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!
Through our windows at EB Shurts, every day is bringing more feathered friends our way - cardinals, robins, juncos, finches, chickadees, sparrows and the occasional red-tailed hawk. But we don't just bird-watch all day - check out all that we've been up to!
Thank you to Prairie Elementary for inviting us to your Science Night. While Mrs. B and Mrs. Turner chatted with students and their families about hydroponics and microgreens, Franklin was busy stealing the show looking all cute and reading books!
Our Embedded Agriculture leaders - Mollie and Erica - continue to champion the hydroponics program in our High Schools and involve students in tasty ways! Do you have a high school student at home? Ask them if they tried the sample!
Logan from North High School and EE Animal Ambassador Chammy bonded during a live animal program this week at EB Shurts. Chammy is new to student handling, and usually wears a dark scale pattern to match her anxiety level. But with Logan, she could be her calm bright green self. We love connections here at EE, and this one had us ALL smiling.
"Fresh, Green, and Tasty: Embedded Agriculture's Hydroponic Lettuce + Family and Consumer Science Class-made Ranch = Samples of the Perfect School Salad!" 🌱🥗 #FreshGreens #EmbeddedAgriculture #ForkFarms #FarmToSchool #HydroponicGoodness #HighSchoolSalad
We sure are excited to welcome back our Kindergartners to EB Shurts! Rose Glen students kicked off our winter season with a turtle craft, shelter building and learning more about our animal ambassadors.
