Policy

State Community Forest Law

School forests are a particular kind of community forests owned or controlled by school districts. The first community forest law was passed in 1927. The law was updated in 1949 and 1965. Official text of the law can be found in Section 20 of Chapter 28 http://folio.legis.state.wi.us/cgibin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=
442180537&infobase=stats.nfo&j1=28.20&jump=
28.20&softpage=Browse_Frame_Pg
 

Department of Health and Family Services Regulations

Recreational and Educational Camps
These rules apply to facilities that provide overnight lodging and food service for children and/or adults.
www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/hfs/hfs175.pdf

Food Code
These rules apply to all facilities that serve food.
www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/hfs/hfs196_app.pdf

Example Policies on School Forest Use

Butternut Policy (PDF) The Butternut School Board passed a resolution rededicating the Butternut School Forest. In the resolution, they outlined the goals for use of the school forest for educational and management purposes.

DC Everest School Forest Facility Use Policy (PDF)

Example Policy on Dedicating Income to the School Forest Program (PDF)

Marshfield School Forest Policy (PDF)

Merrill School Forest Non-School Use Policy (PDF)

Phillips School Forest Policy (PDF) The Phillips School Forest Policy broadly covers use, management, value, and income allocation of the school forest mandating that "appropriate curriculum shall incorporate 'school forest' related activities into the instructional courses and teachers are encouraged to incorporate related activities "  This policy was approved by the Phillips Board of Education.

Rahr Memorial School Forest Non-School Use Policy (Manitowoc) (PDF)

Rhinelander School Forest Use and Management Policy (PDF)

West Salem School Forest Facility Use Policy (PDF)

Land Use Agreements

A school district doesn't have to own property to have an official school forest. A district just needs to have legal control of a piece of property. Many options exist for this. One is a conservation easement whereby a landowner grants the district special uses of the property, thereby eliminating the possibility of development on the land in the future and providing the district with a school forest. The Tri-County School District acquired a part of its school forest in this way. 
Conservation easement document for Tri-County (PDF). 

More information about conservation easements can be found at  www.lta.org/conserve/options.htm and http://landtrust.org/ProtectingLand/EasementInfo.htm.

Another option is to enter into a use agreement with a municipality. A large portion of the Superior School Forest is owned by Douglas County, but the school has been given use of the site as a school forest. 
Link to the Superior School Forest use agreement (PDF). 

Whatever means you use to acquire school forest property you should involve your districts legal counsel.

Hunting on School Forests

Hunting is an important tradition and tool to control deer and other wildlife species in Wisconsin. Recently, there has been considerable interest about the topic of  hunting on school forests. Wisconsin Act 290 was created to clarify the issue of hunting on school forests. The statute specifically provides school boards the opportunity to allow hunting on school forests. The statute also amended related statutes (including "Gun-free school zones" and "Dangerous weapons other than firearms on school premises") to allow for exceptions when a school board allows hunting on its school forests. For the entire Act, see: www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act290.pdf

Example Policy Regarding Weapons and Hunting on a School Forest (PDF)