School Forest

Join Us!

The School Forest Committee is for La Academia families, extended families, staff, neighbors, friends, and community members who care about our forest and outdoor education. We need passionate volunteers with all kinds of skillsets. Check back in August for our next meeting date in mid-late September! All are welcome (including your kids!) Questions? Email: schoolforestlaacademia@gmail.com. 

School Forest Committee secures $46,525 DNR ReLeaf Grant

Our school forest has been selected for a Minnesota DNR ReLeaf Grant to combat the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) crisis in Carver County. Beginning this August, work will be underway to restore habitat that has been greatly affected by human influence on the area for decades. 

Thank you to the neighbors who attended our information session on August 5! If you missed it and have questions, please feel free to email us to connect directly.

Phase I (August 2026): A professional tree service will remove 107 ash trees that have died or are actively dying from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. Sadly, EAB has already had a significant impact on the canopy of our forest as trees have begun to die. Removal of the dead and dying trees will have a noticeable effect on some areas of our beloved forest. However, since ash trees become very brittle soon after being impacted by EAB, this is necessary work for the safety of all visitors to our forest. 

At the same time, large areas of invasive buckthorn will be cleared, creating space to restore the forest's native ecology and ensure its survival for future generations. Because buckthorn would quickly return without additional support, a layer of mulch will be maintained in those areas for as long as needed to fully eradicate the infestation. 

Phase II (Fall 2026): A professional landscape service will plant 22 trees to begin to re-establish a diverse, native tree population. The ReLeaf grant will provide watering supplies, and committee volunteers will be responsible for keeping these trees watered and healthy. If you are willing to volunteer with us, please get in touch via our contact form below. Volunteers will sign up by the week to keep the commitment manageable. 

Phase III (2027 and beyond): The ReLeaf grant will provide buckthorn mitigation tools (loppers, brush pullers, etc.) for committee volunteers to keep buckthorn at bay. As needed, we will post volunteer opportunities for "buckthorn busting" events open to community helpers. 

As buckthorn is reduced and eradicated, the School Forest Committee will seek additional resources to reseed previous buckthorn areas with native plants, shrubs and trees that will contribute positively to our forest ecology. 

While significant changes to our local canopy can be stark, these steps are critical for the long-term health of our woodland. EAB and invasive buckthorn threaten native biodiversity and prevent young trees from thriving. By managing these threats, we are establishing a resilient, diverse forest ecosystem. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Minnesota DNR for providing the funding to make this project possible, as well as the Eastern Carver County School District for their support. 

Picture of an ash tree killed by emerald ash borer

Shown below: The aerial map shows the portions of our school forest that will be impacted by tree and buckthorn removal. Orange dots represent ash trees and large circles represent zones where buckthorn will be removed. 

An aerial map of the La Academia School Forest shows where trees and buckthorn will be removed

Shown right: The photograph shows an area of our school forest (near disc golf basket #5) that has been greatly impacted by both Emerald Ash Borer and invasive buckthorn. 

Additional resources: If your property has been affected by EAB or buckthorn, there are opportunities for homeowners to receive support. 

Carver County has launched a grant program to help residents treat and protect their ash trees from EAB. Learn more here: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/public-services/environmental-services/emerald-ash-borer

Read more about EAB for Chanhassen residents: https://www.chanhassenmn.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1034/16

You can learn more about buckthorn and why it is so detrimental to a healthy woodland on the MDA website: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/commonbuckthorn

New Safety and Erosion Installation

A sign shows school forest visitors the correct path to take to combat rampant erosion

In April, members of the School Forest Committee installed a rope fence-line in the forest north of La Academia’s playground to combat rampant erosion in a much-loved space enjoyed by the public as well as classes and teams from La Academia and neighboring schools. The re-routed trail moves foot traffic farther from the critical erosion ledges. This barrier serves as a class management tool for teachers using the space, making it a comfortable gathering space for all.

This is the second rope fence-line installed by the committee in the 25-26 school year thanks to funding from the La Academia PTO and the annual School Forest Committee plant sale fundraiser. If you would like to contribute to future forest project planning and implementation, please complete our interest form here. 

Little Free Library 

There's a new Little Free Library in the La Academia School Forest

Thanks to donations from three La Academia families, a Little Free Library has been installed in our school forest! All are welcome to take and leave books. Our stewards will focus on providing elementary-aged books in English and Spanish. The community is welcome to contribute any non-religious books in good condition. Books only, please!

La Academia School Forest Committee Mission and Vision

Our mission is to foster the growth of outdoor education at La Academia, to serve all Eastern Carver County Schools and our community as stewards of our school forest land, and to inspire students to become confident global citizens who love and respect our natural world. 

Our vision is a learning environment where scholarly education is reinforced and strengthened by everyday interactions with a thriving, healthy Minnesota forest. 

Our responsibilities:

  • Provide all our students with dynamic and safe outdoor learning spaces where they can explore and connect with the natural world.  
  • Assist all our teachers and support an environment that promotes physical activity, mental well-being and creativity.
  • Utilize and maintain our unique school campus while fostering future environmental stewards. 

About Us

Since 1966, 8.5 acres of school district property north of La Academia have been designated as part of the Minnesota DNR’s School Forest Program. Members of the La Academia School Forest Committee, founded in 2024, serve as stewards of the forest as well as caretakers of La Academia’s outdoor classroom and gardens. The committee plans outdoor education events throughout the school year and hopes to increase our outreach and expand our events to the community in the years ahead. We welcome student families and community members to join us in creating a healthy Minnesota forest and fostering a love and respect for nature in our students and neighbors.

You can read more about the Minnesota DNR School Forest program on their website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/schoolforest/index.html.

To connect with the School Forest Committee, please email schoolforestlaacademia@gmail.com or complete our short committee interest form.

 

School Forest and Outdoor Learning

School forest classroom at La Academia
A person in a black coat is standing in front of a sign in a snowy, wooded area, while another person in a colorful winter outfit is visible in the background.
A group of people, dressed in winter attire, gathered around a snowy forest setting, with bare trees and a snow-covered ground.

 

Upcoming Events

  • TBD: First committee meeting of the 26-27 school year will be in mid-late September.

 

How Can You Support Outdoor Education at La Academia and Other ECCS Schools?

  • Let your child’s teacher know you value outdoor education.
  • Offer to volunteer when your child’s class has outdoor lessons, or encourage relatives to volunteer. (Grandparents make awesome volunteers!)
  • Purchase items from teacher wish lists that facilitate outdoor lessons. The School Forest Committee also has a wishlist!

How Can You Support the La Academia School Forest Committee?

  • Volunteer with our committee! We have projects for every skill and commitments that accommodate the time you have to give.
  • Protect and respect our shared forest: pick up trash, do not dump yard debris on city or district property, and respect the learning spaces in our forest.
  • Participate in our annual plant sale fundraiser.
  • Donate to our PTO. If you’d like your contribution to be designated to the School Forest Committee, please write “School Forest Committee” in the donation note.

 

 

FAQ

Where does funding for the School Forest Committee come from?

We are funded by our wonderful PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), direct donations, grants and committee member contributions. Thank you to the Jeffers Foundation for their generous support of our new garden space being built in the 25-26 school year! The committee actively seeks grants that will allow for forest restoration and preservation laid out by our DNR forest stewardship plan. We are especially grateful to the School Forest Committee members who often contribute their own money and resources to the projects they undertake.

Who maintains the Chaska Disc Golf Course that is within the boundaries of the La Academia School Forest?

The disc golf course is maintained by the City of Chaska along with volunteers outside of the School Forest Committee.

Is the public welcome on school forest land?

Yes, the public is welcome and encouraged to use this beautiful space. We ask for the community’s help keeping the area free of litter and respecting the educational spaces and materials that are in use there. It is not possible for the city or district to maintain garbage cans within the forest – please carry out what you carry in.

How does the committee solicit feedback from the community on projects that will take place in the forest?

The School Forest Committee values the input of the community members who use our forest. An ongoing community survey was published in April 2024 and posted along the forest trails. You can contribute to the survey here.

Interested in learning more about the School Forest Committee?

Contact information: schoolforestlaacademia@gmail.com

Committee interest form