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Middle school kids running at Havenwoods State Forest

Photo essay: Middle Schoolers descend upon Havenwoods State Forest

May 13, 2025  |  Topics: Events

The Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo (MOHEE) is a one-day outdoor, hands-on field trip for 4th-7th graders.

Text adapted from Wisconsin DNR press release

Photography by Eddee Daniel

The kids pile out of buses and pour into the park in groups barely contained by their chaperones. Excitement is palpable as they progress from station to station. MOHEE is an annual free field trip for grades 4-7th intended to extend learning and take it outdoors. Employing an open house style, students can explore and engage in a wide variety of outdoor skills. One of the goals of the event is to inspire the enjoyment of lifelong outdoor activities, while increasing their understanding, appreciation and sense of stewardship for natural resources, Wisconsinʼs outdoor heritage and related activities.

Reliably competitive, these middle-schoolers are racing to pick up “ducks” used to train dogs as retrievers.

During MOHEE students connect with educators, trained safety instructors and other volunteer mentors who provide an enriching and engaging experience in an effort to connect students to Wisconsin’s natural resources, outdoor heritage and lifelong skills.

“Our MOHEE event offers an opportunity for students from Milwaukee and the surrounding areas to learn about a wide variety of outdoor recreation – archery, fishing, wildlife identification, etc. while meeting folks who work in those fields. The youth get to practice putting out ‘wildfires’, birding, tree stand safety, turkey calling, and so much more! Overall, we had 27 activity stations this year. It’s truly a unique experience that is not able to be replicated in a classroom.” ~ Angela Vickio, Natural Resources Property Supervisor at Havenwoods SF.

Using actual wildfire fighting equipment, kids spray an artificial blaze.
Using actual wildfire fighting equipment, kids spray an artificial blaze.

MOHEE is organized through the Outdoor Heritage Education Center (OHEC), a non-profit organization that has been connecting individuals to the outdoors and natural resources since 1998. The OHEC mission is “to increase the public’s understanding, appreciation and sense of stewardship for natural resources, professional resource management and America’s outdoor heritage, including related activities like fishing, hunting and other shooting sports. We connect youth and adults to the outdoors and natural resources.”

Bow fishing activity. This young student hit the target fish in the tank first time!
Bow fishing activity. This young student hit the rubber target fish in the tank first time!
Even when high and dry kayaking proved to be a thrill.
Even when high and dry kayaking proved to be a thrill.
Hunting retriever demonstration.
Hunting retriever demonstration.
Groups moved from station to station across the broad landscape of Havenwoods.
Groups moved from station to station across the broad landscape at Havenwoods.
At a wildlife management station students learn about Wisconsin's distinctive native fauna.
At a wildlife management station students learn about Wisconsin’s distinctive native fauna.
Special short hunting tree stands were on hand to give the kids a taste without getting to high off the ground!
Special short hunting tree stands were on hand to give the kids a taste without getting too high off the ground!
Hiking around the 237 acres of the urban State Forest was also an option.
Hiking around the 237 acres of the urban State Forest was also an option.
Game pheasant chicks were on hand for the kids to admire.
Game pheasant chicks were on hand for the kids to admire.
Animal tracks and scat encased in amber-like polyester resin attract an audience.
Animal tracks and scat encased in amber-like polyester resin attract an audience. Photo courtesy WI DNR.
Many chose to take a side trip down to the boardwalk on one of the ponds on the property.
Many chose to take a side trip down to the boardwalk on one of the ponds on the property.
Casting practice! The kids try to reel in the plastic "fish."
Casting practice! The kids try to reel in the plastic “fish.”
The students scoop out tiny water creatures to observe up close with magnifying lenses.
The students scoop out tiny water creatures to observe up close with magnifying lenses. Photo courtesy WI DNR.
Archery and BB Gun safety were held in these big tents located on the flat field of the former Nike missile site on the property.
Archery and BB Gun safety were held in these big tents located on the flat field of the former Nike missile site on the property.
Archery activity.
Archery activity. It didn’t take long for the targets to look like pincushions! Photo courtesy WI DNR.
BB gun practice and safety demonstrations.
BB gun practice and safety demonstrations.
This being middle school, lunch was an important part of the day's scheduled activities! While most ate lunch in the large tent (background), this group opted for the outdoor classroom in a wooded grove.
This being middle school, lunch was an important part of the day’s scheduled activities! While most ate lunch in the large tent (background), this group opted for the outdoor classroom in a wooded grove.
The tent got a real workout!
The tent got a real workout!
A youngster pretends to hunt turkeys from behind a blind.
Using a scavenged stick, a youngster pretends to hunt turkeys from behind a blind.
Touch the Wild is a truck full of taxidermied animals that the students could touch at will.
Touch the Wild is a truck full of taxidermied animals that the students could touch at will.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought along a live lamprey, seen here attached to the ranger's hand.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought along a live lamprey, seen here attached to the ranger’s hand.
Sometimes you just have to start running...!
Sometimes when you’re outdoors you just have to start running…!

This annual event is free for schools and homeschools. A limited number of bus transportation grants are made available each year by OHEC.

Havenwoods will be hosting MOHEE again for the 4th year in a row on May 6th, 2026. If you’d like to be notified of when registration opens up, email [email protected]. “Come join us next year!”

For more information and photographs about Havenwoods State Forest go to our Find-a-Park page.

Note: 2025 is the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System! Watch for other stories from the state properties in The Natural Realm. And plan to visit a state park near you! State park admission fees and trail passes will be waived June 7-8 (as they are the first weekend of every June).

Stories related to Havenwoods State Forest:

Autumn Colors Hike at Havenwoods with Nearby Nature MKE

Lincoln Creek: A Vital Summit and a Visual Tour

Two First Day hikes on New Year’s Day 2025

All photos by Eddee Daniel except as noted. The featured photo at the top is of kids running at Havenwoods during MOHEE. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks, which is not affiliated with the Wisconsin DNR.

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