It is with heartfelt sadness that we share the recent loss of Flame, our beloved SDW Environmental Education corn snake ambassador. At 26 years old, this remarkable being was a favorite of both staff and students.
Flame, alongside his clutch-mate and brother Matrix, spent decades welcoming students into learning spaces, traveling to programs, and helping young people see snakes in a new light. Together, they created countless moments of wonder, turned hesitation into confidence, and curiosity into respect.
Flame was a calm and steady presence until the very end, and his impact will live on in the many students who learned to understand and appreciate the beauty and importance of native snake species in the environment. We will miss him tremendously.
Rest easy, Flame, and say hi to Matrix for us when you see him. 🌈
Flame, alongside his clutch-mate and brother Matrix, spent decades welcoming students into learning spaces, traveling to programs, and helping young people see snakes in a new light. Together, they created countless moments of wonder, turned hesitation into confidence, and curiosity into respect.
Flame was a calm and steady presence until the very end, and his impact will live on in the many students who learned to understand and appreciate the beauty and importance of native snake species in the environment. We will miss him tremendously.
Rest easy, Flame, and say hi to Matrix for us when you see him. 🌈
Winter may be a time of rest, but Environmental Education stays busy and as always, we are looking ahead to what's next!
With heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing of our beloved animal ambassador, Matrix, a 24-year-old corn snake who touched the lives of thousands of students over his long and meaningful tenure with us.
For decades, Matrix helped students learn about animal adaptations, challenged fears, and showed what calm, respectful interactions with snakes can look like. Through him, so many young learners developed compassion and understanding for a species that is often misunderstood.
Matrix was more than an ambassador—he was a gentle teacher, a quiet presence, and an unforgettable part of our program’s story. We are deeply grateful for the lessons he shared and the wonder he inspired.
Rest easy, Matrix. You will be missed and remembered. 🐍💚
We’re thrilled to have kindergarteners back at EB Shurts this winter, showing us what it means to be a good citizen of planet Earth! Whether they are exploring our wigloo, meeting Lilo our bearded dragon, or seeing compost up close, there’s nothing quite like seeing genuine curiosity in action.
To say we had a great Fall is an understatement! Check out the highlights of Environmental Ed, and read about opportunities for both students and teachers!
Thanks to a grant from the Xerces Society, Environmental Education was provided enough native pollinator-friendly perennials to develop a 800ft square habitat for the conservation of our local pollinator species. During the 2nd grade field trips focusing on Biodiversity topics, students spent a portion of time planting these garden gems: 600+ students from 31 classrooms took part in this project. Students were excited to learn more about how and why our native plants are so important, get their hands dirty, and look forward to visiting the blooming site next year!
Learning from the Power of Weather!
Our recent 3rd grade Environmental Education programs explored how weather shapes our community — from gentle rains that nourish living things to major storms that can change the landscape. With the local August flooding still on their minds, students connected field trip lessons to real-world events, discovering how water, land, and people are all part of one interconnected system.
Our recent 3rd grade Environmental Education programs explored how weather shapes our community — from gentle rains that nourish living things to major storms that can change the landscape. With the local August flooding still on their minds, students connected field trip lessons to real-world events, discovering how water, land, and people are all part of one interconnected system.
Fall is well underway here at Environmental Education. Check out how we got our pier back, how you can help grow monarch habitat and what's new in the garden!
Butler 8th graders completed a cool service learning project during their visit to Environmental Education last week. They harvested, cleaned, and packaged thousands of native milkweed seeds.
These seeds are heading to the Friends of the Monarch Trail in Milwaukee, who will share them locally to help build crucial monarch habitat! This awesome teamwork is a vital part of protecting the Monarch butterfly's population. Great work, 8th Graders!
These seeds are heading to the Friends of the Monarch Trail in Milwaukee, who will share them locally to help build crucial monarch habitat! This awesome teamwork is a vital part of protecting the Monarch butterfly's population. Great work, 8th Graders!
What's it like to welcome 200+ Les Paul 8th graders over 2 days here at Environmental Education? Well, it's fun..... fun.... and fun! Students learned all about animal adaptations through river exploration and live animal experiences, and had some - you guessed it - fun, too!
While visiting EB Shurts for their Environmental Education field experience, 8th grade students from Butler Middle School successfully planted a native garden in the front of E.B. Shurts as part of a service learning project. A BIG thank you to the City of Waukesha's Park, Rec and Forestry Department for supplying the plants, plan and guidance. We can't wait to see it grow!
Pollinators, pollinators, everywhere pollinators! 2nd grade students are learning all about biodiversity and the extremely important role pollinators play in our world through hands on lessons. It just so happens that the sanctuary is a great place to spot them in action!
New Teacher Alert!! Please join me in welcoming Katie, Natalie and Claire to the EE team. All three of them jumped right in to our Summer Camps this year, and are gearing up to guide students this Fall. Welcome to the Team!
School is just starting but EE is already full of news! We have teacher resources, a summer camp recap, new staff to welcome - plus an update on how the recent flooding affected the Sanctuary. So much to share!
After this weekend’s historic rains in SE Wisconsin, the Fox River near the EB Shurts building surged to major flooding levels in a matter of hours. The water rising so quickly in the green spaces of our sanctuary is a vivid reminder of the river’s strength and the speed at which conditions can change. Moments like this highlight the importance of understanding our watershed and respecting the forces that shape it.
Wait, EE Summer Camps are already done for 2025?! Say it isn't so!
We've had SO much fun these past four weeks - gardening, harvesting, making veggie pizzas, weaving, exploring the river, reading to the EE animals.... we could go on and on! Check out the smiles!
We've had SO much fun these past four weeks - gardening, harvesting, making veggie pizzas, weaving, exploring the river, reading to the EE animals.... we could go on and on! Check out the smiles!
Gimme an E! Gimme another E! Gimme a C-A-M-P! What's that spell? A GREAT TIME!
Week Two of EE camp was a hit. Campers interacted with our animals, enjoyed yoga, made crafts, raced boats, did sanctuary scavenger hunts and more! The tastiest part was garden-to-table pickles and pizza day, topped off with fresh picked raspberry lemonade!
Week Two of EE camp was a hit. Campers interacted with our animals, enjoyed yoga, made crafts, raced boats, did sanctuary scavenger hunts and more! The tastiest part was garden-to-table pickles and pizza day, topped off with fresh picked raspberry lemonade!
Our first week of Environmental Education Summer Camp has come to a close and we are beyond grateful for the incredible wonder that was built, the curiosity that was tended, and the fun that was had by our campers (and staff!)!
Our animal ambassadors love summer vacation too! A change to their routine or environment, a bask in the sun or a rest in fresh air is important to their well-being. Jupiter, Lilo and Chammy are all enjoying themselves after a busy spring season!
As the days grow longer and the school year winds down, we can reflect on our spring Environmental Education programs with a smile. We’ve been diving into the rich biodiversity of our Fox River, getting our hands dirty in the learning garden, and exploring the wonders of our local sanctuary. Our students are connecting with the land and the many living things that call it home. We’re inspired by their curiosity, creativity, and commitment to protecting our community and beyond.
This season reminds us: nature is the best classroom—and it’s always in session.
