Rural Partnerships Institute (RPI) has made funding available for rural school districts across the state to participate in a microclimate monitoring program at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center. Funding allows Upham Woods staff to host field trips at a reduced cost (for some this may be no cost).

Students in grades 3-12 will be able to investigate microclimate data including air and soil temperature, canopy cover, and wind speed in forest communities of Blackhawk Island State Natural Area. Students will also make predictions about climate change implications and propose solutions for actions to help mitigate impacts on the forest ecosystems, and collect climate monitoring data on site using protocols to create longitudinal data sets that track changes over time. The activities support youth interpretation of cause and effect relationships, evidence and reasoning to support a scientific claim, how to plan, justify and carry out investigations, and developing and revising models to explain or predict scientific phenomena. 

Upham Woods is a model residential outdoor learning center managed by the University of Wisconsin – Madison Division of Extension. The center sits in a prime location on the Wisconsin River offering an excellent “river classroom” to study Wisconsin’s natural and cultural history. The center provides year-round outdoor education for youth and youth leaders, including environmental lesson plans, and summer camp programming.

Available Spring 2026 dates and information to schedule a visit inquiry can be found here.