Monona Grove K-5 Elementary Schools Receive Grant 

     Last spring, the K-5 elementary schools in the Monona Grove School District were the recipients of a staff development grant for the Norman Vethe School Forest. The grant, awarded by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, is for a total of $14,622 and runs through December of 2004.   The primary purpose of the grant is to increase use of the school forest as a valuable learning resource for students.  The goals of the grant are:

1)       To increase K-5 teacher and student use of the school forest through the development of interdisciplinary learning activities across content areas with an emphasis on life and environmental science concepts. 

2)       To secure coordination time to facilitate increased use of the forest by the community and youth organizations.

     Beginning in June 2004, K-5 teachers from Nichols, Maywood, Taylor Prairie, and Cottage Grove Schools will have opportunities for three staff development courses that promote hands-on learning in environmental and life science concepts such as ecology, habitats, forestry, and wildlife.  The courses offered are Project Wild; Project Learning Tree; and the Learning, Experiences, and Activities in Forestry (LEAF) Program.  These courses are grounded in Wisconsin Standards-Based curriculum and offer rich learning activities in science and other content areas.

Kathy Stapleton has accepted the position as our new School Forest Coordinator.  Kathy is a certified teacher with a strong background in the school forest.  She is a charter member of our School Forest Committee.  Kathy has a long-standing commitment to the development of the forest.  In her role as  a committee member, she has made connections to promote youth projects with Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, and Girl Scouts.  She continues to work as an active member of the School Forest Committee.  We welcome her passion for the forest.

The value of the Norman Vethe School Forest as an extension of the classroom is something to be celebrated!  We are grateful for the additional funds to promote its use.  Stay tuned for School Forest news in the months ahead.

A wild cucumber.

One of our forest friends, a larva stage caterpillar.