Wildlands Needs Your Support. 

Dear Friend of Wildlands School,

Greetings from Wildlands! As a student, parent, or past supporter, every one of you has played a role in the history of our 16-year journey from three teachers and 40 students in 2005 to our current five full-time staff and 75 students. Growth brings change, but we have never wavered from our mission of supporting an active, innovative, student-driven learning community.

And now we have historic news: A local foundation is providing matching funding to establish an endowment fund to keep Wildlands on course for a bright future. The methods that make Wildlands successful often fall outside the traditional school model. The endowment fund won’t replace year-to-year budgetary funds or operating costs, but it will help ensure the Wildlands spirit will not be restricted by school funding formulas. 

The matching gift from this foundation gives us a fabulous head start; however, we need to reach a balance in this fund where the three priorities outlined below can be funded by interest only, without depleting the main fund. The priorities of the endowment fund are:

1. Funding student project scholarships, trips, and equipment to support student project development and expand active learning opportunities.

2. Getting a head start on savings for equipment replacement to keep student opportunities up-to-date. (We have maintained our infrastructure and equipment well but most were purchased with grant money in 2005 and 2007 and current school budgets are not keeping pace.)

3. Funding Wildland’s unique teacher training and professional development requirements so that we can meet the needs of all students. 

   • Wildlands was founded on innovation, creativity, and a non-traditional project-based and expeditionary learning environment.  

   • To sustain Wildlands long into the future we need to support our staff and provide learning opportunities that require more than the traditional teacher professional development. 

Wildlands will be conducting focused fundraising drives with matching fund goals over the next year or two.  Please consider donating to help us build a sustainable future for the school. 

Please consider donating any amount within your means by clicking here. Your donation is fully tax-deductible and will make a world of difference in our community. If you have questions about the specific difference your dollars can make, please visit wildlandschool.net or call 715-286-4400. 

Finally, whether in money, in spirit, or through word of mouth, thank you--thank you--for your support of Wildlands. It is a privilege we never take for granted.

Sincerely,

Wildlands School Staff and Governance Board