The Driftless Region is a diverse mosaic of varied forests, scattered marshes, wandering rivers and sloughs, remnant savannah and prairie, and farms. The flora and fauna here is correspondingly diverse and delving deeper into this learning can be really enriching, grounding, and rewarding, and can help us be more beneficial residents and stewards of this place. As a small group we will endeavor to study, experience personally, and set a foundation of understanding of this ecosystem, the myriad lifeforms that share these wilds with us, and how we can more responsibly fit and participate in it. Whether you are an amateur naturalist already or very new to this learning of our living landscape, this two-day program is designed to be a serious yet down-to-earth survey of our local diversity with walks, lessons, discussions, and exercises in the field. We will visit different sites each day and get well acquainted and connected with this beautiful living land. Activities with learning our local trees, foraging edibles for a meal, tracking local wildlife, birding by sight and ear, and understanding the adaptations of our local mammals will help us get to know this wild and beautiful place more deeply and personally. Some fitness and ability to climb hills and move through diverse terrain will be necessary in this program.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM each day
Lunch will be provided.
Ages: Adults (genuinely interested youth 13 years+ can enroll with a participating adult)
Location: Rural Viola, WI

Instructions: Be sure to dress for a full day of being outdoors. Bring a backpack with a snack, water bottle, and any other needs for being out for durations in the field. We also encourage bringing any field study aids like a magnifying glass, binocs, camera, and notebook (all optional).

It will be necessary for participants to be able to cover ground over uneven terrain in this class. We may wade and explore some watery environments. Please check in with any concerns, and let us know of any allergies to stings, plants, or other natural entities.

Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines

Supporter Level Ticket: $290
If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources.

Sustainer Level Ticket: $240
If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level.

Supported Level Ticket: $190
If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!

LEARN MORE & JOIN US: https://www.driftlessfolkschool.org/classes/ecological-literacy-in-the-driftless-june-2025