Take Your Class Outdoors with a ParkPack!

The Wisconsin State Park System introduces its Forests Forever Teacher ParkPacks. ParkPacks are mobile teaching resource kits designed to teach middle-school aged kids about sustainable forestry. ParkPack lesson plans and activities are correlated with Wisconsin Academic Standards. Packs are designed to increase student's knowledge of sustainable forestry concepts while sharpening their investigative skills and encouraging critical thinking processes.

Each teacher ParkPack contains enough equipment including field guides, magnifiers and clipboards for 30 students. Instructions and worksheets are designed for photocopying. All activities are divided into "pre-trip," "field trip," and "post trip" sections in a teacher's manual.

These ParkPacks are the first statewide outreach program for teachers implemented by the Wisconsin State Park System and are funded through grants from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, Wisconsin Educational Media Association Permanent Endowment Trust, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Friends of Wisconsin State Parks. For more information about ParkPacks, contact Beth Mittermaier at (414) 527-0232.

Teacher ParkPacks can be checked out from the IMCs at the following CESA regional offices (Leaves EEK!) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12; or the following Wisconsin State Park System properties:

• Chippewa Moraine Ice Age Center (New Auburn), (715) 967-2800
  
• Devil's Lake State Park (Baraboo), (608) 8301
  
• DNR Chief Naturalist (Rhinelander), (715) 365-8966
  
• Havenwoods State Forest (Milwaukee), (414) 527-0232
  
• Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit, Ice Age Visitor Center (Campbellsport), (920) 533-8322
  
• Northern Highland/American Legion State Forest (Woodruff), (715) 358-9206
  
• Point Beach State Forest (Two Rivers), (920) 794-7480
  
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area (Kansasville), (262) 878-5600