Annual Urban Ecology Center Field Trips
Exposing students to local green spaces enriches the classroom curriculum. We provide this vital experience through field trips to the Urban Ecology Center, a nonprofit Milwaukee-based organization dedicated to educating our community about the environment. The Urban Ecology Center educators engage our students through hands-on activities, indoors and outdoors, touching on subjects like conservation, sustainability and urban ecology. Students learn about local habitats, identify plants and animals, and build shelters with classmates! Rain or shine, snow or wind, every trip includes an outdoor experience for students and parent chaperones alike.
Exposing students to local green spaces enriches the classroom curriculum. We provide this vital experience through field trips to the Urban Ecology Center, a nonprofit Milwaukee-based organization dedicated to educating our community about the environment. The Urban Ecology Center educators engage our students through hands-on activities, indoors and outdoors, touching on subjects like conservation, sustainability and urban ecology. Students learn about local habitats, identify plants and animals, and build shelters with classmates! Rain or shine, snow or wind, every trip includes an outdoor experience for students and parent chaperones alike.
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Annual Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Arts in Community Education (ACE) Program
The mission of the ACE Program is to advance children’s learning and development by connecting students, teachers, school communities, and professional artists through engaging arts experiences and integrated arts curriculum.
The mission of the ACE Program is to advance children’s learning and development by connecting students, teachers, school communities, and professional artists through engaging arts experiences and integrated arts curriculum.
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UW Madison Field Trip
Fernwood students visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a campus tour. The trip allowed them to learn about UW-Madison's programs, student life, and educational opportunities, inspiring them to think about their own futures in higher education.
Fernwood students visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a campus tour. The trip allowed them to learn about UW-Madison's programs, student life, and educational opportunities, inspiring them to think about their own futures in higher education.
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Greenhouse and Sustainability Education
Funding was provided to employ experienced teacher and sustainability manager, Matt Ray, to engage students K5-8th grade in a variety of projects throughout the school year to spark their love of nature and sustainability. Students are directed to work collaboratively on the projects which fosters volunteerism and community. Students plant and create a greenhouse space that can be used for all classes to learn more about botany, zoology, and other scientific concepts within the Montessori curriculum.
Funding was provided to employ experienced teacher and sustainability manager, Matt Ray, to engage students K5-8th grade in a variety of projects throughout the school year to spark their love of nature and sustainability. Students are directed to work collaboratively on the projects which fosters volunteerism and community. Students plant and create a greenhouse space that can be used for all classes to learn more about botany, zoology, and other scientific concepts within the Montessori curriculum.
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Cross Country Skiing with the Urban Ecology Center
Lapham Peak, Kettle Moraine State Forest
Lapham Peak, Kettle Moraine State Forest
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Annual Schlitz Audubon Field Trips
The Fernwood Fund has continued its support of our students' environmental enrichment by helping fund annual field trips to the Schlitz Audubon Center. During their field trip, the students are immersed in natural experiences and are invited to deepen their sense of place and their appreciation of the vital, irreplaceable natural resources many of us take for granted each day.
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Upper Elementary Choir Support
Funding was provided to ensure Upper Elementary Choir could continue during the 2024-2025 school year while a teacher vacancy left the school without sufficient staffing. Funding allowed Fernwood to give choir students to the opportunity to share their work in a public forum (i.e. concert) and have the opportunity to participate in off-campus performance opportunities such as Solo & Ensemble.
Funding was provided to ensure Upper Elementary Choir could continue during the 2024-2025 school year while a teacher vacancy left the school without sufficient staffing. Funding allowed Fernwood to give choir students to the opportunity to share their work in a public forum (i.e. concert) and have the opportunity to participate in off-campus performance opportunities such as Solo & Ensemble.
Snacks and Support for Students and Teachers at Andrew Douglas Middle School during Lead Remediation at Fernwood
The Fernwood building, like most of MPS schools, contains lead paint. In a 2025 inspection, the levels of lead-contaminated dust was deemed unsafe and the school was temporarily shut-down for remediation work. Funding was provided to support the students and teachers by way of snacks, treats, and supplies for a movie day to create excitement around the challenges of the week.
The Fernwood building, like most of MPS schools, contains lead paint. In a 2025 inspection, the levels of lead-contaminated dust was deemed unsafe and the school was temporarily shut-down for remediation work. Funding was provided to support the students and teachers by way of snacks, treats, and supplies for a movie day to create excitement around the challenges of the week.
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School Grounds Labyrinth
Greenhouse Overhaul
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Remo Tubano Hand Drums
The music program received 28 Remo Tubano hand drums to implement Will Schmidt World Music Drumming: A Cross-Cultural Curriculum. With the hand drums and the curriculum, the program brought excitement, lessons on African and Latin American culture, and helped build important work and communication skills.
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Living Sculpture
The Growroom, an original work by SPACE10 and architects Mads-Ulrik Husum and Sine Lindholm was created to spark conversations about how to bring nature back into our cities, grow our own food, and tackle the rapidly increasing demand for significantly more food in the future. The Living Sculpture is a staple of the Fernwood Montessori entrance.
The Growroom, an original work by SPACE10 and architects Mads-Ulrik Husum and Sine Lindholm was created to spark conversations about how to bring nature back into our cities, grow our own food, and tackle the rapidly increasing demand for significantly more food in the future. The Living Sculpture is a staple of the Fernwood Montessori entrance.
Outdoor Amphitheater
The Fernwood Fund worked with a landscaping designer and builder to create an outdoor amphitheater space on the west side that enables Fernwood teachers to move elements of their instruction outside.
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Greenhouse Planter Boxes
The Fernwood Fund purchased the materials for building the planter boxes outside the greenhouse and helped provide the labor for assembly. Fernwood adolescent students provided additional labor to move 20 yards of soil to fill them in. The pile of soil was the size of a small garage!
The Fernwood Fund purchased the materials for building the planter boxes outside the greenhouse and helped provide the labor for assembly. Fernwood adolescent students provided additional labor to move 20 yards of soil to fill them in. The pile of soil was the size of a small garage!
Paving Bricks
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School Grounds Planting Days
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Garden Beds
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Model UN
