Northern Waters Environmental School

07/11/2026

Earlier this year, we shared that we are working on Expanding!

Check out this article from the Sawyer County Record (link in the comments) and these concept images of the opportunities an add-on to our current building would provide our students and community!

Please reach out with any questions: [email protected]

07/09/2026

Thank you so much for your support!!!

Our monthly fundraiser for June was a great success! Northern Waters Environmental School

06/24/2026

Only a few days left to get this delicious birria grilled cheese from EDDY’s on Third ! $1.00 from every sandwich goes to Northern Waters student projects!

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Ms. Wondergem for being nominated for teacher of the year!! A well deserved recognition!!

🍎 The Northern Waters Environmental School nominee for Teacher of the Year is Christina Wondergem. She was on the board of the charter school for several years and then became the Middle School Advisor and Lead Teacher four years ago. Her innovative thinking and work on projects such as the Climate Youth Labs Grant provides students with hands-on activities and unique learning experiences.

It has been an honor to recognize the nominees from schools across the Hayward area. Our students are truly fortunate to be supported by so many outstanding educators!

05/08/2026

Sugarbush pt. 4 - Learning from the Experts!

As part of our sugarbush project this year, we were fortunate enough to be invited to Mader's Maple. We learned about their reverse osmosis method, how they harvest and transport sap, their woodfired boiling and filtering process, and we even got to enjoy maple sugar ice cream sundaes!

Thank you to Becky and Jeff for inviting us to your home and business!

05/08/2026

Sugarbush pt. 3 - Honoring the Harvest!

This year we kicked off our Sugarbush project by enjoying the fruits of our labor from the previous year, and giving thanks to the resource we had been provided.

Students worked together in teams/pairs to make themselves a pancake lunch featuring syrup we had made the previous year. It was a great way to connect, practice our camp stove cooking skills, and celebrate maple syrup!

05/08/2026

Sugarbush pt. 2 - Collecting & Boiling Sap!

Harvest & boiling sap at NWES becomes a team effort! and because we don't have the benefits of a commercial facility, that often means we have to get creative!

Students collect sap in teams using 5 gallon pails and coolers in the back of pick up trucks. Then, it gets stored in large barrels at NWES before we boil it down over an open fire in our outdoor classroom (before finishing it inside over the stove).

Boiling over an open fire also means lots of firewood prep! Thanks to any families (especially the Walter family) who have donated firewood!

05/07/2026

Sugarbush Part 1.

Sugarbush at Northern Waters was short and sweet this year! We tapped trees near Bean Lake just outside of town and got our fill in a matter of days!

Students worked in teams to map out our sugarbush plot, ID healthy trees, tap them, and harvest sap. Check out sugarbush parts 2 & 3 plus a video of students tapping trees!

05/06/2026

My name is Victoria Tilden, and I'm a junior at Northern Waters Environmental School. For a school project on grassroots organization, I want to help people in my community. According to Alliance for Period Supplies, "1 in 3 low-income women reports missing work, school, or similar commitments due to lack of access to period supplies."

I wanted to help change that, so I decided to focus on providing menstrual products to people in need in my community, Hayward, Wisconsin. According to Data USA, 22.1% of the people living in Hayward Wisconsin live below the poverty line; that's nearly double the national average of 12.5%. So, to provide menstrual products to those in need, I decided to make period kits. Each kit is in a plain, discreet brown bag and contains 10 pads, 10 tampons, and a small pack of wet wipes. I will be distributing the kits by setting up a table and offering them to anyone who may need it, completely free, and no questions asked. If I am able to reach my goal of $300, I'll be able to create and provide nearly 50 period kits!

Please consider donating any amount you are able to help support those in need in Hayward, WI!

Link in comments!