Aldo Leopold Nature Center nurtures children, their well-being, and environmental sustainability through connecting and learning in nature. 

Located in Monona, for over 30 years, Aldo Leopold Nature Center has engaged, educated, and empowered students through programming and services designed primarily for school-age children, ages 2-14. We reach these students, and others, through their teachers and families, our community partners, donors, and volunteers, by providing school field trips, summer camps, caregiver-child programs, homeschool programs, after-school programs, vacation day programs, scout programs, the Aldo Leopold Nature Preschool, and free, seasonal events. We also take our programs 'On the Road' meeting children and families where they are and emphasizing the fact that nature can be found anywhere.

Contact: Kaitlin Knudson, Environmental Educator & Volunteer Coordinator

Girl Scouts empowers youth through outdoor education, fostering leadership, confidence, and a lifelong connection to nature.

Girl Scouts provides rich and diverse outdoor educational opportunities that help youth build confidence, leadership skills, and a strong connection to the natural world. Through experiences like overnight camp, high-adventure trips, and local explorations, girls are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and engage deeply with the outdoors. Our camp programs are designed to grow with girls, offering progressive skill-building in areas like hiking, canoeing, outdoor cooking, archery, and environmental stewardship. Campers explore their independence while forming strong bonds with peers and adult mentors in a safe, supportive environment.

Beyond camp, Girl Scouts earn outdoor-themed badges and patches that cover topics ranging from Leave No Trace principles and eco-awareness to survival skills and outdoor art. These recognitions allow girls to explore their interests, set goals, and be acknowledged for their achievements in the outdoors. High school-aged Girl Scouts have opportunities for more advanced adventures, such as backpacking treks, kayaking expeditions, and leadership roles in younger girl outdoor programs.

Girl Scouts also partners with community organizations to expand access to outdoor experiences for all members, including those in underserved areas. Programs like our "Girls in Action" initiative bring outdoor learning to after-school spaces, ensuring every girl has the chance to experience nature’s transformative power. Whether through a single hike or a multi-day adventure, Girl Scouts encourages curiosity, resilience, and environmental responsibility, making outdoor education a cornerstone of our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.

Contact: Brennan Kurkowski, Education Specialist

Biomass Industry Comes to Earth.

We are a new consulting firm representing some of the leading experts and technologies from the biomass/remediation industry. We are bringing new models of economy based on trends around the world, conversion of biomass to energy, to benefit the soil, the climate and future generations.

Contact: Bevan Suits, CEO

We provide free outdoor adventures for kids in Dane County.

Our Core Belief is that nature is the greatest healer and teacher. Our Mission is to provide outdoor opportunities that increase health and wellness and promote learning. We create community through public hikes and events that heal our hearts, calm our minds, and remind us that we are more alike than different. We provide free outdoor adventures in Dane County. We primarily serve community centers. 

Contact: Diane Schwartz, Founder and CEO

Green & Healthy Schools Wisconsin is a movement of schools, community partners, and state agencies working together to catalyze a culture of sustainability and wellness in all Wisconsin schools.

Led by the Wisconsin Departments of Public Instruction and Natural Resources, partners work together to realize three shared goals. Green & Healthy Schools provides state resources and technical assistance for WI teachers. 

Contact: Xia Lowery, Green & Healthy Schools Program Coordinator

Natural Playground Company.

GRG Playscapes is a Wisconsin-based company dedicated to designing and building natural playgrounds, outdoor classrooms, and nature-based learning environments that spark imagination, exploration, and connection. With roots in both Milwaukee and Green County, we partner with schools, child care centers, municipalities, and community organizations to transform outdoor spaces into vibrant, engaging places for play and growth.

Backed by over 20 years of experience, our team brings together thoughtful design, sustainable materials, and a deep understanding of how children interact with the natural world. Whether it’s a small urban courtyard or a large community park, we create customized spaces that inspire creativity, support development, and build lasting connections between children and nature.

GRG Playscapes  serves children by crafting natural playscapes that inspire self discovery.– we are on a mission: to help 10 million children connect with nature by 2030—one space at a time.

Contact: John LaPointe, Founder & Co-owner GRG Playscapes

Ethically raise money for your school or organization by selling fair trade Guatemalan merchandise directly sourced from Guatemalan artisans and family businesses.

Melinda Van Slyke founded Heart of the Sky Fair Trade as a way to support Guatemalan artisans and family businesses, many of whom she met while volunteering as a human rights observer in Guatemala. One of the ways that Heart of the Sky Fair Trade helps sell Guatemalan items is by partnering with schools and other organizations in the US so they can sell gorgeous, one-of-a-kind merchandise such as accessories, beadwork, and kitchen and home goods. Teachers love Heart of the Sky Fair Trade Fundraisers because the students learn about Guatemala and the importance of fair trade practices, and parents love Heart of the Sky Fair Trade Fundraisers because the items are so unique. 

Contact: Melinda Van Slyke, Owner, Heart of the Sky Fair Trade

Inspiring personal growth through nature connection and mindful play.

Moira teams with a group of collaborative educators who are enthusiastic about maintaining health through social, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Our goal for individuals is to have fun and relax by connecting with their true 'self' through nature-based programming. We guide people to actualize their full potential by beginning to seek it out in their daily lives through nature connection and mindful play. Holistic programming throughout the lifespan has taken the form of camps, after school programs, workshops, presentations, workplace wellness and various types of retreats. Forest bathing, yoga, sound healing, Reiki, breathwork, kayaking, ayurvedic eating, nervous system education, facilitated community connection and leadership development are common topics and modalities offered during programs. We provide resources to kids, parents, families and adults for ongoing growth. Hike and Heal Wellness has provided staff wellness and leadership workshops for schools since its inception in 2017.

Contact: Moira Farrell, Founder/Owner

Think Outside is designed to provide a bite-sized introduction to Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail for teachers who are looking for options to get beyond four walls and weave in more of nature’s classroom into their curriculum. 

The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) is a 501©3 non-profit, member and volunteer organization with the mission to protect, create, maintain and promote the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The Think Outside program supports this mission through 4th grade field trips across the state of Wisconsin. The Ice Age Trail Alliance manages a grant partnership with the  National Park Foundation with additional support from the Wisconsin Department of Natural The grant provides resources for pre-hike presentations, field trip hikes, and transportation costs. Think Outside Hike Leaders across Wisconsin  connect students to the history of the land that the students call home.

Contact: Kathy Waldera, Think Outside/Saunter's Project Coordinator

The International Crane Foundation works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend by providing knowledge, leadership, and inspiration to engage people in resolving threats to cranes and their diverse landscapes. 

The International Crane Foundation serves the community by providing educational resources, such as "crane trunks" and K-12 lesson plans, for educators to incorporate programs exploring crane biology, ecology, and conservation into their curricula , offering in classroom visits, and hosting fields trips to experience all 15 species of cranes found around the world at our international headquarters in Baraboo, WI.

Contacts: Jennifer Drayna, Conservation Education Director, and Olivia Burkholz, Outreach Program Assistant

The LEAF School Grounds Program views school sites as part of the larger urban forest and serves as a resource for Wisconsin educators who are seeking ways to use their school grounds as outdoor teaching sites. 

The LEAF School Grounds Program views school sites as part of the larger urban forest and serves as a resource for Wisconsin educators who are seeking ways to use their school grounds as outdoor teaching sites. The program was designed to help teachers discover teaching and learning opportunities that exist right outside the school doors. LEAF has built relationships with a vast number of school districts, administrators, and teachers throughout the state. LEAF provides professional devleopment for educators, and has resources, lessons, and tools that can be integrated to enhance learning opportunities on school grounds.

Contact: Katie Estlund, Outreach Specialist

Connecting Madison Communities and Kids with Nearby Nature. 

Madison FUN is a 13 year working partnership of Parks, Community, Environmental and Friends groups. Together we co-sponsor 120 year round weekly free family friendly welcoming inclusive naturalist guided Bird and Nature Advdntures in local parks and natural areas. We also host the annual free Madison Bird and Nature Festival and coordinate teaching the Madison FUN Wisconsin Master Naturalist Class with a special focus on urban nature and equitable access to nature.

Contact: Paul Noeldner, Ambassador of FUN

MSCR provides school and community environmental education field trip opportunities at the Madison School Forest and other Madison locations. 

MSCR's Outdoor Programs offers a variety of custom program options for groups ranging from youth groups to adult professionals. Trained Outdoor Instructors facilitate a meaningful experiences to connect participants to the outdoors and to each other through environmental education, teambuilding and paddling programs. We also offer community classes and overnight experiences at the Madison School Forest.

Contact: Elizabeth Just, Recreation Specialist - Environmental Education

Mentoring Positives is a Madison-based, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to uplifting youth and families through mentoring, athletics, and social entrepreneurship. 

Founded in 2004, we work directly with youth especially those from underrepresented and underserved communities to build strong, trusting relationships, life skills, and leadership development. Our innovative programs include Off the Block Salsa and Pizza, a youth-led food business that teaches entrepreneurship, job readiness, and teamwork. Youth participate in all aspects of the business from production to marketing gaining valuable real-world experience. This social enterprise model allows us to mentor through action, instilling pride and purpose.

We provide classroom visits, mentorship sessions, and educational field trips to our production space, Muriel’s Place, where students experience hands-on learning in culinary arts, business, and community development. Educators can bring students for site tours, interactive workshops, or invite us into classrooms for tailored presentations on leadership, goal setting, and social impact.

At its heart, Mentoring Positives offers hope and opportunity. We aim to build the next generation of change-makers by nurturing their potential, affirming their voices, and helping them lead positive change in their communities.

Contact: Will Green, Executive Director

The Morgridge Center for Public Service connects campus and community through community-based service, learning, and research to build a thriving democratic society. 

The Morgridge Center for Public Service connects University of Wisconsin-Madison students, staff and faculty to local and global communities to build partnerships and solve critical issues through service and learning. Our flagship volunteer program, Badger Volunteers, is a semester-long program (11-week commitment) that pairs teams of students with community organizations to volunteer 1 to 4 hours each week at the same organization. The program is designed to foster meaningful and consistent connections between community partners and students over the course of an entire semester. 

Through Badger Volunteers, we partner with over 60 local community organizations focused on a variety of issues, one of them being urban farming and community gardening. Our Badger Volunteers help support many school gardens and fresh food/outdoor education initiatives in the area and we would love to create new partnerships to further support the amazing work being done in this field.

Contact: Lara Miller, Badger Volunteers Program Manager

NRF is a statewide non-profit organization that works to protect our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife by providing funding, leading partnerships, and connecting all people with nature. 

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) provides grant funding to projects that have a significant and positive impact on Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife, and that connect people to Wisconsin’s natural wonders.

NRF offers critical funding opportunities to educators, schools, nature centers, and other education partners for efforts that engage youth in hands-on, meaningful environmental education through our Go Outside Fund. We also provide a direct connection to Wisconsin’s natural resources through our Field Trip program.

Contact: Marie Jensen, Conservation Program Specialist

The Youth Black Excellence Cooking Class & Meal Kit Program is a series of 4-week virtual cooking experiences taught by outstanding Madison Area Black chefs to students (age 11-17). 

The Youth Black Excellence Life Readiness Meal Kit & Cooking Class Program launched in 2020 as an MMSD Youth Black Excellence initiative program created by Prenicia Clifton of Seein' is Believin' in collaboration with Pasture and Plenty. Students and their families receive a weekly full meal kit which feeds 4 and includes a course pack of recipes, kitchen science experiments and more food-based STEAM curriculum. Each student/family participated in a weekly virtual hands-on cooking class to show them how to make the course pack recipes step-by-step. High-quality, local ingredients are sourced from area farms, with a special effort to get as many supplies from Black and women-owned farms and food producers. Each class, students follow the progress of the growing season through weekly virtual farm "field trips" with Field Guides Alex Booker and Qwantese Dourese Winters.

Contact: Alex Booker, Community Eats Program Coordinator

PBS Wisconsin Education offers curiosity-powered, standards-aligned classroom media resources and professional learning opportunities for educators. 

PBS Wisconsin Education activates technology to serve learners and educators, because learning happens everywhere - the world is our classroom. We amplify the expertise of Wisconsin educators and learners - along with best practices in education - to nurture learning in Wisconsin's classrooms, virtual environments, and neighborhoods with always free-to-use multimedia resources and powerful and practice professional learning opportunities for Wisconsin educators.

Contact: Mia Forslund, Education Engagement Specialist

Playful Acorns creates connections between kids, caregivers, nature, and the community by holding collaborative events and storytimes. 

In 2023, Samantha Cora Christian Haas created the organization Playful Acorns for those who are craving connection with more caregivers and the healthy benefits of being immersed in the natural world, all while their kids play and socialize together. We host collaborative art, music, yoga, storytime activities throughout Dane County. Many of our programs are free, and we have a Play It Forward fund available for anyone to donate to or request to use if costs are prohibitive. Sam is also the children’s picture book author of “Waverly Braves the Breeze: The Story of a Galapagos Albatross,” which was published in 2024 and is geared toward ages 4-8. She frequently visits schools and libraries to do book talks that blend themes about bravery, empathy, friendship, and caring for our natural world.

Contact: Samantha Cora Christian Haas, Creator, Author, and Photographer

REAP Food Group (REAP) is a nonprofit community service organization with a mission to transform communities, economies, and lives through the power of good food.

REAP Food Group (REAP) is a nonprofit community service organization with a mission to transform communities, economies, and lives through the power of good food. We are committed to efforts that strengthen food security and build local food infrastructure, support small and mid-sized Wisconsin farms, connect rural and urban communities, and ensure that equitable power and inclusive voices shape access to good food across Wisconsin. REAP envisions a vibrant and just food system where all people have access to good food, grown well.

Contact: Allison Pfaff Harris, REAP Food Group Farm to School Director

Rooted in our mission to grow a community-led, sustainable food system through urban agriculture education, food production, and land access.

Rooted’s education programs serve people of all ages, from babies through elders, throughout Madison and the surrounding area. This includes three youth-focused educational farms including Madison School Farm, Troy Kids’ Garden, and Badger Rock Urban Farm. Gardening and culinary education programs with 12 MMSD schools, 6 community centers, and justice-involved youth at Grow Academy. And a year-round youth employment program. Our educational programs draw upon the expertise of community members, and Rooted is one of the few non-profits in Madison partnering with MMSD and other educators to provide hands-on urban agriculture education for all kids, regardless of economic status.

Contact: Cass Hanson, Development Director

Visit the UW-Madison Co-Create table to participate in a fun opportunity to uplift our voices around food justice, environmental justice, and social equity. 

Storytelling is a powerful tool for change—and we want to hear your story! Visit the UW-Madison Co-Create table to participate in a fun opportunity to uplift our voices around food justice, environmental justice, and social equity. Respond to a short prompt and snap a photo of your message of why these issues matter to you.  Add your story to others’ and help us envision and communicate a more just and sustainable food system. 

Contact: Costanza Generali, Research & Evaluation Specialist

We teach, learn, lead, and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.

UW-Madison Extension Dane County’s programming and resources are available to all Dane County community members, especially communities and groups who may identify as under-resourced or underserved. Our FoodWIse nutrition educators provide lessons to lower-resourced school classrooms and community gathering spaces. We have a multitude of youth development and leadership groups, clubs, classes, and opportunities for all ages and interests. We also provide programming and resources in natural resources, horticulture, food systems, and more to meet community members’ interests and needs.

Contact: Jess Guffey Calkins, Community Food Systems Educator

We facilitate outdoor immersion programming to empower youth, teens, adults, and families to nurture connective relationships with the Earth, self, and their communities for a thriving and balanced planet.

Wild Harmony Nature Connection (formerly Wild Harvest) is an outdoor immersion program committed to supporting children, families, and adults in sharing their unique gifts in connection with the larger world. We support each individual in strengthening their personal path while deepening their awareness of the interconnectedness our world needs now more than ever. In the field and in our programs, this looks like play, exploration, creativity, earth skills, sensory awareness and expansion, while building connection with the natural world, ourselves, and each other. Wild Harmony is shaped by the 8 Shields Coyote Mentoring model, the teachings of Tom Brown Jr.'s Tracker School, and the landscapes and seasons we inhabit. At our foundation, we understand connection to nature is a birthright, and we aim to offer programming that is accessible to all community members, both through scholarship funding as well as through intentional programming that prioritizes a sense of belonging with each other and to the Earth.

Contact: Meg Barrow, Co-Director

Willy Street Co-op is a full-service grocery cooperative.

Willy Street Co-op is a full-service grocery cooperative where you don't have to be a member to shop - everyone is welcome! We have three stores in the greater Madison area offering organic, locally made, and sustainably produced foods and household products. Find vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free foods as well as grass-fed beef and organic dairy products. We also offer a variety of classes for kids and adults on topics including cooking, DIY, yoga, meditation, and nutrition. Learn more at willystreet.coop.

Contact: Liz Hawley, Education and Outreach Coordinator

Environmental Conservation Organization.

Our mission is to empower the Latino community to take action against environmental hazards and confront the challenges of climate change adaptation and decarbonization. Through our bilingual outreach initiatives and engaging community science programs, we aim to spark a sense of environmental consciousness and encourage individuals to take action. We advocate for environmental justice, reducing the energy burden faced by marginalized communities. We strive for the equitable inclusion of BIPOC communities in the transition to a clean energy economy, fostering a just and sustainable future for all.

Contact: Cristina Carvajal, Executive Director

The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) and its partner the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) offer opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school educators to bring real-world research in clean energy into their classrooms via free lessons and field trips to UW–Madison.

The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) and its partner the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) at UW–Madison offer opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school educators to bring real-world research in clean energy into their classrooms via free lessons and field trips and classroom visits. We also coordinate the statewide Wisconsin KidWind Challenge and support other outreach programs across Wisconsin.

Contact: Allison Bender, Outreach Program Manager