Meet the Forest Exploration Center
WE VALUE THE FOREST ENVIRONMENT
AS A NATURAL PLACE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Forest is:
A place for all; to learn, explore and recreate, a classroom, laboratory and provider of solitude.
Our Purpose:
To utlilize the forest to demonstrate and interpret the ecological, economic, cultural, and social benefits of sustainable forest stewardship to the people of Wisconsin.
To inspire understanding of the benefits of sustainable forestry through access to a managed urban woodland.
WE VALUE
Forests
We are committed to sustainable forestry practices and the functions, products, and aesthetic values they provide for current and future generations.
People
We strive to provide opportunities for all consumers of forest resources to better understand sustainable forestry through stewardship, educational explorations, and recreation.
Learning
We share a passion for learning through teaching, research, experience, and immersive educational opportunities.
Collaboration
We address forest resource management issues through science driven collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and perspectives.
Who We Serve
We serve all visitors to the forest by caring for the land through sound, science-driven, sustainable forest management.
We create meaningful and achievable opportunities in education and recreation through thoughtful and innovative development of accessible trails, programs, and self-guided explorations in forest ecology and sustainable forestry.
Our goals include:
Connecting Milwaukee County residents and visitors of all ages and abilities with Wisconsin's forests resource to share awareness of the role of forests and their resources in our daily lives.
Nurture opportunities that deepen the understanding of the ecological, social and economic benefits of Wisconsin forests.
Provide sustainable forestry education experiences and activities for children in pre-K through grade 12, parents/grandparents, residents and visitors to the area.
Connect with Wisconsin' s K-12 forestry curriculum to teach science, history, mathematics, social studies and other subjects using forestry as theme.
Provide a rotating series of immersive indoor and outdoor exhibits, workshops, programs, guided experiences and community events.
Offer an orientation to educational opportunities that connect with careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts.
Become part of an integrated land use plan, linking the forest experience with nearby University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Innovation Campus, Milwaukee County Grounds Floodwater Management Facility, Milwaukee County Parks trails and facilities, and other nearby trail systems.
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Gaertner, President
Operates a tree farm
Mary Ann Buenzow, Vice President
Forester, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-retired
Jonathan Piel, Treasurer
President, Friends of County Grounds Park
Jean Davidson
Executive Director, Davidson Yell and Tell Foundation, Inc.
Erich Ebert
Urban Wood Network WI
Alan Kesner
Wauwatosa City Attorney (retired)
Alex Krutsch
Parks and Forestry Superintendent, City of Wauwatosa
Mike Sieger
Forester, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-retired
Patrick Walsh
Arborist, Hoppe Tree Service
Eric Zenz
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Interested in joining
the Forest Exploration Center
volunteer board of directors?
Find more information
& contact us here!
