School Forest Education Plan Template: Introduction

School forests are incredible education resources.  However, often, they are not utilized to their full potential.  A variety of reasons exist as to why this is true.  One reason is that teacher, administrators, and the community have not determined how the school forest fits into the district�s curriculum and how it can be used to enhance student learning.  The school forest education plan is the tool to make these connections.

These web pages provide an established, approved outline for school forest education plan development.  The outline is comprised of four main headings.

1. Rationale
2. Site description and opportunities
3. Educational connections
4. Sustaining the school forest program

Further details for each heading can be obtained by following the heading links. The majority of the components within each of the four headings are required to be completed to have an official education plan.  However, a few components are just recommendations.  These are marked with an asterisk (*).

Alternatively, the complete document can be downloaded in either PDF or Microsoft Word document format.

The outline was developed in collaboration with educators and administrators from across the state and was reviewed by outdoor education and resource management professionals. Participants in the focus group that drafted the components of the education plan:

Patty Brodeen, Manitowoc School District
Karen Dostal, Stevens Point School District
Larry Mancl, Tri-County School District
Barb Thompson, West Salem School District
Victoria Dahlby, Portage School District
Eden Koljord, WFREA
Jeremy Solin, LEAF
Sterling Strathe, LEAF

A sample education plan is also available in two file formats. 

WEEB expects the education plan produced by each district to be a unique document based on the strengths and needs of the district (i.e., human, site, equipment and local curriculum).

 If you have any questions about this education plan template or the sample education plan, please contact the Wisconsin School Forest Education Specialist with the LEAF program at: