from WAEE Member, Ruth Ann Lee:
School based environmental education programs at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center
The WI DNR has proposed to end its most highly successful environmental education (EE) program and making major changes (including a shooting range) at the MacKenzie Center – all without any local input from the community or from the participating schools.
16,000 kids every year will be deprived of an important environmental education experience. DNR needs to consider that the current school based programs can be continued at MacKenzie are fully consistent with their new proposed Outdoor Skills program. Continuing the current school-based environmental education program at MacKenzie will only cost the DNR a net of $185,000 out of their annual $500 million budget. We want to keep MacKenzie open long term for school based environmental education programing in conjunction with DNR’s increased emphasis on hunting, fishing, and trapping based training, but with public input. If you would like to voice your opinion on this issue contact the DNR Secretary, the Natural Resource Board (NRB), Senator Olson and Representative Ripp and Governor Walker. You can also attend the Natural Resources Board meeting on February 27th (note: attendees must sign up by 4pm on Tues 2/19, contact below).
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, 608-266-2121, dnrsecretary@wisconsin.gov
Natural Resources Board, Laurie Ross, laurie.ross@wisconsin.gov
Senator Luther Olson, 608-266-0751, sen.olson@wisconsin.gov
Representative Keith Ripp, 608-266-3404, rep.ripp@wisconsin.gov
Governor Scott Walker, 608-266-1212, govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Please note the correct spelling of Luther Olsen’s last name: sen.olsen@wisconsin.gov