Staying connected in the Conserve School Community.
More Stories
In recognition of the staff members who were a part of CS20 Semester (Spring 2020) at Conserve School.
An important message from Head of School Stefan Anderson.
Head of School, Stefan Anderson, writes about what lies ahead for Conserve School.
- Alumni Stories
CS13 (Fall 2016) Sienna Devoe-Talluto found a way to help others and herself in Guatemala.
- Alumni Stories
CS8 (Spring 2014) Maya Roe explores a sense of place in her new book, Returns.
- Alumni Stories
CS17 (Fall 2018) Sam Bull turns to nature for his senior project.
- Staff Stories
Science Teacher Andrew Deatt's reflections on his journey at Conserve School.
- Activities
- Staff Stories
The Conserve School Community enjoys a strong food culture even from a distance.
- student stories
Four students bravely recount a legendary CS20 adventure.
- Art
Earth Art students, while completing their semester at home made natural watercolors with local soils.
- Alumni Stories
Inspired by Conserve's "Artist in Residence," CS18 student's own art wins accolades.
- Reflection
- student stories
Having a dedicated phenology spot helps students discover the meaning of a sense of place.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Conserve School graduate's dream of traveling the world were put on hold but not defeated.
- Alumni Stories
Spotlight on CS Alums Helping in the battle against COVID-19
- Art
- Staff Stories
Photography class students recreated famous works of art while doing distance learning.
- Art
- Science
- Staff Stories
A new Earth Art lesson quickly became a favorite exhibit among staff and students.
- student stories
A poem written about the sounds one can hear if they stop to listen to a frozen lake.
- Math
- Staff Stories
Math students explored the Harmonic Series and the Leaning Tower of Lire through block play.
- Staff Stories
COVID-19 has hit us all by storm. This is a current update on the CS20 (Spring 2020) semester experience.
- Alumni Stories
Elizabeth Fox CS10 (Spring 2015) shares her experience working with the Neema Project.
- Alumni Stories
CS6 (Spring 2013) Alum Emma Anderson finds many ways to serve.
- History
- Staff Stories
A lesson in ice cutting engages students in history, science, team-building, and philosophy on Big Donahue Lake.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
Laura Berry CS3 (Fall 2011) speaks on the importance of public involvement in Climate Change.
- Activities
- Staff Stories
Winter camping in the Sylvania Wilderness is a challenging and rewarding endeavor.
- Art
- Staff Stories
Guest artist Terry Arnold helped Earth Art students learn how to make felted woolen slippers.
- Activities
- Reflection
- Stewardship
Learning how to know the forest through both Indigenous and Western knowledge.
- Alumni Stories
Conserve 2008 Alum Michelle Jilek is helping to keep fighter pilots healthy and in the air.
- Staff Stories
Wisconsin's Northwoods is immersed in the heart of winter. Read some how Conserve School embraces this season!
- Activities
- Staff Stories
CS20 (Spring 2020) Quinzee Ice Town was an epic record breaker thanks to the leadership and enthusiasm of both staff and students!
- Nature Photography
- Staff Stories
Witness the gift of snow as documented by the CS20 (Spring 2020) Nature Photography Class.
- Activities
- Staff Stories
Inspired by Birkie Weekend, students organized their own ski race on the Conserve School campus trails.
- Reflection
- Staff Stories
Getting "slushed" while on a frozen lake can be humbling. Even the best laid plans are not immune to winter slush!
- Reflection
- student stories
Snow, hiking, determination, Sunset Point, hammocking, and reflections on personal growth from the first week of the semester.
- Activities
The mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are great for downhill skiing and a fun weekend activity for students and staff.
- Alumni Stories
A magical snowy weekend for Conserve School's 2020 Winter Connections Weekend.
- Staff Development
- Staff Stories
Five educators from Conserve School presented at WAEE Winter Workshop.
- Staff Stories
- Staff Workshop
Staff workshops included certification and re-certification courses.
- Move-in Weekend
- Staff Stories
We had another full and successful move-in day. CS20 has arrived and the semester has officially begun!
- Alumni Stories
Ali Jakobsen CS15 (Fall 2017), presented on typhoon research at an atmospheric conference.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Madeline Gould CS3 (Fall 2011), walked the entire 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
Ella Syverson CS17 (Fall 2019), takes on a lead role with the Wisconsin Youth Climate Activism Team.
- English
- Staff Stories
CS20 used sawing wood as an entry into environmental literature, writing, and teamwork.
- Stewardship
Stewardship class projects help students practice positive social change.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
Tayla Klinger, CS9 (Fall 2014), receives prestigious fellowship.
- Semester Celebration
CS19 came to a close with a final dinner together, the gift of paddles, final reflections, and hopes for the future.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
CS 2007 alum Michael Waters designs an accessory to make backpacking more comfortable.
- Community Service
A CS19 student reflects on the feelings of returning from an adventure versus setting out on one.
- Exploration Week
Bonds form surprisingly quickly on Exploration Week while working and traveling together in the wilderness.
- Art
Read about the CS19 Arts Club process of making a mural from start to finish.
- Outdoor Skills
A hybrid lesson in Science and Outdoor Skills in the Sylvania Wilderness Area.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
CS16 (Spring 2018) alum, Noah Miller's Simple Act of Advocacy Goes Viral!
- Camping Solo
Being on a solo, alone in the woods, with your thoughts, and strange sounds all around is scary and awe-inspiring.
- Stewardship
Students learned about the intrinsic links between culture, identity, stewardship, and the food we eat in a lesson about "food justice."
- Science
Students learned about the unique biology of lichen, and their high susceptibility to air pollutants.
- Activities
CS19 students participated in the optional but much anticipated Polar Plunge.
- Earth Week
CS19 staff and students came together to organize, learn, teach, and celebrate "Earth Week" at Conserve School.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
Drew Steger, CS8 (Spring 2014), spends his summers helping the rural families in Honduras.
- English
- Reflection
- Transformation
Lily writes an essay about her big city dreams turning into Alaskan bush dreams.
- Accolades
Teaching Fellow Emily Haynes recently was awarded a master's degree.
- Accolades
Conserve School was represented at the Fresh Coast Film Festival with a film produced by Rob and Kate Houle.
- Outdoor Skills
All students participate in staff-led campus night hikes to get used to being outside in the dark.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Zinnia Voss, CS17 (Fall 2018), undertakes the journey of a lifetime.
- Accolades
Eleva Potter, Director of Conservation Programming, writes about her recent talk at the annual NAAEE Conference.
- Family Weekend
Cade had some realizations about his Conserve family while spending "Family Weekend" with his sibling family.
- Activities
The Nine Lake Loop or Lowenwood Portage, helps students experience the lakes on campus in a whole new way.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
Olivia Heese, CS17 (Fall 2018), has deep roots in Ethiopia that are growing even stronger.
- Reflection
A student reflects on one of her first nights at Conserve School, getting to know new friends, under the northern lights.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
CS17 Alum Stella Banowetz uses her voice against climate change.
- Reflection
Teaching Fellow and CS Alum, Maia, with her sister; also an alum, paddle and reflect on the nature of change at Lowenwood.
- School Visits
Conserve School endeavors to have a greater impact and reach more young people through a new initiative. Read about the visit from Eagle River 4th graders.
- Exploration Week
Exploration Week is a time for students to build and use their outdoor skills, as well as a time for personal growth and bonding.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Dogs are a conservationist's best friend. CS1 Alum Kayla Fratt introduces students to Working Dogs for Conservation.
- Science
The bog walk lesson in Science serves as an introduction for students to a unique ecosystem in the Northwoods.
- History
To make the history of The Corps of Discovery come alive, history teacher, Michael Salat gives students a taste of building a dugout canoe and paddles.
CS17 alum Helen Clanaugh's speech "Climate Change is about Everyone" at the Duluth Youth Climate Strike, which she co-organized on March 15, 2019.
- Spanish
Spanish Class learns vocabulary that is useful in communicating about the natural world through guided tree meditations.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Audrey Swanenberg, a 2008 Alum, is part of an ambitious program to restore the glory of Chesapeake Bay.
- Activities
English Teacher, Jeff Rennicke, led a weekend paddle in the Sylvania. Students ate scones and took in the wilderness with their senses while practicing new canoeing skills.
Conserve School Annual L.E.A.F. Event brings fund-raising and celebration.
Tara Padovan (CS10 - Spring 2015) took a semester away from her studies at Northland College to help Syrian refugees.
- Move-in Weekend
Here is a little slice of the activities, academics, and adventuring students have been involved with since CS19 arrived almost two weeks ago.
- English
In the first English class of CS19 saws sing and students Learn with Aldo Leopold’s “Good Oak” essay.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Roxanne Korpela (CS8) Finds the beauty and size of Alaska unforgettable.
- Staff Development
This summer educators gathered to learn about building community climate resiliency within the Ojibwe Ceded Territory of MN, WI, and MI.
- Staff Development
Huckleberries are important to many species in the Rocky Mountains. Read about the volunteer data collection Science Teacher, Anderew Deaett did in Montana.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Dreams of science and adventure come together for alum Maya Dizack on a paddle of the full length of the Mississippi River.
- Staff Development
Summertime is professional development time! Read about Rebecca and Paul's recent LNT Master Educator certification training.
- Reflection
- Transformation
A student from CS16 lovingly wrote an article for his sending school newspaper a year after his Conserve School experience.
- School Visits
For the past few summers, Conserve School has been hosting Escuela Verde from Milwaukee for Conservation Camp.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Niina Baum CS3 Alum and Molly to represent team USA in Sweden 2019 IFSS Dryland World Championship.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
CS7 Alum and current St. Olaf College student Henry Henson ’20 has been awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2019–20 academic year.
- Science
Philosophical and practical reflections on pedagogy in the natural world inspires this AP Environmental Science lesson in aquatic macroinvertebrates.
- Reflection
Many students choose to rise early to spend more time in nature. Some Students create and lead activities before the academic day starts.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
CS14 alum Christian Schiro is involved in creative invasive species removal research.
- Math
Math modeling can be used to determine the probability of future potentially catastrophic events in nature.
- Accolades
CS17 alums lead the way with the Wisconsin Youth Climate Summit. These students are leaders, organizers and activists.
- Exploration Week
Exploration Week is a time of bonding, some hardship, and tremendous growth. This is often magnified when the weather presents it's own challenges.
- Semester Celebration
We just commissioned our 1000th student at the CS18 Recognition Ceremony! Here are the end of semester highlights.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
2005 Conserve School Alum Malanka Riabokin receives a grant to create Climate Change Lesson Plans
Conserve School mourns the loss of CS7 student, Mitch Halberg.
- Spanish
Spanish class had fun cooking, learning about and eating traditional foods from various Spanish-speaking countries.
- Accolades
- Staff Development
Science Teacher, Andrew Deaett, was recently awarded a National Geographic Educator Certification.
- Reflection
- Science
Phenology is the act recording what one observes in nature over time. Here is a look at several pages from spring of one student's Phenology Book.
- Reflection
- Spanish
Recently, Spanish students reflected on their solo camping experiences, which involved 1-2 nights camping solo in Lowenwood.
- Stewardship
Read about the kinds of campus stewardship CS18 students engaged in for their Class Taking Action Projects.
- Camping Solo
- Reflection
A mainstay of the Conserve School curriculum is a solo camping experience. Two nights alone at a peaceful on-campus site.
- Alumni Stories
- English
Siblings and CS Alums, Noah and Maia Sauer team up for a radio show at Middlebury College.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Jack Sharfstein CS6 and Olivier Poulin CS8, are off on an adventure, a long adventure, the Pacific Crest Trail through hike all 2,650 miles of it.
- Art
Bruce Crownover, a working print master was a guest artist at Conserve School, both working and teaching students during Earth Week.
- Activities
Our adjunct social worker has a holistic approach to mental health maintenance and offers activities to support students in a variety of different ways.
- Outdoor Skills
Students attended an Outdoor Skills Workshop where their project was to create camp stoves using soda cans.
- Activities
- Stewardship
Our community garden is one way that semesters become interwoven with one another. One semester will plant while the next may harvest.
- Activities
The Sylvania Wilderness Traverse, a planned winter camping trip that became a very foggy and damp spring camping trip.
- Outdoor Skills
Between maple syrup boiling and the Iron Chef style competition in Outdoor Skills class, the LRC has been smelling great lately!
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
CS Alums play an important role in the greening of Madison's future
- History
- Outdoor Skills
A combined lesson in Outdoor Skills and Environmental Citizenship had ideal conditions to snowshoe, identify animal tracks and learn about local mining history as well as its impact.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
Ruhiyyih Eady, 2008 grad, takes off on her dream of being a flight nurse
- Science
Students did a lesson on climate change using Biltmore Sticks to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in trees on campus.
- Math
In math class students were assigned the task of finding the shortest route to completing a journey to each of Conserve School's eleven Geocaches.
- Activities
- Stewardship
Spring is an exciting time in the Northwoods. Snow is melting, birds are chirping and sap is flowing. CS18 got their first lesson in Maple Tree Tapping last week!
- Stewardship
Students recently had the benefit of Mutual Aid Disaster and Beehive Collective organizations as Guest Speakers in Stewardship.
- Art
With Jim Lowenstein's vision in mind, Earth Art students learn about natural history by drawing and painting in the Conserve School Natural History Museum.
- Outdoor Skills
The Outdoor Skills class embraces cross country skiing both in a track and in the backcountry as a means of lifelong recreation.
- Science
Science Teaching Fellow, Emma, takes inspiration from the hardships of Rosalind Franklin and sees her own grandmother in a new light.
- Accolades
Teaching Fellow, Martha Torstenson was awarded a Fulbright in Norway researching seasonal adaptations and how they relate to resilience to climate change.
- Math
Students in math class learned how to use mathematical modeling to explore how pollution might flow through a chain of lakes.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
Choosing a career can be a winding road but it’s the destination that matters. Just ask CS5 alum Katyln Wettberg.
- Accolades
The Birkebeiner is a historic and festive ski race for snow enthusiasts. This is my story of Conserve School at The Birkie this year.
- School Visits
Lake Ecology and Tracking are just a few of the programs our Ecology team partners with Soar Charter School to provide.
- History
While skiing, Environmental Citizenship students discussed climate change and it's affect on snow sports industries.
- Spanish
Spanish class takes morning nature walks and immerses themselves in the Spanish language through conversation.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
Helen Clanaugh (CS17) recounts how Conserve School fanned the flames of her political passion.
- English
In a combined English and History lesson students mounted an expedition into the winter wilderness.
- Activities
In this “Skills Workshop”, 25 students worked together to build six “Quinzees” – snow shelters you can sleep inside.
- Outdoor Skills
- Science
Outdoor Skills and Science staff partnered up to plan a lesson that included both compass navigation and tree identification.
- Activities
- Reflection
Seven students and Stefan went into the Sylvania Wilderness on snowshoes, with two dogs in tow, on a mission for pizza.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
CS14 Alum Bazile Panek takes a leadership role in promoting and celebrating Native American culture.
- Art
Many classes are honoring Black History Month in their lessons and projects. Earth Art Students learned about the quilt makers of Gee's Bend.
- Art
- Science
Field Sketching is an important combined Art and Science lesson that happens at the beginning of each semester.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Ever dream about just chucking it all and hitting the road? Kaylee Thornley (CS2) is living your dream.
- Science
In Science, students were asked to observe five different trees and note their major characteristics while learning about Wisconsin's last glacial event.
- English
- History
CS18 Students study the National Wilderness Preservation System in English and History class through research, imagination, and artwork.
- Art
Earth Art starts the semester with a tea party that takes students on an imaginary journey looking at crafts from different places around the world.
- Accolades
- Staff Development
Every January, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education hosts Winter Workshop for Wisconsin's Educators.
- Move-in Weekend
Move-In Weekend is an exciting time for staff and students; a whirlwind of new beginnings, activities and campus exploration.
- Staff Workshop
Staff, faculty, and campus services have been preparing in a vast variety of ways for the arrival of the CS18 student body.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Caroline Galliani (CS10) alum spends a semester in Botswana with Round River Conservation Studies and shares her story of adventure with us.
Head of School, Stefan Anderson, writes about opportunities that students had to use their voices to reflect on their Conserve School experience.
- Science
The question of "how to be human," has been an underlying theme throughout the semester in AP Environmental Science class.
- Outdoor Skills
Outdoor Skills class learns Wilderness First Aid and explores possible scenarios with hands on learning in their outdoor classroom.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
Krystina Millar (CS9) to study transgender prison policy issues as a 2019 Dyer Fellow at Coastal Carolina University
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
Conserve School alum, Eric Frater (2007) works on a space telescope that just might illuminate clues to the origins of life on earth
- Science
At Conserve School students form a connection with nature through their "Phenology Spot" and reflecting on their "Sense of Place."
- Spanish
Students in Spanish class learned how to make empanadas together and then engaged in the tradition of "sobremesa."
- English
Our English class, Wilderness Voices, examines perspectives in literature through "Windows and Mirrors" while spending an afternoon outside.
- Stewardship
The Taking Action Project (TAP) is a cornerstone of the Stewardship in Action Class at Conserve School.
- Art
The art room has been a busy place! A recent guest teacher and artisan, Charles Nickles, taught students how to make rings from wood.
- English
- HIstory
- Reflection
Students at Conserve School learn to navigate with a compass and map, but sometimes you have to get a little lost to find yourself.
- Art
- Stewardship
Stewardship in Action recently did a unit on Art as Activism where they learned several print making techniques and much more.
- Activities
Students from CS17 built and practiced their ice skating skills at the Snowflake Ice Rink in Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin.
- Science
The observation of nature, phenology, is both an art and a science. Students each have their own phenology spot to observe and record their surroundings.
- History
A History class field trip to the Norwich Mine helps students understand the mining history of the Upper Peninsula.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
CS16 Alum Noah Miller joins a youth-led lobbying effort in Washington D.C. to speak on behalf of the wilderness.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
For Luke Konarzewski (CS5) it was the gift of a camera that kicked off a journey of discovery.
- Math
Math students recently studied Fibonacci numbers using monominos, then ventured into recursion and The Golden Ratio.
- Alumni Stories
- Stewardship
Sara Hansen (CS7) to promote climbing among women in Cambodia and Thailand
- Spanish
La mesa de español is a popular lunchtime activity for students who want to improve or maintain their foreign language skills.
- Activities
The NCT has miles of scenic beauty from waterfalls to the Mother of all lakes. This student saw Lake Superior for the first time.
This fall environmental educators from across the country gathered at Conserve School for the Green School Catalyst Leaders Summit.
- History
The history of Lumberjacking in this region of the country gets a lesson in log splitting in Michael Salat's history class.
- Art
In Earth Art, students create characters, Environmental Heroes, from leaves and other found materials to share with the Conserve School Community.
- Science
Science Teacher, Leanna Jackan hosted a late night candlelight bog hike where students explored both folktales and scientific explanations of bogs.
- Student Support
Director of Student Support, Phil DeLong, writes about the intentional support measures that Conserve School provides to support its students.
- English
In Wilderness Voices, Conserve School's English class, students reenacted one of the strangest tales in Alaskan literature.
- Outdoor Skills
Yesterday, with excitement, students embarked on their Solo trips, a mainstay of the Conserve School experience.
- Activities
A group of students led by Teaching Fellows spent a day volunteering with the Friends of the Porcupine Mountains clearing trails for the coming ski season.
- Stewardship
In Stewardship in Action students learned about ways to turn invasive species into food, fuel, fiber, and building material.
- Exploration Week
- Reflection
Rain, wind, and damp gear, to bright sunshine rays and crisp fall days. The range of experiences on Exploration Week was full of contrasts.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
Conserve Teacher and CS4 Alum Speak at National Education Conference
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
- English
Lucas LoBreglio (CS13) wins Aldo Leopold Writing Contest with his story, Cherry Hill: My Greatest Classroom
- Family Weekend
Students stay busy building skills and proficiency in academics, art and the outdoors. This past weekend they got to share these experiences with their families.
- Art
- Family Weekend
Families with students in Earth Art, participate in an Earth Art printing project in the art room during Family Weekend.
- Activities
Students explored the world of fungi both artistically and scientifically. Learning about and hunting mushrooms in the forest and then painting them in the art room.
- Exploration Week
Stormy conditions, mysteries, compromise, adaptation, and resilience, are all things students on Exploration Week may discover.
- Exploration Week
Weather rolls in quickly on Lake Superior. This is one student's experience backpacking during Exploration Week on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
As a ranger with the National Park Service, CS2 Alum Katie Sloan has many responsibilities but even the smallest deed can change a life.
- English
The Five Lake Loop is a favorite lesson for both students and teachers alike! It is a combined History and English lesson that traverses the Sylvania.
- Outdoor Skills
Important lessons in Outdoor Skills prior to the Five Lake Loop and Exploration Week are portaging and canoe t-rescues.
- Art
Last week's beautiful weather lent itself wonderfully to the outdoor weaving, Earth Art, project in the commons.
- Science
This week in science class, CS17 made the first step towards building a long term monitoring plan of white tail deer population on campus.
- Science
Herbivores, omnivores and carnivores, predators and prey, this is "Life and Death in the Forest." Read about this outdoor science lesson.
- Accolades
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Annie Birkeland (CS4) explores the wonders, beauties, and dangers of ocean freediving.
- Math
Math students got out of the classroom last week and went outside and into the woods to use fractals for measuring ferns.
- English
English Teacher, Jeff Rennicke, takes time to tackle the relationship we all have with fear in the wilderness in a lesson called, "The Trail of Eyes."
Head of School, Stefan Anderson, writes about the community curriculum and opportunities for student support at Conserve School.
- Activities
Conserve School has adopted a segment of the NCT in The Trapp Hills region of Upper Michigan. Students volunteer to help maintain the trail.
- Activism
- Alumni Stories
Xander Martin (CS4) Mobilizes Colorado’s Outdoor Industry into a Political Force working for the Jared Polis for Governor campaign.
- Stewardship
In Stewardship class students harvested wild edibles, made delicious recipes, and came up with their own guidelines for harvesting with respect and for sustainability.
- Staff Workshop
Our new English Teaching Fellow, Noah, from Detroit has shared a journal entry from his first camping trip in the Sylvania Wilderness during a staff training expedition.
An introduction to Conserve School's new nine member board of trustees.
- Adventure
- Alumni Stories
Ahmae Epstein, CS11 Alum, describes how Conserve School ignited her passion for Alaska and made her determined to witness it with her own eyes.
- English
- History
Michael and Jeff, History and English teachers respectively combined lessons both in the classroom and on the Lowenwood Estate to rewrite "The Wilderness Act."
- Spanish
Our Spanish language teacher, Kathleen, taught a lesson in mindfulness entirely in Spanish to encourage both listening and thinking in Spanish.
- Art
Art teachers, Robert and Nancy kicked off the semester with a tea ceremony introducing students to crafts and natural materials used in art around the world.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Rye Amos (CS15) speaks in her own words of discovering her strengths through hard work on a stint with the Student Conservation Association.
Conserve School participated in the Click Youth Media Festival this summer at University of Wisconsin, Madison.
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
CS1 Alum, Marshall Yaklin commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy. Recently having completed primary flight training, Marshall shares his story.
- Alumni Stories
- Conservation
Tara (CS10) tells the tale of a summer at Wind Dance Farm and Earth Education Center
- Accolades
- Alumni Stories
Ryan Clark, CS6 Alum describes the thrill of his newfound love: skydiving.

The summer residency for UW-Steven Point's new Doctorate of Education in Education Sustainability took place at Conserve School. Doctoral students from California, Rhode Island, Maryland, Beijing and Wisconsin met to present what they learned in the first year of their program.

From June 10th to the 14th teachers from semester schools around the country converged at Conserve School for the third annual Semester Schools Teachers' Conference.

The final moments of any meaningful experience are important and can often be filled with emotion. Read about and see photos and video from the CS16 Semester Celebration and Recognition Ceremony.

Read about changes to the board of the Conserve School Trust coming this fall.
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal as well as transitions. All of us at Conserve School congratulate the graduates.

THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE: CS15 Alum, Majenta Stuntebeck wins writing award with her essay inspired by the beauty and silence of Conserve School's campus.

CS12 Alum, Miranda Ulrichs is turning a love of wolves and hard work into an internship with a wolf sanctuary in the Colorado mountains.

...the power of the solo experience becomes clear. Through spending over 24 hours in a single area, some of the more intricate workings of this campus became familiar.

Standing on Fisher Lake in Sylvania, squinting as the wind whipped snow into my face, I felt incredibly humbled. The magnitude of the stillness and the harsh and unforgiving solitude gave me pause. I felt small and insignificant.

... I feel like I understand myself better and have a clearer view of my own passions and aspirations. I'm excited to further my work as an environmental steward and apply what I've learned at Conserve to my hometown and all other communities and places I live...

What do History, English, and the famous Five Lake Loop have to do with each other? Read about the much anticipated and loved day of hiking and portaging to five different lakes in the Sylvania Wilderness!

Students attended a Conserve School Film Festival earlier this spring in the auditorium. It was a themed, three-block, film-fest with sixteen different short films, four trailers, and one feature length film with the filmmaker doing a talk-back.

To further promote our roles as environmental stewards, CS16 participated in a full day dedicated to developing an environmental stewardship project on "Stewardship Activity Day."

In the name of science, a new staff-member, from warmer climates, me, Kate Houle, experienced winter camping in the northwoods for the first time alongside students and some very experienced staff trip leaders.

Solo camping is an important part of the Conserve School experience.

Nyika Campbell, CS8 Alum attends the University of CO Boulder, her art inspires us to look closely and to appreciate the creativity in each piece. Sometimes a visual story speaks for itself. Thank you to Nyika for sharing her work. We continue to be inspired by our alums and the work they are doing.

This semester, we tapped and collected sap from maple trees that are probably ancestors of trees that were traditionally tapped by the Ojibwe. In the late spring and fall, we paddle lakes that were first navigated by the Ojibwe.

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." --Jane Goodall

Not all college paths are created equal. CS4 alum Mikaylo Kelly has designed his own special major called "Food Justice" at Augustana College to explore the ever-changing human relationship with food: what we eat, how it is produced, and the impact it has on the earth.

As a journalist, Mills creates opportunities for peoples' stories to be shared with others so that the face of the outdoors is more diverse.

My land ethic will be centered around the conservative use of depletable resources and the preservation of beautiful wildlife that has been and will remain untouched.

I developed my personal land ethic: broadly speaking, a belief that as long as we rely on the the environment and wilderness for pleasure and as a resource, we have a duty to safeguard it.

A look at how to create the foundation to build life long environmentally minded citizens.

CS16 student and leader, Ken from Beloit, WI. organized the March 14th walkout at Conserve School in solidarity with schools around the country. Here is a powerful poem that he wrote reflecting on the experience.

"Felt knowledge, History, English and Spirit Guides; using their muscles, their imaginations, their brains, and their ... spirits, through art, reading, discussion, and living their lessons."

CS2 Alum, Maria Doerr is making a difference. Her dedication to environmental communication and working to fight climate change is one we can all learn from.

Eight adventurous students and two teacher trip leaders navigated through the Sylvania on a winter camping trip traversing from a Michigan drop-off point all the way back to Conserve School campus.

CS16 held Family Weekend March 9 through the 11th on the snowy, beautiful Conserve School campus. Families had many opportunities to experience a slice of the life their students live every day at Conserve School.

As we enjoy the sweet treat of the maple syrup throughout spring we can reflect on the CS16 Maple Syruping Celebration, the Ojibwe people of this area, and the importance of connecting to the land.

A day of skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, chili lunch and a campfire at Conserve School. Our Lowenwood trails will be groomed and ready for a day of winter magic.

Teaching fellows went on a learning trip to Treehaven, to learn as well as assist with adaptive environmental education lessons for vision impaired youth.

Today marks the beginning of the fifth week for the students of Conserve School semester 16. Over the past 31 days the students have moved from a tentative group of strangers to a close knit group of friends. I have appreciated the chance to observe this evolution.

CS12 Alum heads to Israel for The Champions of the Flyway bird race.

CS13 Alum, Sophia Butkiewicz making a difference working to change our education system and the next generation of students.

Unlike an igloo that is made up of blocks of hard snow, a quinzee is essentially a pile of snow that is formed by shoveling snow into a mound, compacting it, then letting it settle. In an Outdoor Skills workshop about 20 students helped create these winter structures.

Students at Conserve School, as part of their AP Environmental Science class, keep a Phenology Journal. As the seasons change during the four month long semester, they journal and use visual art, like sketching and photography to record their observations.

At Conserve School, we consider how to reduce the waste of natural resources. For this project in particular, with the lush green of the balsam fir branches, we wanted to use this resource to make handmade art.

A special event for the town of Land O' Lakes, many locals and visitors gather to support Sled Dog racing teams. Also an especially memorable weekend for Conserve School students as they volunteer and learn about the unique winter sport of Dog Sledding.

In this Stewardship Seminar, students sustainably harvested White Pine, Balsam Fir, Eastern Hemlock, and Northern White Cedar to make winter teas.

Meeting new friends, the anticipation of great adventures, and sharing our campus with new students means the semester has begun! Orientation Weekend is an exciting time for both staff and students.

We close each semester with celebration, ceremony and some tearful goodbyes. There is a delicious feast, some parting gifts, and words of wisdom as students prepare for their next chapter.

I wanted these photos to focus on one single subject, rather than looking at the bigger picture. Conserve School has taught me to examine the details, single cogs in a much larger machine.

I have felt myself adapt and seen the world around me change. I have tried to capture this transition in my photography.

The past month has been a busy one as Conserve School has moved from a tearful goodbye for the students of semester 15 to the intensely busy work of refreshing the campus for the arrival of the semester 16 students. I have often heard comments about how great it must be to work at Conserve School with such nice relaxing breaks between the semesters. This month I would like to share with you a bit of how staff have been spending that "relaxing time".

In this hands-on, experiential course we explore the role of photography in nature appreciation, art, and activism using the natural setting of the Conserve School campus and the nearby Sylvania Wilderness as our subject.

Seven Conserve School students and two Conserve School staff, had the opportunity to visit the Keewanaw Bay Indian Community's Natural Resources Department the first weekend of December.

Bringing our Alums together twice a year the stories and friendships pickup right where they left off.

Pedaling for Power: CS3 alumi Katie Ledermann completes a bicycle ride across the country to raise awareness of the importance of our public lands. Click here to read Katie's story of her journey.

The bonding, the warmth, the creativity, good conversation, camaraderie and laughter were fueled by homemade treats and the satisfaction of making and creating with our own hands.

Currently a contestant for the Fjällräven Polar, Elijah may have the opportunity to participate in a 300 km dog sled journey in Norway and Sweden.

"Lumberjack lessons and events have widened my idea of what outdoor skills are. I used to think that outdoor skills just included things like backpacking, rock climbing and canoeing, but really there so much more."

CS14 Alum, using words and photos to bring awareness to our climate and environment.

"This open house had staff and guests share about their professional, academic, and recreational experiences related to environmental stewardship."

"CS15 students did an incredible job considering the needs of the social and ecological communities of Conserve School and made appropriate steps to plan, organize and implement their projects on Stewardship Activity Day."

"Having a class Taking Action Project gave me an idea of what it would be like to start my own personal Taking Action Project."

Foresters and national competitors in lumberjacking, including CS teaching fellow, Kate Witkowski, shared their skills, talents and knowledge with students in on a snow-covered field at Conserve School.

On November 2, six students participated in a Conserve School project at the apiary to tend to the bees.

Connecting through shared gratitude for the land and each other: Students went for a walk on Lowenwood to reflect on how being present in a moment is a form of gratitude.

Earth Fest week at Conserve School always wraps up with a special dinner. This fall's meal was planned by the Conserve School students using recipes from home.

"The photos from the simple camera I traveled with will be visual aids to all my peers and to me in the future, showing what we need to fight so hard to preserve and continue enjoying for our generation and generations to come."

Logs fuel the fire as students listen to the presentation on chaga in the northwoods. Beloved campus dog, Oliver, attended the seminar as a special guest.

Stewardship Guest Speakers Mark Voss, Augie Voss, and Bailey Sargent: Sustainable Agriculture (Mark Voss) Stewardship and CS Alums (Augie and Bailey) - A look at what they've accomplished since attending Conserve School.

Inspired by a guest speaker, some CS15 students made repairing bat boxes their Taking Action Project.

"I felt very much at peace there; to me, it was the kind of place where I felt I could stay for a long time. It also stood out as a place worth protecting."

"I was able to appreciate nature by seeing it new ways; getting comfortable with darkness, and making sure I noticed nature's beauty by looking up."

Exploration Week is a time of connecting to nature, physical challenge, bond building, reflection, personal discovery and so much more!

Sometimes a challenging hike can become a metaphor for life.

Anevay knew she needed to slow down and be aware of her survival needs in order to gain a sense of belonging in the wilderness.

A film about keeping public lands in public hands.

Rowen sought appreciation, community and mystery. He found it in his land ethic on Exploration Week.

Prior to Exploration Week, Emilia had an "objective revelation" that was the source of some anxiety. She decided to work it out in nature.

One student's story about personal discovery on Exploration Week in the Sylvania Wilderness.

An after school activity where students learned screen printing and discussed the relationship between art and advocacy.


Conserve Students all take a physical education course entitled "Outdoors Skills." It's not a typical high school class!

In a recent after school activity, CS students gathered wild rice on the Ontonagon River near Watersmeet, MI.

Working for solutions for Climate Change

This is what stewardship and taking action looks like.

CS13 Alum, Clay Parmley, Apprentice work with deadly snakes.

On move-in day, each CS15 student was asked to write on a white board something they celebrate or would like to celebrate.

On Friday August 18, 2017 Conserve School welcomed 59 students for semester 15 (CS15).

New Way teaches that Love > Fear, and there IS power in Love.

CS1 Alum, Emma Doden taking the "wildlife" in her degree seriously.

CS3 Alum Katie Lederman biking for America's Public Lands






Megs Seeley, Graduation from UW Madison, summer job in Yosemite National Park and the 2017 SheAdventures Scholar

Being a good neighbor is important to Conserve School. Throughout the school year there are several community service opportunities that Conserve School supports by providing opportunities for students to help out at.

Conserve School students spent an afternoon in English and history class paddling through the Sylvania Wilderness in the style of the Corps of Discovery from 1805 and looking ahead to 2064, the 100th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

Each semester a day is devoted to giving back to Conserve School in the form of stewardship. This spring, students spent half of the day working on permaculture projects in the garden and the other half pulling invasive species.

Each semester Conserve School has a designated Earth Week. This spring Earth Week was held on April 17 - 21st with the theme being " Water is Life."

CS4 Student Explores the Political Arena Through Internship.


This past week all students were invited to a Stewardship Syruping Celebration to participate in a traditional Ojibwe Syruping Ceremony and help tap maple trees to get syrup for the dining hall.

Heightening the global awareness with children from Madison and Guatemala.

On move-in day, CS14 Students and Staff used one word to describe what Nature Is. Open up this post to see a slideshow of students and some staff members with their word.

Sarah awarded Nancy Klamm Award best undergraduate poster at the Wilson Ornithological Society

Kevin Geisen gains international skiing experience in Kazakhstan.

Spanish classes at Conserve School routinely incorporate lessons that are done outside, in our natural world.


CS4 Alum Mikaylo Kelly makes his voice heard through A Peace of My Mind

CS1 Alum feeding the flames of her passion aboard a research vessel in San Francisco Bay

Dogsledding is in the blood and a family tradition for CS13 Alum Emma Thiel.

I just started a position through the Pathways intern program on the Ottawa National Forest in Watersmeet MI.

CS1 Alum, Alex Noll, is a first year law student at the University of Michigan Law School who is studying environmental law.

In combined English and History classes last week, Conserve School students explored the power of exploration, art and their role in politics.

Conserve School designated November 7-11th as Earth Week. After school seminars and a day of workshops around the theme of "The Night Sky," were infused into the week.

Conserve Teachers and Administrators had a chance to attend the North America Association for Environmental Education Conference in Madison in October.

What do the bogs tell us? What are in the bogs? What are some folklore about bogs?

A glimpse into the first week of Spanish class.

Sometimes the best way to understand literature is to set the book aside and cut to the chase.

Math teacher Caitlin Lemley and Teaching Fellow Maria Lee recently took a group of students on a weekend camping trip.

History students are challenged to become William Clark for a day and see how accurate they can be in creating a map on campus.

The AP Environmental Science Class has been learning about Field Work and Data Analysis.

On Thursday evening, September 1st, Conserve School students and staff were fortunate to again witness an impressive display of Northern Lights.

Morgan England (CS11) spent two weeks of her summer as part of the Environmental Leadership Lab in Alaska.

Chad Roberts (CS9) and Naomi Orchard (CS9) spent the summer working at the Moab Adventure Center in Moab, Utah.

Kira Minehart (CS1), graduate of Stanford University, is headed to the Grand Canyon for the summer to work for the National Park Service as a geoscience educator.