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The Aldo Leopold
Foundation

P.O.Box 77
Baraboo, WI 53913
608.355.0279
608.356.7309 fax
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Woodland School Courses


2013 Classes

 

Please contact Jen Simoni, Woodland School Coordinator, at jsimoni@aldoleopold.org or 608.355.0279 ext. 32 if you have any questions. Click here to see the courses we have offered in the past.

   

Chainsaw Safety, Level I

Saturday, March 2

COURSE FULL!
Mastering the basics of chainsaw safety is essential for woodland owners who want to be more active on their land. Chainsaw Safety is a four-level series certified by the Safety and Woods Worker Training Program (SAWW) and designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use. Hands-on training gives participants the opportunity to fell at least one tree with supervision. Level I focuses on introducing the participant to open face felling and the development of techniques to safely use it.  Topics covered include personal protective equipment chainsaw safety features, chainsaw reactive forces, bore cutting, pre-planning the fell, and understanding hinge wood strength.

Time:  8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo, WI Cost: $100 ($110 non-members)
Class Limit: Min. 10, Max. 18      

Instructor: Nathan Stanford has many years of experience teaching chainsaw safety classes and is qualified to meet the needs and experience levels of individuals and companies.  Nathan is trained as a C-certifier (Advanced Sawyer Certification) for Regions 8 & 9 U.S. Forest Service. 

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Introduction to Prescribed Burning

Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29

Learn about the fire ecology, fire behavior principles, and how to plan for using fire in managing prairie and savanna ecosystems. You will operate basic fire management tools, learn to prepare a fire unit, and weather permitting conduct a prescribed fire. This course will not prepare participants to serve as a burn boss or conduct burns on their own. Register here.

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo. Cost: $90 ($100 non-members).
Class Limit:
24.

Instructors: Steve Swenson – Has been serving as the ecologist for the Aldo Leopold Foundation since 1999. Steve has 10 years of experience conducting prescribed burns on private land covering a range of habitats from oak woodland to open prairie. Steve has attended the NWCG S-130, S-190, I-100 (fire fighter type 2 training). Steve received his Bachelor’s degree (1995) in Environmental Science and Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and a Master’s degree (1999) in Plant Ecology from The Ohio State University. 

Alanna Koshollek – Serves as the stewardship coordinator at the Aldo Leopold Foundation.  She began her prescribed burn experience in 2001 through the UWSP prescribed burn crew and continued gaining experience when taking the position with the Aldo Leopold Foundation in 2005. Alanna has attended the NWCG S-130, S-190, I-100 (firefighter type 2 training), S-131 firefighter type 1 training, S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, S-390 Introduction to Fire Behavior Calculations, S-234 Ignition Operations, and L-280 Fireline Leadership. She earned a B.S. degree in Forestry with an emphasis in Ecosystem Management and Restoration with a Conservation Biology Minor from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and has a Masters in Natural Resource Policy and Planning from UWSP.

Leann Wolthusen - Leann is in her second year of internship with the Aldo Leopold Foundation. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and will be assisting in instructing Introduction to Prescribed Burning.  This will be her second fire season.

Jeannine Richards - Jeannine is the currently the communications coordinator at the foundation, but she started out working with the land stewardship crew. She has been assisting with prescribed burns for ten years and has attended the NWCG S-130, S-190, I-100 (firefighter type 2 training) and S-131 firefighter type 1 training. She will be helping to instruct the field portion of the class.

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Backyard Sustainability: Gardening and Composting Basics

Saturday, April 13

You don’t have to own a farm to be a farmer! Tina Lupiezowiec, owner of Goin’ Lupi and eccentric urban farmer will demonstrate how anybody living anywhere can grow fresh food naturally and sustainably right in their own backyard. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out, this class will cover topics from gardening basics and raised bed construction to composting tips and tricks, rainwater collection systems, and companion planting and interplanting techniques to naturally attract beneficial insects to your gardens and foster complementary relationships between neighboring plants. Register here.

Time: 9am - 12pm. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo.Cost: $30 ($35 non-members).
Instructor: Tina Lupiezowiec,Owner & Eccentric Urban Farmer of Goin' Lupi, LLC.

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Foraging the Landscape: Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

Saturday, May 11

COURSE FULL!

Learn from Sam Thayer, renowned author and forager and internationally recognized authority on edible wild plants how to confidently identify, harvest and prepare wild plants in a variety of landscapes from prairies to forests. You’ll experience first-hand how the craft of foraging has been connecting people and nature for centuries. Sorry, this course is full.

Time: 9am – 3pm. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo. Cost: $50 ($55 non-members)
Class Limit: 25

Instructor: Samuel Thayer, Wisconsin Native, National Wild Foods Hall of Famer and Author of Forager’s Harvest and Nature’s Garden. Visit his website for more information.

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Why Native? Introduction to Native Landscaping and Design

Saturday, June 8

The benefits of native plants for landscaping range from low-maintenance, hardiness, educational, environmentally-friendly, and not to mention, beautiful! Come learn from the landscape designer who designed the Leopold Center’s gardens how native plants are being used and how you can use native plants in your landscaping. This is a great opportunity to talk with an expert about your plans and designs for using native plants in your landscaping! Register here.

Time: 9am-12pm. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo. Cost: $20 ($25 non-members) *Sign up for both June 8 workshops and save! $35 for members and $45 for non-members* Class Limit: 25
Instructor:  Marcy Huffaker, Landscape Designer.

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Prairie Plant Identification

Saturday, June 8

COURSE FULL!

Wondering what the tiny seedlings in your prairie will be when they grow up? Have trouble telling grasses apart? Don’t know your goldenrods as well as you’d like to? We will help you build a toolbox of tips and tricks that will help you to distinguish even the most similar prairie flowers and grasses. As we walk around several prairie restorations, we will look at plants of different life stages, from seedling to adult, and we will discuss the soil and water conditions that favor certain types of grassland communities. Register here.

Time: 1pm – 4pm. Location: Leopold Center, Baraboo. Cost: $20 ($25 non-members) *Sign up for both June 8 workshops and save! $35 for members and $45 for non-members* Class Limit: 25
Instructor:  Darcy Kind, WDNR Private Lands Biologist, Landowner Incentive Program.

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Trail Planning

Saturday, November 9

Thinking about installing trails on your property, but don’t know where to put them? Let an expert help! Tim Malzhan from the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) will provide you with basic information you need to know to install trails that are both sustainable and reduce erosion. Other topics covered will include trail layout and design, site analysis, measuring techniques and basic construction. The course will finish with a hike around the Leopold Center to discuss current trail conditions and recommendations. Happy Trails!