School Forest Awards

Nominations are currently closed and will reopen in Fall 2026.

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 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 Catergories

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

Educator (teacher/support staff, teacher aide)
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?

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?

School Administrator (superintendent, principal, curriculum director, any school administration official, etc.)
Is your school administrator or administrative team 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 organization, park or agency staff, natural resource manager, Extension agent, etc.)
Are you fortunate to have a resource professional or group 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 or community organization?

Nomination Requirements

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.

Recognition of Award Recipients

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

Awards timeline:

Nominations are due Monday, January 26, 2026.
The awards committee will review nominations in early February 2026 to decide awards recipients.
Nominators will be notified of the selection decision by email in mid-February 2026. Note: If you didn’t notify the nominee of their nomination, this is your chance to let them know.
LEAF will send congratulatory letters to ALL award recipients by email in early March. This notification will include at invitation to for award recipients and a guest to attend the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education’s (WAEE) Awards Program Saturday, April 11th, 2026 at Escuela Verde in Milwaukee. Attendance is optional. Note: If recipient is unable to attend, LEAF will request a photo of the award recipient to share during the ceremony.
Nominators are encouraged to plan a local recognition event for award recipients. LEAF makes every effort to attend these events and present the award to recipients. If you have a recognition event before April 11th, 2026, photos from your event will be shared at the WAEE Awards Program. If your event is after April 4, event photos will still be shared on LEAF’s social media, newsletter, and website.

Contact Steve Schmidt, LEAF Outreach Specialist, with any School Forest Awards questions. steve.schmidt@uwsp.edu | 715-346-3113

Email Steve

Award Recipients

2025 School Forest Award Winners

Butch Beedle

Butch Beedle, Evansville, received a School Forest Award in the Community Member category.

Mike Cheslock

Mike Cheslock, Rhinelander, received a School Forest Award in the Administrator category.

Leo Olson

Leo Olson, Lodi, received a School Forest Award in the Educator category.

Ann Perry

Ann Perry, Northland Pines/Eagle River, received a School Forest Award in the Educator category.

Maya Szymik

Maya Szymik received a School Forest Award in the Student category.

Past Recipients

2024

Ryan Bargender | Abbotsford Schools | Administrator
Maple Grove Charter School Staff | Maple Grove School Forest | Educators

2023

Robert Carlson | Turtle Lake and other area SFs | Community Member
Matthew Tiller | Verona School District | Educator
Becky Panzer | Waupun School District | Educator
Rylee Wanek | Riverdale High School | Student

2022

Jerry Maney | Wausau School District | Administrator
Adam Gould | Cambridge School District | Administrator
Henry Schienebeck | Great Lakes Timber Professionals | Resource Professional
Jeff Nyquist | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Joe Kinscher | Valders School District | Educator
Jenna McCann | Sauk Prairie School District | Educator

2021

Sandy Masterson | Stevens Point Area School District | Educator – Grounds
Dave Landers | Pulaski School District | Educator
Joe Bartylla | Luck School District | Educator
Kelsey Cowart | UW-River Falls | Administrator
Steve Williamson | Hartung Brothers, Inc (formerly DNR) | Resource Professional

2020

James Kersten | Madison Metropolitan School District | Educator
Pat Lyons | Boston School Forest | Community Member

2019

Aaron Burmeister | Burmeister Logging | Resource Professional
Brooke Tanck | Sevastopol School District | Educator
Crestwood Outdoor Education Committee | Crestwood Elementary School Forest | Community Members

2018

Jill Nemec | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Chris Schmitz | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Jason Ladwig Green Lake School District | Educator
Heather Wuske | Marion School District | Educator
Rebecca Armbruster | Mishicot School District | Educator
Scott Foster | Northland Pines School District | Administrator
Karla Lockman | Stevens Point Area School District | Administrator
Mark Mauer | Cumberland School Forest | Community Member
Greg Plotz | Paul Brandt Memorial School Forest | Community Member

2017

Russ Noland | Merrill Area Public Schools | Administrator
Marlene McIlheran | Greendale School District | Educator
Carol Pluedeman | Northland Pines School District | Educator
Travis Engel | Owen-Withee School District | Educator
Steve Kaufman | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Courtney Marschalek | Hartland Elementary Forest | Community Member

2016

Class ACT Charter School | Chequamegon School District | Student
Rhonda Fechter | Iola Scandinavia School District | Educator

2015

Michael Sieger | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Laura Cerletty | Whitnall School District | Educator
Mark Mosey | Colfax School District | Educator
Beth Shore | Tomorrow River School District | Educator

2014

Kevin Baird | LaCrosse School District (Summit) |Educator
Marty Maus | LaCrosse School District (Summit) | Educator
Brad Kildow | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Lyle Eiden | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
John “Jack” Lussier | Nels P Evjue Memorial Forest | Community Member
Brian Reiels | Nicolet Union High School | Educator

2013

Mary Wagner | Newman Catholic Schools | Educator
The Shumaker Family | Tigerton School Forest | Community Member
Stephen Hadfield | Pittsville School District | Educator

2012

Mike Rankin | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Dawn Ertl | Butternut School District | Educator
Penny Bohringer | Boscobel School District | Educator
Mike Toneys | Southern Door School Forest | Community Member
Wade Pettit | Granton School Forest | Community Member
Cindy Damrow | DC Everest School District | Administrator

2011

Steven Holaday | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
John Rhude | Nicolet Union High School | Educator
Tom Whalley | Tri-County School Forest | Community Member
Cheryl Steinbach | Granton School District | Educator
Craig Williams | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional

2010

Scott Mueller | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Joe Waters | Princeton School District | Educator
Paul Hintze | Princeton School District | Educator
Scott Brown | McFarland School District | Administrator
Liana Oleson | Pittsville Public School Forest | Community Member

2009

Keith Lindner | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Dr. Steve Smith | Boscobel School District | Administrator
Georgia Gomez-Ibanez | Cambridge Elementary School Forest | Community Member
Kristi Hawk | Port Edwards School District | Educator
Ruth Bauer | Paul Brandt Memorial School Forest | Community Member

2008

Steve Grant | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Amery Outdoor Education Committee | Amery School District | Educator
Larry Mancl | Tri-County School District School | Administrator
Janet Moore | McFarland School District Forest | Community Member

2007

Karen Dostal | Stevens Point Area School District | Administrator
Pat Hoffman | Stevens Point Area School District | Educator
Thomas Quilty | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Liz Roy | Oakfield School District | Educator

2006

Upper Chippewa Area DNR – Div of Forestry | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Cindy Edlund | Crandon School District | Educator
Don Aanonsen | Tigerton School District | Administrator
Wayne Jenson | Burlington Area School District Forest | Community Member

2005

Rollie Alger | Rhinelander School District
Darrell Hines | Mauston School District | Educator
Chris Langenfeld | Coloma School Forest | Community Member
Montello FFA | Montello School District | Student
Emanuel “Manny” Oradei | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
David Scholz | Phillips School District | Educator
Tracy Swedlund | Medford School District | Educator
Gary Vander Wyst | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Dennis Yockers | WCEE/UWSP | Resource Professional

2004

Elbridge (Al) Curtis | Nels P Evjue Memorial Forest | Educator
Hugh Curtis | Wausau School Forest | Educator
Genevieve (Genny) Fannucchi | Department of Natural Resources | Resource Professional
Theodore (Ted) Peterson | UW-Extension Forestry | Resource Professional
William Sylvester | UW-Stevens Point/Trees For Tomorrow | Resource Professional
Trees For Tomorrow/Gail Gilson-Pierce | Trees For Tomorrow | Resource Professional
Wisconsin Forest Resources Education Alliance | WFREA | School Forest Champion