SDR forest manager presented with Wisconsin School Forest award

The School District of Rhinelander has announce that school forest manager Mike Cheslock has been recognized with a prestigious Wisconsin School Forest Award by the LEAF Program for his outstanding contributions to the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom (CAVOC), Rhinelander’s primary school forest.

Cheslock was selected for this honor due to his exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to environmental education. Through his efforts, the Rhinelander School Forest has grown into a model program across the state of Wisconsin. He has expanded its use across grade levels and subject areas, ensuring that students have access to hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that connect them directly to forestry, conservation, and ecology.

Under his leadership, the CAVOC program has become an integral part of the district’s curriculum — supporting science instruction, promoting environmental stewardship, and helping students develop real-world skills. His work has strengthened partnerships between the school district and the broader community while creating meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students, staff, and families.

In addition to his program leadership, Cheslock is widely respected for his collaborative spirit, mentorship of colleagues, and strong relationships with students. His ability to inspire both learners and educators has had a lasting impact on the district and community.

“Mike’s leadership of our school forest and the CAVOC learning center is truly exceptional,” said superintendent Eric Burke. “The way he has developed and managed these spaces to serve our students, staff, and community is incredibly impressive. He has created opportunities for authentic, hands-on learning that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom, and our entire district is better because of his vision and dedication.”

Wisconsin’s school forest program was established nearly a century ago to allow schools to own property for forestry education, originally focused on engaging students in replanting forests. Today, the program has evolved significantly, with more than 400 school forests across the state. These forests provide opportunities to integrate environmental education into school curricula, meet state education standards, demonstrate sustainable natural resource management, and strengthen school-community connections.

The program is directed by LEAF, Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program, which is part of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. The continued success of the school forest program is made possible through the dedication of educators, students, community members, and leaders like Mike Cheslock who help these programs thrive.

Cheslock will be formally presented with the award during a ceremony at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom. He was also recognized at the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Celebration of Excellence on April 11 in Milwaukee.

This recognition highlights not only Cheslock’s individual contributions but also the strength and impact of the Rhinelander School Forest program on students and the community.