Were you a child who was sent outdoors to play after school each day? Did you grow up climbing trees, playing in trickles of water and staring up at the stars thinking about the big questions in life? So many of us were these children and those experiences helped shape us into the nature enthusiasts we are today.
Today’s children spend more and more time on devices and less and less time outdoors. Studies show that “nature deficit disorder” can lead to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions of obesity and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses. Research also suggests that nature-deficit weakens ecological literacy and stewardship of the natural world. *https://richardlouv.com/blog/w...
Our children (and our world) are facing these issues at alarming rates. But there is hope!
Imagine a school where children spend their days learning outdoors. Climbing trees, discovering patterns in nature, and problem solving with their peers as they build forts and discover animal homes. Imagine a school where everyday academics are framed by hands-on experiences in nature and children are free to use their minds and bodies to explore the questions around them.
This school is now a reality! It’s the Kickapoo Valley Forest School (KVFS), an innovative partnership between the La Farge School District and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. KVFS is now halfway into year two of operations with 48 students and a growth plan that will add one more class next year, bringing our student totals to 64. While KVFS has received state and national media coverage, you don’t need to go much further than the kids and parents themselves to hear how important this school is. “Quote”
Here’s where you come in. Our school is growing! Wand while the children spend most of their day outdoors, we still need warm, dry spaces for rest and indoor work time as well as storage, meal prep and offices. Please help us raise the funds we need to construct the final building of our educational campus and anchor the future of KVFS. You can learn more about the project by watching this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x0TyYBbRx8
Your year-end tax-deductible contribution can be made via check in the remittance envelope provided for your convenience, or via credit card at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NAGLMA4ZWDPTN
You can also consider making an easy monthly contribution at this link as well. Contributions are being accepted on behalf of this project by the Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
Our mission: The Kickapoo Valley Forest School (KVFS) honors full nature immersion, child-centered practices and environmental stewardship.
Please consider making a generous donation to give childhood back to children and grow the next stewards of our precious natural resources.
Thank you,
The Kickapoo Valley Forest School Fundraising Committee