees For Tomorrow

Trees For Tomorrow is a non-profit natural resource specialty school that was founded in 1944 to reforest northern Wisconsin and educate landowners and citizens about the need for proper forest management. Since that time, Trees has worked with schools to help them effectively utilize their school forests. They played an important role in reforesting many school forests and were involved with developing the first forest management plans for several school forests. Trees has held numerous professional development workshops for teachers and administrators on school forest education and funding opportunities. Trees for Tomorrow's education programs have impacted thousands of teachers and students and continue to inspire school forest educators across the state.

Wisconsin Forest Resources Education Alliance (WFREA)
WFREA is a private, non-profit statewide forestry education program. They have taken a leadership role on many projects to assist the school forest program. They worked with several partners to develop the "How to Grow a School Forest" handbook to aid Wisconsin teachers in adapting their school forests into working outdoor classrooms. WFREA completed the production of a five-minute Wisconsin's school forest vignette, which was broadcast to 18 million viewers on Wisconsin Public Television and Milwaukee Public Television. WFREA continues to be an important partner in the statewide school forest program by providing professional development workshops, presentations, and materials for educators and resource professionals.

The current strength of the school forest program would not have been possible without contributions from the "champions" as well as others that came before them and those individuals and organizations that played important roles at the local level. Thanks to these people, the Wisconsin school forest program will continue to grow and help school districts utilize the incredible education resources they have in their school forests.