Fox Valley Technical College is buzzing with excitement following an unsolicited, 160-acre land donation that will serve as a massive outdoor classroom for its natural resources programs.
The anonymous community member who donated the land did so with the specific intent of keeping the habitat preserved and protected from development. Because the property features diverse ecosystems, the donor felt the college’s focus on a comprehensive natural resources education made it the perfect fit.
Fox Valley Technical College offers the only two-year natural resources associate degree program in the state of Wisconsin.
Paul Groell, Chair of the Natural Resources Department, said the donation came as a total surprise but will offer immense value due to the property’s sheer variety of ecological features.
“It’s a 160 acres, which is a quarter section of land, and as comprised of a combination of forested area, like different types of diversity of forest,” Groell said. “It’s got some prairie areas, some ponds, considerable wetlands on the property, and there’s actually a navigable stream that runs right through the center of the property.”
Students in the wildland fire chainsaw safety course have used the space to learn how to fell and buck up trees safely, while other students have engaged in trail maintenance, mowing, and forestry work. In Groell’s Wildlife Management Class, students have already set up camera traps to monitor the local deer herd and track general wildlife usage.
“One of our focus areas is to expose students to all areas of natural resources management,” Groell said, noting that the property allows them to teach forestry, soils, water, wildlife, and fisheries all in one single block of land.
Beyond its immediate benefits for hands-on learning, the college’s natural resources program also maintains close partnerships with four-year institutions, providing a streamlined pathway for students looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree after completing their associate degree.
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