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Although The Riveredge School/Sugar Maple Nature School is the first nature-based, public elementary school in southeastern Wisconsin, it is based on a model that has been around for decades and, in recent years, is seeing significant growth in other areas of the United States. The “forest school” model has been wildly successful in many European countries. Because of these successful examples, much research has documented the positive outcomes of nature-based learning.
Nature is a great equalizer. It provides an intriguing learning platform for learners of all abilities. From children who may struggle with attention challenges and a beautifully full reserve of energy to those looking for a greater academic challenge, all typically find increased enthusiasm for learning in a nature-based environment – leading to happy children and the development of lifelong learners and engaged citizens.
Nature can improve academic outcomes; students demonstrate enhanced attention, increased engagement and enthusiasm, better academic performance, and improved behavior through outdoor learning. The Sugar Maple Nature School is equally interested in students’ health and wellbeing, and the nature-based model has been proven to increase students’ physical activity, health markers such as eyesight and vitamin D levels, and social-emotional wellbeing. Natural areas in schools used for activity, labeled “Green Schoolyards,” encourage imaginative and cooperative free-play, provide more varied options for all learners, meet diverse needs of students, and support better grades and higher test scores when compared to a traditional school yard. A database and summaries of the over 400 research studies demonstrating these outcomes may be found on the Children & Nature Network website.
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Is Sugar Maple Nature School a good fit our family?
In addition to an inquiry and nature based approach to learning, consider how well your child adapts to changes in daily routines and schedules. One of the great benefits of our approach to education here at Sugar Maple Nature School is daily flexibility in how and when skills such as reading, writing, math, and problem solving are taught throughout the day. If your child adapts to changes in daily routines and schedules with ease, then Sugar Maple Nature School might be a great fit for your child’s learning style!
Students at SMNS tend to not have as many transitions from one subject to another as we integrate many of our topics and offer a number of projects while addressing the Wisconsin State Academic Standards. A day at SMNS isn’t broken down by how many minutes we spend with each subject but rather a focus on integrating the learning, letting inquiry drive some of what is learned and spending time in nature.
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Most of every day! Although the students may begin and end their days inside, in good weather the majority of the day will be spent outdoors in different areas throughout Riveredge Nature Center grounds engaged in learning activities. A severe weather policy will be strictly enforced. Student comfort will be monitored and, in addition to more traditional learning objectives, you may be surprised how well your child learns to appropriately dress for different types of weather. This time outdoors will help students receive research-supported benefits of time in nature including decreased stress, increased concentration, academic achievement, perseverance, and positive mental and physical health benefits.
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The students at Sugar Maple Nature School will learn all the required Wisconsin DPI standards, yet in an inquiry- and nature-based environment which supports individualized learning and community-building. The curriculum includes reading, writing, math, social studies, science, art, music and physical education. One of the school’s goals is to support students in developing academic outcomes which exceed state and local averages.
Rather than separate “specials” subjects, art, music and physical education are integrated across the curriculum. You may hear students singing songs about insects as they search for specimens in the prairie. Students sketching in their nature journals can be spotted on the land on most days. Cross-country skiing, hiking, tree climbing, and trail running are all ways that students engage their bodies as well as their minds at Sugar Maple Nature School. Through this integrated approach to learning, students connect to the land around them and develop a rich sense of place, land ethic, and environmental responsibility.
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We encourage all students to wear “play clothes” to school and prepare to get dirty! This is not a school for pretty dresses and nice shoes. A list will be provided with recommendations for the best type of outdoor clothing, with an emphasis on cold and wet weather.
Kindergarten and first grade students will have use of school owned Oakiwear over suits which work well in all seasons. Special equipment and unique supplies will be provided by the school for all the students.
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Yes. All teachers at Sugar Maple Nature School are licensed through Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Many of the staff have Master’s Degrees. Please read their bios for additional information.
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Please visit our “How to Enroll” page to apply for the 2023-24 school year!
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A Charter School is a Public School in WI which serves to continue the improvement and innovation of our WI Public School system. Check out this quick video from WI Resource Center for Charter Schools to get a clear explanation!
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Certain fees will be assessed from each student at the beginning of the school year, or at the time of admission if it is during the school year, to help defray the cost of specific materials. Such fees shall be in concert with the laws of the state of Wisconsin. The amount of the fees will be determined each year by the Governance Council. In the 2023-24 school year this fee is $100 per student. The payment of school fees is a family responsibility and the school administrative assistant will collect those fees.
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THE SUGAR MAPLE NATURE SCHOOL CURRENTLY ENROLLS STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN TO 5TH GRADE. THE SCHOOL IS HOPING TO EXPAND TO ADDITIONAL GRADE LEVELS IN THE FUTURE.
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We hope so! Although much development is yet to be completed, there is a strong interest in exploring options to expand our school.
The Riveredge Nature Center education staff and Northern Ozaukee School District staff have been working together to develop their middle school programming to incorporate nature based learning and ways to utilize outdoor spaces near the building. Visit “Scientists in Residence” to learn more about this partnership. RNC and NOSD’s partnership to integrate nature based learning into their programming began benefitting middle school students during the 2021-22 school year!
The Northern Ozaukee Middle School currently has around 130 total students in grades 6-8. If you are interested in learning more about Northern Ozaukee Middle School, please contact either David Karrels, Superintendent or Ann Baumann, Data & Open Enrollment Coordinator.
David Karrels, Superintendent: dkarrels@nosd.edu; 262-692-2489 ext. 402
Ann Baumann, Data & Open Enrollment Coordinator: abaumann@nosd.edu; 262-692-2489 ext. 294
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No, as a public school, we do not have a waiting list for enrollment. If demand exceeds available spots, a lottery system will be utilized. Once a family is enrolled in Sugar Maple Nature School, siblings will receive a preference for the following school year. These guidelines are determined by the Wisconsin DPI.
If you are interested in applying for the 2023-24 school year and were NOT a part of the lottery process, please view our “How to Enroll” page for 2023-24 Alternative open enrollment instructions. The alternative open enrollment period begins on July 1, 2023. (The online open enrollment process to be part of our annual lottery opens the beginning of February and closes at the end of April. Our annual lottery is held in May.)
Please refer to the school’s Enrollment and Lottery Process 1.26.23 for detailed information about our school’s lottery and enrollment process.
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A formal hot lunch program is not offered. All students will be issued a school-owned “bento box” for use with home-packed lunches. The use of these lunch containers will ensure that food is “trail durable” and decrease trash.
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Our school hours are 8:30AM – 3:35PM, Monday – Thursday, for in-person instruction.
Our Fridays are reserved for virtual instruction and teacher preparation.
See “What are Virtual Fridays?” below for more information.
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Life skills development: Our inquiry based approach to learning naturally facilitates growth in students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills, essential skills that will aid students as they navigate into the upper grades and throughout their lives. Students work together collaboratively with their classmates and teachers to investigate and explore their experiences and observations of the environment and their surroundings. We strive for students to become stewards of the land through environmental awareness and conservation throughout their lives after leaving Riveredge.
Standards based curriculum: Our teachers follow the Wisconsin State Standards for the core subject areas including Environmental Literacy and Sustainability when deciding what to teach, when to teach it and how it will be evaluated. We use standards based assessment tools such as NWEA MAP and the Wisconsin Forward exam. Lastly we use a standards based report card to communicate learning progress with the parents. These curriculum, instruction and assessment practices align with the majority of Wisconsin Middle School curriculum and evaluations practices.
Technology: Our students have access to technology in every classroom comparable to what you would find in most public schools and use those tools to facilitate the learning. Examples include electronic tablets, apps, online subscriptions with individualized student programming, etc.
Organization skills: Our students are transitioning to a variety of learning environments throughout the day. Think about the packing everything you need to go for a hike, but then add in the tools you will need to learn. Our students come to us each day ready for the environment and the learning that will take place while in it. These organizational skills build independence in our students as they prepare for different outdoor weather and both physical and academic activities.
We often hear that the hardest piece of the transition for our students is “getting used to being inside for most of the day.”
Reference Articles:
Children and nature: Following the trail to environmental attitudes and behavior
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Our Fridays are reserved for virtual instruction and teacher preparation. After careful consideration, research, and reflection, the Governance Council has approved virtual instruction on Fridays, “Virtual Fridays”, for the next three school years. This includes: 2022-23; 2023-24; and 2024-25. Mondays through Thursdays continue to be in person school days. A virtual only instruction option is NOT available at Sugar Maple Nature School at this point in time. Our focus continues to be high quality in person, nature-based outdoor learning.
Fridays consist of virtual instruction off-campus. Virtual instruction includes an all school meeting and independent schoolwork and activities. Some schoolwork and activities are online and some are traditional paper/pencil.
This school year there is an all school Google meeting 30-40 minutes long on Friday morning and assigned tasks by the classroom teachers to be completed individually at home by the student, or as a family in some cases over the day and/or weekend. Our amazing staff has organized family and cross age level projects and activities highlighting topics such as the Winter solstice, Sled dog racing, and Invasive species. The tasks offer families flexibility in their schedules.
Many PTO sponsored clubs/events are offered on Friday afternoons, such as Ski Club at Sunburst in January, Rock Climbing Club, and Archery Club.
Virtual school days are considered student attendance days. Participation is required for positive attendance as reported by the school district and to the state. Participation includes attending any virtual meetings and completion of assigned tasks.
2023-24 SCHOOL CALENDAR – Approved by the Governance Council.
Teacher preparation on Fridays includes time for teacher preparation, professional development, collaboration and meetings. Due to the format of our in person school days, students gain time in instruction due to less transitions compared to a traditional format. Teachers do NOT have any preparation time or time away from students built into school days Mondays through Thursdays. The Virtual Friday format allows teachers to have weekly preparation time to provide high quality instruction throughout the week. As a charter school, new innovative approaches and formats to instruction and learning that are different from the traditional brick and mortar school are one of our expectations.