Kickapoo Valley Forest School -

Bones! One of the many fascinating treasures found out on the land. The cycles of life become a little more familiar the more time we spend outdoors. KVFS students have come across a few different animals in various stages of decomposition. Here we found an entire deer skeleton! The children had an opportunity to touch, observe, put back together, and then let be, this amazing find. How cool was this ? "Very VERY Cool!" #KVFS #lafargewi #outdooreducation #kindergartenoutside #learningfromtheoutsidein #optoutside #kickapoovalleyreserve

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.” David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia #Forestschool #KVFS #lafargewi #learningoutside

What inspiring and resourceful teachers! They show up every day ready to navigate all the twists and turns of learning outdoors. They put an incredible amount of time, energy, thought and experience into creating this Forest School. We are SO happy that they are here and are very proud of what they have accomplished thus far. Thank you KVFS teachers and have a wonderful Spring Break! #KVFS #outdoorlearning #optoutside #teachersareincredible #springbreak #lafargewi #kindergarten

Our amazing AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist Maiela is essential to the success of each day! Maiela coordinates with local businesses and farms to bring products and produce to KVFS. She makes the most yummy, hearty and healthy snacks everyday for our students. A well fueled day makes for a good day! Maiela also brings many opportunities to the students to learn about food and where it comes from. Sometimes students help process food, like walnuts that go into energy bars, or apples for applesauce. So much fun and so much good food! #AmeriCorps #snackprogram #thankyou #forestschool #forestschoolfuel #farmtoschool

We were so excited to see the grass again after all the snow of winter had melted away. The dry grasses provided material for some very creative play! Houses and shops were built and many crowns woven. Have you ever had a croissant made out of dried grass? They are SO GOOD! #imaginative #creativeplay #connectexploreengage #forestschool #emergentcurriculum #kvfs #KVR #lafargewi

We've had an excellent sledding season! Sometimes we make a train with our sleds and occasionally when we don't have sleds around we go without and it's just as much fun! Happy end of Winter! #springisnear #forestschool #kvfs #kvr #lafargewi

What fun it was to visit the RedLou Library for the first time! Students and adults had the opportunity to browse the books and check-out a few. The RedLou Library will visit KVFS once each month at dismissal time. KVFS teachers were also excited to borrow a few books for their homeroom libraries. For more information about this amazing community resource check out redlou.org #kvfs #forestschool #lafargewi #redloulibrary #libraryonwheels #learningoutdoors #kindergarten

KVFS has Kindergarten spaces available for the 2022-2023 School Year. Check out the link for more details: https://www.kickapoovalleyforestschool.org/o/kvfs/page/enrollment

A photographic ode to forts! It's in our nature to build and we sure do love building a good fort at Forest School. Each time students visit a new nature play space there are ample opportunities to build forts and structures. Making forts is a great way to learn the in and outs of teamwork, problem solving and the fundamentals of construction. Big forts have room for group creative play, while little forts can provide a calming spot for just one. #forestschool #creativeplay #forts #spacialawareness #kindergarten #outdooreducation #natureschool #connectexploreengage #lafargewi #kvfs #kvr

Thanks to Emily Schendel with the Boscobel Dial for this great article about the innovative approach to leadership at the Kickapoo Valley Forest School. And a shout out to our current all female Governance Council too! Happy GALentines! https://www.swnews4u.com/local/education/new-forest-school-offers-innovative-approach/ #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheoutsidein #kickapoovalleyreserve #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs

Observing bird nests, constructing forts, library time, long hikes and new reading games are just a few highlights from this week! Mornings are often cold but once we are all bundled up, off we go! We often find sheltered sunny places for playing, story time and song sharing. Happy Friday! #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheoutsidein #kickapoovalleyreserve #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs #schoollibrary

Mixed aged groups provide children many rich opportunities to help each other and ask for help from peers. Whether it's pulling a friend on a sled, helping each other to read a trail sign, or building an extravagant structure from wooden blocks, working together fosters connection and caring friendships and gives children opportunities to be helpful, responsible members of the community. #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheOutsideIn #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs

Tues, Jan 25: 2 hour delayed start to school

Our Forest School kids LOVE climbing trees. Trees are used for all kinds of activities; resting in tree nooks, playing games around fallen trees, nimbly crossing a creek via tree turned bridge or making walking sticks out of fallen branches. One way to pay tribute to the wonderful trees that are such an essential part of our daily lives, is to learn about them. How do they grow? What makes them unique from one another? How can we help care for them? There is so much to learn and so much fun to be had! Photocredit: @drewshonkaphotography #LearningfromtheOutsideIn #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool

We love our hearty KVFS parents! Coffee and conversation at -14 degrees this morning! Stop by Fridays as 8am and visit. Meet some great people and talk all things Forest School! #itscoldouthere!

This has been an exciting weekend of connection and outreach for KVFS! Congratulations to our lead teachers Julia Buckingham and Ximena Puig who were invited to speak at the Celebrating Our Children Montessori Conference at UW-L on Saturday. The recording of their session will be shared on our website soon. On Saturday evening, an updated and expanded piece aired on CBS Weekend News, using a wider lens and some additional footage and voices about what makes KVFS unique. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=344794017474310&extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&ref=sharing Last, an article about KVFS is featured on the front page of the Wisconsin State Journal this morning. The online version includes a short video as well. We are grateful that this article takes a deeper look in telling the KVFS story! As Leadership Team member Robin Hosemann said, "This article truly sings the song of our little school." https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/watch-now-a-charter-school-with-all-day-outdoor-education-in-the-middle-of-winter/article_144be83c-14cd-5c8b-9c03-d39a209af0a2.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

KVFS students stayed warm, busy, and engaged indoors during the extra cold temperatures last week. Each day students practice fine motor development like pencil holding, scissor cutting, and number formation. Hands-on math materials help students gain concrete mathematical concepts. Despite the colder temperatures our students were thrilled to go out and explore the snow and ice after a warm up inside. #kvfs #kickapoovalleyreserve #kickapoovalleyforestschool #forestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorlearning #outdooreducation #wildschooling #natureschooling #explore #optoutside #naturekids #forestschools #learningthroughplay #childhoodunplugged #lafargewi

In just under two hours, we are expecting the FIRST version of KVFS coverage on CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell. Due to all the national news this week about how schools are coping with current conditions, they broadened the focus of the story a bit and didn't use all the footage they captured last week. We have been told they are planning to run a SECOND version of the segment on Saturday, which will be more focused on the KVFS and its people and places. If you miss any of the broadcasts we'll be posting links as soon as we have them.

Winter is here! In general, our students and staff are outside from 8:00 - 1:00, in all types of weather. This first week back after break we enjoyed exploring the winter landscapes of the KVR, and eating lunch by the fire. #LearningFromtheOutsideIn

Thank you for all the interest in our upcoming CBS coverage! We were originally told the segment would air tonight, 1/6/22, but now are being told that it will probably air on Monday, 1/10/2022. We will update our friends and families when we know more!