History of the Outdoor Classroom at Friess Lake School
In 1993 a prairie restoration on the hill to east of the school building was begun. In every year since, students and community members have participated in adding prairie plants to another section of this hillside. Soil preparation, weeding, and maintaining this area have also been annual events. Seeds are collected each autumn from these established prairie plants by our students who then sow the seed in the space around the retention ponds at the top of the hillside.
Six acres of wooded hillside to the north of the retention ponds was added to the Outdoor Classroom in 1995 when the school district purchased additional land. In 1996, a 40-acre wetland conservancy area was donated to Friess Lake School District by the local Audubon Society when they disbanded. This increased the size of our Outdoor Classroom to 48 acres. A sign was created and installed in 2005.
In 2006 the school district received a Wisconsin Environmental Education Grant that included money to improve the trails, add plant markers, and create a Nature Guide for the Outdoor Classroom that is now a link to our school website. The Outdoor Classroom has become an exceptional learning environment for students at Friess Lake School.
Outdoor Classroom Permission Slip
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