April 4, 2006
Donna VanBuecken, Executive Director
Wild Ones Natural Landscapes Ltd
PO Box 1274
Appleton, WI 54912-1274
Dear Donna:
I am writing in response to your letter received for an interest in a partnership with Wild Ones in the development of the West Shore Preserve Environmental Center to provide our students the opportunity to participate in the protection and restoration of biodiversity and water quality in the Fox Valley area. This facility appears to be directly in line with curricular and stewardship goals we provide our students, focusing on the restoration of the Fox River through wetland and associated upland habitat preservation in the outdoors. The Center will provide space for our environmental science program that will help lead our next generations toward a new era of valued environmental stewardship.
Specifically, as an environmental charter school, we look forward to using this facility to enhance our students’ understanding and appreciation of the Center where students could
participate in studies of bird, frog and toad species, marsh and shoreland plants and water quality. Also, as the PCB contaminated sediments are removed from the river, our students need to understand all the other aspects of achieving a healthy environment for future generations. This, too, is an area of study for our students of School on the Lake. We understand this site provides habitat for many birds and butterflies while eliminating polluted run-off water from reaching our streams and rivers and could allow first-hand experiences the direct impact run-off has on wildlife and its habitat.
The Center could also provide students a unique living laboratory of ecological restoration in the middle of our Fox River Valley. Our involvement in this project could provide our students the active opportunity to help restore diversity to the adjacent upland and marsh habitats.
We, too, believe that by working together and sharing the benefits of this project, we will nurture a collaborative spirit of environmental stewardship. As a result, the environmental awareness of the general public in the Fox Valley area will increase – which will benefit us all.
Because this is a unique property, it is seen as an impetus to the re-education of the Fox Valley citizens to think in terms of environmentally friendly landscaping practices both at their homes and in the community at large and we look forward to being a partner with Wild Ones on the many opportunities of this new Environmental Center.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Very truly yours,
Suzanne Klein
School on the Lake Charter School
Maplewood Middle School