Environmental Education
Genesee Lake School is proud to provide a variety of options for outdoor and environmental education for our students.
GLOBE Project
Genesee Lake School is a proud participating member of the GLOBE Project, an international science and education program dedicated to “advancing Earth systems science through data collection and analysis by citizen scientists”.
Through a partnership with the Dr. Michael Notaro, the Director of the UW-Madison Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research, GLS students and educators are utilizing our campus to learn about Earth systems and participate in this global movement. Students are focusing on topics within four general focus areas: atmosphere/air, hydrosphere/water, biosphere/vegetation, and pedosphere/soil. Through study and active outdoor science, our students are learning about the world around them in a deeply personal way. Through this program, students may also have the opportunity to present their findings at the GLOBE Program Annual Conference.
Outdoor Education
Genesee Lake School has partnered with UW-Stephen’s Point’s Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education to advance the knowledge and opportunities for outdoor and environmental education for students with diverse learning needs. This partnership began with a group of educators from GLS taking the Step Outside Into Learning course to learn best practices for teaching students outside. This course satisfies the WI Department of Public Instruction’s Environmental Education Stipulation and is used as a baseline for our outdoor and environmental education process and curriculum.
Green and Healthy Schools Wisconsin
Genesee Lake School participates in the WI Green and Healthy Schools collaboration, working toward achievements in three areas: reducing environmental impacts and costs, improving health and wellness, and increasing environmental literacy.
Overview
Genesee Lake School is committed to expanding opportunities for our students in the realm of outdoor and environmental education. Whether that is through in-class activities, outdoor science projects, partnership with Homegrown Farms at GLS, or partnership with external resources, we seek to overcome the historical inequities preventing students with diverse learning needs from participating in the world around them. With the explosion of screen time generally and the difficulties around behavioral issues specifically, diverse learners are consistently behind their peers in this arena. By partnering with UW-Madison and UW-Stephen’s Point, joining the GLOBE project, and partnering with external resources, our schools are helping define what it means to bring diverse learners closer to the natural world and understand the impact on these students.
MyPath is proud to work with these organizations to make outdoor and environmental education real for our students:
UW-Stephen’s Point Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
UW-Madison Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research
Green and Healthy Schools Wisconsin