Our Future

A vision for a regional nature-based education hub

Inspiring confidence, curiosity and community through year-round education and experiences in the great outdoors.

 

Our Story

We are a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and school offering year-round programs that connect children and families to nature and community. We began serving 10 youth in the fall of 2020, and have since expanded to serve an average of 100 youth per year in our core programs and camps, and reach well over 500 individuals a year through community nature offerings. We currently operate out of a two-room schoolhouse in New York Mills. We envision a sustainable future and forever home for our organization at a larger, community-focused campus with access to nature trails, forest acreage, and space to grow and serve our local communities as a regional hub for nature-based learning.

 

We cannot protect something we do not love,

we cannot love what we do not know,

and we cannot know what we do not see. Or hear. Or sense.

-Richard Louv-

 

our vision

Our future campus will serve as a regional hub for nature-based and outdoor learning and discovery through education programs, camps, and community events, with a focus on increasing awareness of, accessibility to and inclusion in local natural spaces.

This campus will offer:

  • Full Day Nature Preschool

  • Nature-based, curiosity-driven education for grades K-6+

  • Summer camps and classes for children ages 3-12+

  • After school and weekend enrichment programs

  • Nature-based community events

  • Low-cost (potentially free) outdoor gear rentals

  • Space for community gatherings

  • Year-round, full-time child care for infants and toddlers

  • Environmental Learning field trip options and partnerships for local schools

 

spreading our wings

Our project seeks to:

  • Construct a community-focused campus with 8 spacious classrooms, nature exhibits, public amenities + community gathering space

  • Provide enriching outdoor nature spaces and experiences for both our students and the wider community including a nature play area and sensory/story book trail

  • Increase accessibility, awareness and amenities related to nature-based programming, gear, and space in West Central MN

Proposed public amenities would include:

  • Nature Play Area, Trail, and Outdoor-access Bathroom open to the public from 5pm-dusk M-F + all day Sat/Sun

  • Indoor bathroom, nature exhibit, and gear rentals (skis, snowshoes, bikes, etc.) available during operating hours

  • Community classroom space available for field trips, scout groups etc. to rent

  • Continued free or low cost public classes and events throughout the year

  • Opportunities for other local schools to experience environmental learning through field trips

Other public benefits include:

  • Increased number of high-quality childcare spots in the community

  • Increased park stewardship

  • Increased awareness and use of the park leading to the potential for economic growth from visitors

 

FAQs

if you build on city land is the city responsible to pay for the building?

As we explore the potential partnership with the City of Wadena, we would like to make it clear that funding for this project would be the responsibility of Roots and Wings Forest School. Current discussion involves a land lease agreement, with ownership of the land remaining with the City of Wadena and ownership of the building remaining with our organization. Similar partnerships between nature-based organizations and City or County Parks exist around the state of Minnesota and around the country, with notable local examples including Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, Prairie Woods ELC in Spicer, and Ney Nature Center is Le Sueur County, among others. A long-term care and repair fund would also be established for the building to ensure long term maintenance and sustainability.

Why should a private school be able to build on public land?

While we do have a non-public school offering, we are a 501c3 non-profit whose mission incorporates a variety of different nature-based programming including child care/early education (preschool currently with the intention to add infant/toddler as we grow, accepting both Early Learning Scholarships and Child Care Assistance), summer camps, one day nature workshops, caregiver and me classes, homeschool classes, and community events. Our private school program accounts for just 30% of our current operations, and likely less as we continue to grow. We also hope to offer field trip opportunities for other local schools to bring Environmental Learning closer to home. These offerings are very similar to programming at the partnerships listed above.

why blacks grove?

Our organization has done weekly field trips, summer programming, and community events at Blacks Grove for several years. We hold a true love and passion for the immense biodiversity and natural uniqueness of this space. It is our intent not to take away from this, but to increase the level of awareness, accessibility, and amenities offered within Blacks Grove from a place of true passion for caring for, preserving, and sharing this space for future generations of nature stewards. We encourage you to listen to both our Phenology report and year-end-message from our Blacks Grove adventures here (thanks to KAXE Community Radio) for a small insight into our philosophy and mission at work.

Where will we get funding?

We plan to launch a capital campaign that will include private donations, grant funding, fundraising efforts, and the potential for loans to bring our project to fruition. While we may explore funding sources that involve City partnership, funds will NOT come from current city budget or taxpayer dollars. This will not be an overnight success. We understand this process will take time, effort, and commitment to see through.