Elementary school works to preserve forest in school’s backyard

The following article was published by WISC-TV on June 8, 2017. 

MADISON, Wis. – A Madison elementary school is taking steps to preserve a forest in the school’s backyard.

Lake View Elementary School was built in an oak woodland, which students use as a living laboratory.

School officials noticed an apartment complex was supposed to be built nearby and reached out to the Natural Heritage Land Trust to help them protect and buy the land.

The school, along with the trust, has been raising money to buy the land from Habitat for Humanity.

“We protect special places, and this is a special place,” said Heidi Habeger, with the Natural Heritage Land Trust. “They were hoping that we could help them buy a piece of land that they could add to their outdoor classroom.”

The trust is very close to reaching its goal of raising $161,000. So far, it’s raised $110,000.

After the trust purchases the land, it will then donate it to the school to use for its outdoor classrooms. The land will become the Lake View Elementary School Forest.

Donations can be made at www.nhlt.org. Click on the “donate now” button and mention the donation is for the Lake View project.