Help Us Tell the Story of 100 Years of School Forests
As we prepare to celebrate the Wisconsin School Forest Centennial, we’re collecting stories, memories, photographs, documents, and other historical materials that help tell the story of school forests across the state.
Did you learn in a school forest as a student? Lead field trips as an educator? Have photos, newspaper clippings, maps, lesson materials, or other artifacts from your community’s school forest history? We’d love to hear from you.
We’re especially interested in:
- Personal stories and memories from school forest experiences
- Historic photographs
- Newspaper articles and newsletters
- School forest maps, plans, and signage
- Educational materials and lesson resources
- Information about notable events, projects, or milestones
- Any other materials that help document the history and impact of Wisconsin school forests
Copies of materials are fine. If you have original historical documents or photographs, please contact us before sending them so we can discuss the best way to preserve and share them.
Together, we can preserve the history of Wisconsin’s School Forest Program and inspire future generations of outdoor learners.
Share Your School Forest Story
As we celebrate 100 years of Wisconsin School Forests, we’re collecting stories, memories, photographs, documents, and other historical materials that help tell the story of school forests across the state.
Submit Materials Online
By submitting materials, contributors grant LEAF and School Forest Centennial partners permission to reproduce, display, distribute, and use submitted content for non-commercial educational, historical, archival, and promotional purposes related to the Wisconsin School Forest Centennial. Please only submit materials you own or have permission to share.
Centennial Overview
School forests are exceptional outdoor classrooms and have helped to grow Wisconsin’s incredible reputation for environmental education. Looking back at the past 100 years will fuel enthusiasm for outdoor learning moving forward into the next 100 years and beyond.
Wisconsin’s School Forest Program, the first in the United States, began in 1927 with the signing of the Community Forest Law. School Forests are part of Wisconsin’s rich history of conservation and environmental education. In the past 100 years, students have been inspired to learn outdoors during hundreds of thousands of visits to school forests across the state.
The first school forests were recognized in the spring of 1928 at Laona, Crandon, and Wabeno in Forest County. The program has grown to include 435 registered properties across the varied landscapes of the state in almost every county.
LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program, who administers the school forest program in partnership with Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has formed a centennial advisory committee comprised of school forest educators and Wisconsin DNR foresters. The committee is planning a School Forest Centennial Celebration kicking off in summer 2027 and culminating around Earth Week in spring 2028.
The centennial will provide opportunities to inject new enthusiasm and make new connections as people participate in various local events across Wisconsin. Bookmark this page and come back for additional information as it develops.
Steve Schmidt – Outreach Specialist
Contact Steve Schmidt with any questions at steve.schmidt@uwsp.edu.
Contact Us
LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program
College of Natural Resources
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
1108 Fremont St. – SSC 202
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-346-4956 | leaf@uwsp.edu
LEAF is a partnership between the Wisconsin DNR – Division of Forestry and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education