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. Our next meeting will be November 11 from 6:30-8pm at La Academia (enter Door 1.) All are welcome (including your kids!) Questions? Email: schoolforestlaacademia@gmail.com.
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
Upcoming Events
- November 11: School Forest Committee meeting, 6:30-8pm at La Academia
- Feb. 16 - April 2, 2026: Second annual Gertens Spring Plant Sale
- Saturday, May 9, 2026: Gertens Spring Plant Sale Distribution (La Academia Main Parking Lot)
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