Kohler Middle School science teacher Nicole Nevers organized a class trip to the Sheboygan marsh, thanks to NRF’s Go Outside Fund. There, students learned about wetland ecology, canoeing, and the importance of freshwater ecosystems.
The impact of outdoor childhood experiences
When it comes to inspiring environmental consideration, I am reminded of something Sir David Attenborough once said: “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they haven’t experienced.” With the future of Wisconsin’s natural resources in mind, NRF’s Go Outside Fund helps inspire the next generation of conservationists. Recently, the Go Outside Fund helped Kohler Middle School science teacher Nicole Nevers bring 57 seventh graders to the Sheboygan County Marsh, where students learned about wetland ecology.
“The best part of the experience was canoeing with all my friends in the pouring rain, definitely a moment I will never forget! I also learned that migration is getting harder for animals because there is not as many wetlands anymore.” -Kohler Middle School student
“I had the most fun canoeing, this was because we were the people in the rain being dramatic and pretending to be sailors.” -Kohler Middle School student
Students wading in the water, using nets to gather aquatic macroinvertebrates. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
Middle school on the Sheboygan Marsh
Their field trip happened across two consecutive days in May of 2025. Students had the opportunity to canoe on the marsh, survey macroinvertebrates, and see in real-time the interconnectedness of life in the wetland. Nevers wrote, “The primary goal was to enhance understanding of wetland ecology, biodiversity, how organisms interact, and the role each plays in maintaining ecological balance. A secondary goal was to promote critical thinking, collaboration among students, the methods used by scientists to study the environment, and environmental stewardship.”
Decked out in rain ponchos, winter hats, and gloves, Kohler Middle School 7th graders accomplished these goals and faced the cold and rainy Wisconsin spring weather. One day began with learning the names of indicator species such as marsh marigold, tamarack trees, and skunk cabbage. Then, they learned about the history of the mash. The students’ favorite part was paddling in canoes, where they also enjoyed their lunches.
Students smiling despite the cold and wet weather, wearing rain ponchos while paddling their canoe. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
What they learned
They even climbed 144 steps to the top of the Marsh Tower for a full view of the wetland. Later, they participated in a duck banding simulation and received an eye-opening lesson about the disappearance of wetlands in Wisconsin. According to the DNR, as of 1985, about half of the wetlands that historically covered the Wisconsin landscape have been dredged, drained, or filled.
Students at the top of Marsh Tower. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
On the following day, students learned about different types of wetlands, and played a game to help them understand predator-prey relationships. They were also taught how to properly collect aquatic macroinvertebrates. Then, they got the chance to observe them under the microscope, using dichotomous keys to identify what they had collected. It was the diversity in the specimens they collected that let them know that the marsh was in good health!
Two students observing an aquatic friend they collected. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
Looking up from textbooks
According to Nevers, “It was fantastic to see students who are normally disengaged become engrossed in what they were learning. But the most exciting outcome of this trip for me was seeing how dramatically student assessment grades improved as a result of the hands-on learning experiences they had at the marsh.”
The most exciting outcome of this trip for me was seeing how dramatically student assessment grades improved as a result of the hands-on learning experiences they had at the marsh.
Students posing with their life jackets and oars, ready for the water. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
Hands-on learning can create connections between the classroom and the everyday world. This learning goes beyond textbooks and worksheets to support academic growth more deeply. Being on the marsh and interacting with the specimens that live there gave students an interactive, first-hand experience of water ecology. Her students also reported that the experience encouraged them to learn more about the importance of wetlands in Wisconsin, working with teams, and persevering through challenges.
“I had a lot of fun here, such as canoeing and learning. My favorite part was canoeing, because we got to spend time with friends and figure out what to do if we got stuck.” -Kohler Middle School student
When we support more diverse learning experiences, give students unique challenges, and create unforgettable memories with them, students can perform better at school. They may even become more excited about it.
Students pose humorously for the camera. Photo courtesy of Nicole Nevers.
Supporting nature-based learning experiences
Thank you to NRF’s supporters who make work like this possible! Our members helped support this educational canoeing trip through the Go Outside Fund.
The Go Outside Fund provides funding that helps connect youth to outdoor, nature-based learning experiences. Teachers or partner organizations may apply for funding to cover costs that facilitate getting kids outside and hands-on with nature, such as purchasing field supplies, or paying for transportation, substitute teachers, or educator costs.
Interested in supporting nature-based learning experiences? You can choose “Environmental Education” as the special purpose for a donation at WisConservation.org/Donate, or you can become an NRF member.
Written by Jamie Kollman, communications intern