What is a Forest School?  

Forest School education gives students an opportunity to grow and learn from hands-on experiences with nature. We understand that extended periods of time in nature are beneficial to children academically, physically and emotionally. In our Forest School we use experiences in nature to broaden and develop necessary life skills. For example, building shelters and forts uses a child’s cognitive and creative skills of attention, memory, observation and idea generation. Climbing, carrying logs, and hiking strengthen a child’s physical skills of balance, coordination, and endurance.  Learning to problem-solve with peers sharpens social and emotional skills. Offering the child daily opportunities to inquire about fascinating discoveries builds academic and cognitive skills such as inference and observation skills. Children gain an understanding of themselves and the world around them while exploring and making discoveries through play in nature, all the while building a lasting connection to and respect for the natural world.

What is a charter school?

KVFS is a charter school that is an instrumentality of the La Farge School District (LFSD). This means that LFSD helps to operate the school in capacities such as employing KVFS teachers and staff, helping with school finances, and providing data for state reports. This also means that all federal and state funding go directly to LFSD and not some other outside entity. The LFSD is the Authorizer of KVFS. This means that LFSD ensures KVFS is accountable for the quality of education and safety of students. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction states that Charter schools are given “autonomy with increased accountability.” This means charter schools are able to teach an innovative curriculum as long as they can show that students are achieving at or above their peers in the district. All charter schools have a Governance Council (GC). We recommend you check out our Leadership page to learn more about our KVFS GC. Each month the GC meets in a public meeting. All are welcome to come and listen. Attending meetings is a great way to learn more about the operation of our school. All Minutes and Agendas for these GC meetings can be found on our KVFS website. 

How do we enroll our child for the 2026-2027 school year? 

Applications will be accepted during the open enrollment time period which begins in February of 2026. 

All forms will be available at the La Farge School District office, the Kickapoo Valley Forest School Office and on our website. If you reside in the La Farge School District there will be one enrollment form to fill out. If you live out of the district then you will also have to complete an open enrollment form.

It is very important to get your paperwork completed and turned into the La Farge Elementary School Office on time and within the enrollment period. 

Please note: if there are more applicants than student spaces available a lottery will be held. 

How many classes and students will there be?

• 2021/22 school year: 4K and Kindergarten  (2 classes) 

• 2022/23 School year: Two 4K/Kindergarten & one 1st Grade (3 classes)

• 2023/24 School year: Two 4K/K & Two 1st/2nd Grade (4 classes)

• 2024/2025 School year: Two 4K/5K, one 1st grade, one 2nd grade, one third grade

• 2025/2026 School year: One 4K, one 5K, one 1st grade, one 2nd grade one, combined 3rd/4th grade

• 2026/2027 School year: Anticipating one class per grade 4K-5th grade but subject to enrollment numbers

How many teachers work in the school?

There will be one teacher per classroom and several classroom aides to float between classes. We also currently have two staff specialists that bring garden and naturalist expertise to our students every week. You can find out more about our staff here.

What are class sizes like? Will classes be multi-age?

Class sizes can range from small (13) to large (24). Some classes will be multi-age. This will allow teachers to develop deeper relationships and better understand their students. This will also foster a family of learners who help and inspire each other to be their best.

Is programming available for full or half days?

We offer full-day programming. If you choose to send your child half-day, your child must be picked up from school. All students over the age of 6 must attend school full time.

Will enrollment preference be given to LFSD residents?

No. All applicants will be pooled.

What if my child has an IEP or 504 plan?

Students with an IEP or a 504 plan will receive services in accordance with their IEP and dependent upon each individual’s needs. The schedule to receive services will be dependent upon each individual student's needs.

Do the students make art and play music?

Yes! Art and singing will be part of each day. We will be working with a holistic and integrated curriculum. For example,  when we are studying water we will be singing about water, painting with watercolors, playing in water, observing water, sharing stories and reading books about water, etc. Our curriculum offers so many opportunities for children to have immersive experiences in art and music connected to their exploration of the natural world. Additionally we have added a Garden Specialist position. The person in this role creates garden and nature themed arts, crafts and activities with each class weekly in the school garden! Our students also have opportunity to work sometimes with the district art teacher as well as use the district library.

Do the students interact with screens and media frequently?

No. Students at KVFS are not issued chrome books or laptops. Daily learning and assignments are done with paper and pencil or artistic materials. In grades 1st and up students interface with a computer three times yearly for short academic assessments which allows us to track the growth of our students in reading and math skills. There is room in our upper grades (3-5) for students to use computers to enhance seasonal study research and to access audiobooks and to begin preliminary typing skills in 5th grade.

How will my child learn basic skills like reading, writing, and math?

Children will gain valuable academic skills from hands-on materials and daily experiences with nature. Students will be introduced to math and language concepts using hands-on materials and stories and also by using the district-based literacy and math curriculum. One role of our teachers is to guide children in identifying real life extensions of these concepts while out on daily adventures. Children gain a rich vocabulary,  enhance reading and writing skills, and practice math skills as they explore, observe and discover in nature. Teachers will track student progress using traditional assessments and our Multiple Literacies assessments.

Common Formative Assessments:
Formative Assessments are used by teachers to gather information about where their students are in their development of specific skills. The information gathered is used to identify areas of need and thus inform instruction and the learning materials provided. In our case we are also using them to gather the data necessary to fulfill our charter contract, proving that our innovative curriculum is producing the same standards of learning that the children in La Farge Elementary are achieving.

Multiple Literacies Assessment:
Multiple Literacies assessments will be used to make notes about student learning and growth across a full spectrum of modalities that we see being engaged at KVFS. We recognize that children learn and grow in many ways. In addition to academic growth we track how children are able to demonstrate growth in areas such as problem solving, communication, safety and awareness, self-care, and physical growth and movement to name a few.

What will the daily format/schedule be?

Our school day runs from 8:00am to 3:15pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday the students have early release at 2:30pm.
4 year old kindergarten does not have school on Fridays.

Our daily schedule changes some with the seasons but in general students start the day indoors in our warm, light-filled classrooms where our staff can be sure they are properly geared and snacked before going outdoors. The older grades often use the morning time for math and literacy practice.

Each day provides ample time for outdoor play, exploration and project-based learning. Our 4K and Kindergarten spend the entire morning outdoors in our school garden before coming inside for lunch, short lessons and rest time.
Our upper grades walk to our neighboring collaborating land stewards to for outside time on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (here they have access to over 100 acres of private wilderness in walking distance of our classrooms!) Wednesday and Friday are adventure immersion days where the upper grades board a bus in the morning and go out to learn and play in wild landscapers further afield, not returning until the end of the day!

What is the long-term vision for the school?

Currently we will continue to use a growth model to add a new grade each year through 5th grade.

What is the integration/transition plan for students “graduating” out of the Forest School and into another educational setting?

Children who spend time in nature gain a strong sense of self-confidence, awareness of the world, and integration of physical and intellectual development. This allows children to excel in academic environments and the wider world. The La Farge School District has many opportunities for students experience hands-on and project based learning in middle school and beyond.

What can we do to support the school?

There are a few things you could help us with!

1. Talk to your friends! 

2. Direct your friends to our Facebook Page and Instragram page @kickapoovalleyforestschool

3. Continue to look for updates on the Kickapoo Valley Forest School website.

4. Get involved: Contact Jonel Kiesau at kiesauj@lafarge.k12.wi.us to volunteer!

Please let us know if you have any more questions. You can email KVFS@lafarge.k12.wi.us and ask away!