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.
After 10 incredible years of inspiring students and nurturing connections within the SDW Environmental Education program, we say goodbye to Rita Keber as she sets off on new adventures rooted in stewardship and travel!
Though we’ll miss her boundless energy and infectious laugh tremendously, we’re excited to see Rita and her husband Paul take their passion for learning and travel to new places.
Thank you, Rita, for a decade of heart, hard work, and passion. May your next chapter be filled with adventure, fun, and wild wonder!
When life gives you persistent rain on the day of your EE field trip, you throw on a poncho and have fun anyway! ☂️
While we know rain is less than ideal for a day outside, there is still plenty to learn and appreciate on a weather day like today. We are grateful the students (and volunteers) from Hadfield and Rose Glen made the best of it!
Big things are happening at Bethesda Elementary School! Dedicated students, parents and staff rolled up their sleeves and got to work building an outdoor classroom — a space where learning and nature come together!
With teamwork and a whole lot of enthusiasm, a space was created where future lessons will be surrounded by sunshine and fresh air - complete with a structure woven from willow (a wigloo!). We couldn’t be prouder of the results!
7th graders from Butler proved that teamwork can make a real difference during their visit to EB Shurts last week. As a part of their community project time, they prepped a mulched space that will soon be a home for pollinator-friendly plants!
Natural materials also were used to explore shelter building techniques AND to create a garden fence. It was a hands-on and very fun day at Environmental Ed!
Our Spring 4th grade programs are well underway! Students are seeing firsthand the landforms left behind by glaciers, studying Wisconsin soil profiles, using topographical maps to identify what they are seeing from the tower and hiking the Ice Age Trail. Lapham Peak and the surrounding Kettle Moraine State Forest is FULL of amazing hands-on learning opportunities for these explorers!
Lapham Lodge Grand Opening!
We are incredibly proud to celebrate EE teacher Rita Keber, whose passion for nature and community shines through in everything she does. As a devoted steward of Lapham Peak State Park, Rita and her husband Paul have gone above and beyond to make the new Lapham Lodge a reality. 🛖💚
Her commitment to preserving and enhancing this beautiful place inspires us all. Thanks to their support, visitors will now have a welcoming space to rest, learn, and connect with nature for generations to come.
Middle School visits are our busiest days here at EE. In just a couple hours, students participate in river exploration, activities in our learning garden, AND make weather observations that tie-in to their science unit at school. Last week we welcomed Les Paul 7th graders!
Happy Teacher Appreciation week to the team of environmental educators that builds wonder with 8,000 School District of Waukesha students each year.
Thank you for sparking curiosity, inspiring stewardship, and empowering students to care for the natural spaces of our community and beyond. Whether it’s in the Fox River, at Lapham Peak, under the canopy of trees in the sanctuary or in the classroom, your lessons last a lifetime. 🌱✨
Today, we celebrate the beauty of our planet—and the responsibility we share to protect it. 🌱💧🌳. Whether it's reducing waste, planting a native plant or simply appreciating the natural world around you, every small action matters. Let's take care of the Earth, not just today, but every day. 💚
"This is the best field trip I have ever gone on...." ~Teacher Feedback
This is why we do what we do.
There's a snake in our plant. No April Fool's joke here, there's really a snake in our plant.
Leaders Mollie Haubenschild and Erica Yoss shared the successes of our Embedded Agriculture program with Spring City Garden Club members today, highlighting the benefits of hydroponics in our High Schools. We are grateful for the collaboration and support of the garden club members! Happy Spring!
