Hawley Environmental School

Hawley Environmental School is a K-5 elementary school in Milwaukee, WI. Over 300 students attend the school, which has a special focus on environmental education. The school includes a green house and a hands on science lab, as well as a student environmental education club. The school has also won awards for city wide and national can and plastic recycling contests.

In spring 2007, Tracking Cranes educators Kang Yun and Mash Vladimirtseva visited Mrs. Fare’s class. The students enjoyed learning about the cranes in China and Russia, and with Masha’s help learned many different crane behaviors (have you ever tried to sleep standing on one leg!).

Each year, students from Mrs. Fare’s class visit the International Crane Foundation for a class field trip. During their field trip the students see all 15 crane species and learn about the importance of protecting wetlands for both cranes and people.

This summer Mrs. Fare participated in a teacher exchange through our project, traveling with a group of four Milwaukee teachers to several nature reserves in northeast China. During their visit, the teachers help lead environmental camps for students along the east Asia flyway. Using cranes as their focal point, they taught environmental and conservation lessons, along with activities that stressed team work and problem solving. Click here to read more about the summer camp program and check out a wetland activity that Ms. Fare led during the Xianghai camp.