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Welcome
The school forest is owned and operated by the Merrill Area Public School District. The forest includes 764 acres. Most of the land and most of the funds to build the present lodge was provided by William Evjue, an 1899 Merrill graduate who's father was a lumber scaler in Merrill. There are over 10 miles of maintained Logging trails which double as hiking and cross country ski trails. The forests are logged with the assistance of the DNR forester. The money earned helps purchase skis, snowshoes, and other major purchases. In 2000-2001 over 5015 students, 400 parents, 220 teachers and 150 guests visited the school forest. Many classes stay overnight with their teacher.
Mission Statement
The mission of environmental education is to help students become environmentally knowledgeable, skilled, dedicated citizens who are willing to work, individually and collectively, toward achieving and maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.
We Believe That
- Environmental education should be infused into all subjects.
- Students should be instilled with an increasing awareness, knowledge, attitude, value, and participation (citizen action skills) for the environment.
- Learning is provided through direct hands-on experiences.
- Planned experiences and teachable moments are part of an environmental education program.
- Problem solving and other critical thinking skills are developed in an environmental education experience.
- Each student will have opportunities to be challenged to grow and to develop, and to achieve.
- Environmental education should be a continuous lifelong process, beginning at the preschool level and continuing through all stages of a person's life.
Critical Issues
- The threat of diminishing resources makes environmental education an important part of the curriculum.
- The health of the environment will determine the future health of the earth's inhabitants.
- A sequential pattern of environmental education topics is needed to avoid either omission or duplication.
- Environmental education programs should conform to known growth patterns of students.
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