Madison Reporter

Students in Madison are participating in a new educational initiative that takes them out of the classroom and into nature. The Junior Foresters program, held at the Madison School Forest, is designed for K-8 students to learn about forest health, ecosystems, climate change, and conservation.

The Madison School Forest covers 305 acres of wooded land owned by the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and managed by Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR). This pilot program is a collaboration between MMSD, MSCR, and UW-Madison–Extension. It receives support from a Wisconsin Idea Grant and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Liz Just, MSCR Community Outdoor Recreation and Camps Specialist, explained that the program's goal is to determine whether "the forest at Olson Oak Woods [is] healthy or unhealthy." She added that “the activities students participate in are hands-on, experiential and mimic what professionals in the field use to gather data.”

During one session led by MSCR Environmental Education Coordinator Rachel Leibovich, third-grade students from Glenn Stephens Elementary explored trails while learning about plant identification. Each part of their journey provided lessons on topics such as biodiversity and environmental stewardship.

A highlight for many students was learning about prescribed burns through an interactive game. This activity taught them how controlled fires can benefit forest management. A student noted that they learned about historical practices: “In class before coming here, we learned that the Ho-Chunk have been doing them for thousands of years to keep their land healthy.”

The curriculum was developed by UW-Madison–Extension with input from MMSD’s Curriculum & Instruction Department to ensure it aligns with classroom learning objectives.

With the pilot now complete, MSCR plans to continue offering this program as part of its Environmental Education field trip options. Liz Just expressed hope that participants will leave with greater knowledge about Oak Savanna forests and a desire for more outdoor experiences: “We hope students walk away from the experience knowing more...and seeing themselves as scientists.”