With support from a 2025 Go Outside Fund grant, 138 art students from Superior High School embarked on two field trips to the Superior School Forest. Explore how the students went on a journey to foster their creativity and deepen their connection with nature in our new blog post.
Students gathering materials from nature for Land Art, wherein art is made directly on the landscape using natural materials. Photo courtesy of Olivia White
High school art students explore the Superior School Forest
This spring, art students from Superior High School wrapped up their school year with two immersive field trips to Superior School Forest. The students grounded themselves in nature and ignited the sparks of their creativity in capturing and creating art. As the students explored the forest, they applied the skills they’d learned in class within the forest’s bounds.
Thanks to NRF’s Go Outside Fund, students were able to access transportation to and from the forest and received environmentally-friendly supplies for creating art.
The most exciting and impactful outcome from this grant was witnessing the transformative power of art to connect students with their local environment. It wasn’t just about learning art techniques; it was about inspiring a profound appreciation for nature.
Student group Land Art project. Photo courtesy of Olivia White
Located about 20 miles south of Superior, the Superior School Forest boasts over 700 acres of white pines and mixed hardwoods. The land offers all Superior School District students a unique and enriching learning experience.
People often turn to nature for clarity and inspiration. That’s exactly what the Superior School Forest provided for these 138 students.
Students pose for a group picture in the Superior School Forest. Photo courtesy of Olivia White
Honing their skills
During the first trip, photography students experimented with their camera settings to convey the depth and mood of the forest. Beyond the brick walls and florescent lights of the classroom, the lush green surroundings served as a fresh canvas. The tree bark and leaves were art materials in their own right. Ceramic students collected these natural materials to integrate into their slab studies. Later, this artwork was displayed at the school’s annual art show, allowing students to showcase their unique creations.
This first outing focused on hands-on learning. The students drew inspiration and gathered materials directly from their local environment. The students built a foundation of appreciation for nature’s role in artistic expression using materials that it provides.
Reflective sphere on the Superior School Forest floor. Photo by Eilonwy Lockwood, Superior High School art student
Art and the natural world
The second field trip introduced students to the expansive world of environmental art. Exploring works from artists like Andy Goldsworthy, students dove into concepts like impermanence and the local environment’s influence on art. These concepts directly align with the Wisconsin Arts and Design Standards, helping students meet the goals of their class in a unique and engaging way.
Moreover, students were able to see where their craft fits in with the natural world, and the connection each of them has to their local natural communities. Grouping up to design and create site-specific environmental artworks, students were also able to work on their collaboration skills. This challenged them to mesh their thoughts and build a mosaic of their collective ideas.
Clouded sulphur butterfly on a sawtooth sunflower. Photo by Jayden Olson, Superior High School Art Student
From studio to school forest
These field trips gave students the opportunity to expand upon the work they’d done in the classroom within their local natural communities. The Superior School Forest gave students a literal and figurative breath of fresh air, a refreshing change of pace to tie together a year’s worth of classroom learning.
Photography students demonstrated great improvement in their technical skills and their ability to capture nature’s essence through the camera’s lens – there must’ve been something in the air! Ceramic students masterfully incorporated natural materials into their slab art pieces, creating a collective artwork that was displayed in the Superior School Forest. This was a beautiful tribute to the forest for all it helped them gain during their time there.
Close up of the underside of a mushroom with a blue tint. Photo by David Aleshire
Every one of the 138 students improved their ability to create and capture art within nature. This was evident in their creations and the new understandings they had as they walked away from the trips. They left these trips with a deeper understanding of how nature can inspire art – and how they themselves fit into that bigger picture.
Student sitting in a tree and snapping a picture. Photo courtesy of Olivia White
This direct engagement fostered not only artistic growth but also a tangible sense of responsibility towards our natural resources, extending far beyond the classroom.
Getting involved with the Go Outside Fund
Opportunities like this one are made possible thanks to NRF’s supporters 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 like purchasing field supplies, or paying for transportation, substitute teachers, or educator costs.
Interested in supporting nature-based learning experiences for Wisconsin’s youth? Become a member of NRF or donate directly to the Go Outside Fund at www.WisConservation.org/Give designated to the “Go Outside Fund.”
Written by Lauren DeGere, Communications Intern