Area students partner with DNR to repopulate state forests
By Patrick Lynn
ALMOND-BANCROFT — Students across Wisconsin are teaming up with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s LEAF program to collect tree seeds, an initiative aimed at educating youth and repopulating the state’s forests.
The collaboration between LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program – and the DNR’s Division of Forestry’s Reforestation Program involves school forests across the state. The project offers hands-on learning while contributing to the DNR’s reforestation goals, with collected seeds expected to become seedling stock for school forests in the next two to three years.
The seed collection initiative launched in fall 2024 as a pilot program with three school forests: Almond-Bancroft School Forest (Phillips-Unit), Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom in Rhinelander, and Laona School Forest. The effort aligns with preparations for the Wisconsin School Forest Program’s centennial celebration in 2027-28.
At the Almond-Bancroft School Forest, science teacher Brenda Sherman guided 26 seventh-grade students in harvesting a half bushel of red pinecones while teaching them about red pine reproduction. In Rhinelander, elementary students working with school forest manager Mike Cheslock gathered 66 pounds of red oak acorns while learning about tree seeds and seedlings. Meanwhile, in Laona, middle and high school students collected a handful of hemlock cones for investigation, although the forest lacked viable seeds during their trip.
The pilot program is set to expand. LEAF and the DNR are developing additional resources to encourage more school forests to participate in seed collection this spring.
“This project highlights how education and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand,” said a spokesperson for LEAF. “It’s not just about planting trees; it’s about fostering a deeper understanding of our natural resources.”
The DNR’s Reforestation Program relies heavily on seeds from locally adapted native trees and shrubs to meet its goals. Much of the seed is sourced from local collectors, including schools now playing an active role in the process.
LEAF, a partnership between the DNR and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education at UW-Stevens Point, manages the Wisconsin School Forest Program. School forests, owned or controlled by public or private schools, are used for environmental education and natural resource management.
As the centennial approaches, the initiative underscores the enduring connection between Wisconsin’s youth and its forests, ensuring the sustainability of the state’s natural resources for future generations.