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LEAF – Wisconsin School Forest Awards

LEAF 2024 School Forest Awards


Nominations will open in December, 2024!

Each year, LEAF recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to school forest programs.

Awards are presented in the spring at a time arranged with the honoree’s local school district or community.​

2023 School Forest Award Winners

Becky Panzer

Becky Panzer, kindergarten teacher at Waupun School of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (SAGES), has been instrumental in building a robust school forest program for K-6 students there.

“[Becky] has built strong relationships and allies for our school forest, and these amazing volunteers work in collaboration with Mrs. Panzer to make the forest a safe and inviting place for our students to learn,” said SAGES Principal Megan Hanni. “She is a trailblazer when it comes to the forest, and to her, no project is too big-because as she says, ‘Little Kids Can Do Big Things!’. ”

The team is working to encourage classes of students from other Waupun schools to visit the Dearholdt Learning Center, Waupun’s school forest located on the shores of Fox Lake.

Matthew Tiller

Matthew Tiller has taught environmental science at Verona High School for 29 years. In that time, he has been instrumental in registering two school forests for the Verona School District, including Stewart’s Woods School Forest on the new high school campus.

“Mr. Tiller created a vision and design for a new 50+ acre natural area located adjacent to our new high school campus that would become Stewart’s Woods School Forest (2017-2020),” said nominator and fellow science teacher Hope Mikkelson.

“Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Tiller’s contributions have helped to foster a deeper appreciation for the environment among our students and community members. By providing opportunities to explore and connect with the natural world, he has helped to create a generation of environmentally conscious citizens who are better equipped to tackle the challenges of the future. “

Robert Carlson

Robert “Bob” Carlson is a former Clayton School District Agriculture instructor. He has worked with students at area school forests for 72 years, and he is still actively involved helping students.

Bob has always ensured students have access to land where they can continue their outdoor education. That land was sometimes the Turtle Lake school forest. Other times he has welcomed them onto his land for a variety of activities and most recently, he has donated a tract of 15 acres to the Village of Clayton as a multi-purpose environmental education space. The land is being registered as a Wisconsin School Forest called Carlson Park.

Rylee Wanek

Rylee Wanek, FFA member and senior at Riverdale High School, is the first student to receive the school forest award since Class ACT Charter School students in 2016.

Rylee was nominated by agricultural educator and FFA advisor, Kally Koch. Kally created the position of school forest manager, for which Rylee was hired.

Koch shared that in the two years he has held the position, Rylee contributed greatly to accessibility of the forest as he helped plan and develop trails, created and implemented signs and names of trails, and created maps available to the public. Rylee also provided guided tractor ride tours to elementary 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders yearly.

As a junior he single-handedly organized the school farm/ forest tree planting day. This included many calls to industry professionals as well as communicating with equipment owners, school officials and coordinating seed pick up.

Note: Nominees in any category may be individuals or organizations.

Educator or group of educators (teacher/support staff, teacher aides)
Do you know an outstanding teacher or group of teachers in your district who have worked above and beyond to make the school forest an exceptional learning environment for the students?

School Administrator
(Superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, any school administration official, etc.) Is your school administrator incredibly supportive of the work being done at your school forest? Does your administrator encourage and champion the forest’s use for student learning?

Resource Professional
(Foresters, educational or environmental organizations, park or agency staff, natural resource managers, Extension agents, etc.) Are you fortunate to have a resource professional who is available to help answer questions, provide guidance, or help sustainably manage your school forest property?

Community Member
(Citizens, volunteers, community organizations, etc.) Would your school forest program be a wonderful resource for your school without the help of a local community member?

Student (any grade level)
Has a student or group of students done outstanding work at your school forest to further the environmental education programming or sustainable forest management within your district? If so, let’s honor them for their hard work, dedication, and passion at the school forest!

Provide the following:

  • Completed School Forest Award Application Form.

    • A thorough description of the nominee’s involvement with programs, projects, or initiatives that have advanced the school forest program.

    • How many years the nominee has been involved with school forests and in what capacities.

    • Any professional development, curriculum and resource development, student involvement, networking and outreach, management, and/or fundraising opportunities the nominee has been involved with for the school forest.

    • As much detail as possible…showcase your nominee’s worthiness to the reviewers!

  • Reference letters from individuals who are familiar with the nominee’s environmental education efforts.

Nominees chosen to receive a 2024 School Forest Award will receive an engraved plaque, recognition on the LEAF School Forest website, and formal recognition within their own community.

Past Awardees: