School Forest Policy
State
Community Forest Law |
Land Use Agreements |
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Dept Health & Family Services Regulations |
Hunting on School Forests |
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Example Policies on School Forest Use |
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State Community Forest Law
School forests are a particular kind of community forests owned or controlled by school districts. The first community forest law was passed in 1927. The law was updated in 1949 and 1965. Official text of the law can be found in Section 20 of Chapter 28.
Department of Health and Family Services Regulations
Recreational and Educational Camps
(PDF)
These rules apply to facilities that provide
overnight lodging and food service for children
and/or adults.
Food Code
(PDF)
These rules apply to all facilities that serve food.
Example Policies on School Forest Use
Boston School Forest Policy (PDF)
Butternut Policy (PDF)
The Butternut School Board passed a resolution
rededicating the Butternut School Forest. In the
resolution, they outlined the goals for use of the
school forest for educational and management
purposes.
DC Everest School Forest Facility Use Policy
(PDF)
Example Policy on Dedicating Income to the School
Forest Program
(PDF)
Marshfield School Forest Policy (PDF)
Merrill School Forest Non-School Use Policy
(PDF)
Phillips School Forest Policy (PDF)
The Phillips School Forest Policy broadly covers
use, management, value, and income allocation of the
school forest mandating that "appropriate curriculum
shall incorporate 'school forest' related activities
into the instructional courses and teachers are
encouraged to incorporate related activities " This
policy was approved by the Phillips Board of
Education.
Rahr Memorial School Forest Non-School Use Policy
(Manitowoc) (PDF)
Rhinelander School Forest Use and Management Policy
(PDF)
West Salem School Forest Facility Use Policy
(PDF)
Land Use Agreements
A school district doesn't have to own property to have an official school forest. A district just needs to have legal control of a piece of property. Many options exist for this. One is a conservation easement whereby a landowner grants the district special uses of the property, thereby eliminating the possibility of development on the land in the future and providing the district with a school forest.
The Tri-County School District acquired a part of its school forest in this way. Conservation easement document for Tri-County (PDF).
More information about conservation easements can be found at http://www.landtrustalliance.org/conserve/faqs/faq-conservation-easement and http://landtrust.org/ProtectingLand/EasementInfo.htm.
Another option is to enter into a use agreement with a municipality. A large portion of the Superior School Forest is owned by Douglas County, but the school has been given use of the site as a school forest. Superior School Forest use agreement (PDF).
Whatever means you use to acquire school forest property you should involve your districts legal counsel.
Hunting on School Forests
Hunting is an important tradition and tool to control deer and other wildlife species in Wisconsin. Recently, there has been considerable interest about the topic of hunting on school forests.
Wisconsin Act 290 (PDF) was created to clarify the issue of hunting on school forests. The statute specifically provides school boards the opportunity to allow hunting on school forests. The statute also amended related statutes (including "Gun-free school zones" and "Dangerous weapons other than firearms on school premises") to allow for exceptions when a school board allows hunting on its school forests.
Example Policy Regarding Weapons and Hunting on a
School Forest
(PDF)