Skip to main content

LEAF – Wisconsin School Forest Awards

LEAF 2025 School Forest Awards


Nominations will open in fall 2025.

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

These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have provided leadership and made significant contributions over a period of years to a local school forest registered through Wisconsin’s School Forest Program.

Nominees chosen to receive a 2025 School Forest Award will receive an engraved plaque, recognition on the LEAF School Forest website, and formal recognition within the honoree’s local school district or community.  

Nomination Form

2024 School Forest Award Winners

Ryan Bargender

Ryan Bargender, Abbotsford Schools Superintendent, has been instrumental in starting the Abbotsford School Forest program.

Very few school forest programs develop from an idea to a program in just a few years, especially converting a field to forest. Many of Wisconsin’s oldest programs with beautiful forests started this way decades ago after the cutover and fire devastated much of the land. Tending your program and the land takes time and patience. It also takes leadership and community. Mr. Bargender would be the first to tell you that the community deserves the award.

“The impact of Mr. Bargender’s contributions extends far beyond the boundaries of the school district. By creating a space that integrates education, conservation, and community involvement, he has set a standard for what can be achieved through collaboration and vision,” said Georgia Kraus, District Accountability Coordinator.

He continues to move the project forward into its second phase of growth, working with the city to build trails and ensure the success of the plantings.

Maple Grove Charter School Staff

The Maple Grove School Forest was registered in 2017, yet has a rich history of student involvement in its annual maple sap collection project for decades. Robin Hanson, the teaching principal, is a former student of the school, and had the vision to create a model curriculum that would go well beyond the original goals of the Wisconsin School Forest Program in developing stewards of the land and a conservation ethic.

“The Maple Grove Charter School Staff have embraced the potential of their school forest in ways not seen elsewhere in my long career as an educator and are models for teachers everywhere to emulate,” said Sandy Benton, Field Edventures Consultant.

The students at this school are fortunate to have such dedicated teachers and community.

 

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: