State program recognizes new school forest at Plover-Whiting

By Patrick Lynn

Plover-Whiting Elementary School is now the home of a registered forest.

The Wisconsin School Forest Program recently approved the addition of a new forest, known as “Wildcat Woods.” The land is now formally recognized as an outdoor site used for educational purposes, similar to Boston School Forest.

Wildcat Woods is a 2.4-acre parcel with some established trails and benches that serve as outdoor learning spaces. The forest has a variety of tree and animal species and is an excellent “interactive classroom,” according to a news release from the school district, for the students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forester Lyle Eiden assisted the school district with the registration process, the release said. Eiden will help create a stewardship plan for the land to ensure the property is sustainably managed as a healthy forest.

Registered school forests are eligible to receive free forest management assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, receive free seedlings from the state nursery program, and receive assistance from the statewide school forest education specialist.

For more information on the statewide program, contact Gretchen Marshall, Wisconsin School Forest Education Specialist, at 715-346-2633 or [email protected].