May 20th, 2026
Welcome to our series, Spotlighting Wisconsin! This series spotlights arts organizations across the state (including some of our wonderful grantees), and showcases the amazing work they do in their communities, along with sharing the why, or what drives them as an organization to do the work they do.
The Aldo Leopold Community School
Wisconsin Arts Board Grantee
Green Bay
Aldo Leopold Community School is a 4K-8th grade choice school located in the heart of the historic Astor Park neighborhood in downtown Green Bay. We are known for our whole child, experiential learning approach. At Aldo we believe that education must prepare all learners to be critical thinkers and thoughtful citizens. Students work toward compassion, respect, equality and justice, and are allowed to discover and explore their place in the world.
The Aldo Leopold Community School in Green Bay is in the final phase of a school‑wide art project with its Artist‑in‑Residence, Naomi Moes‑Jenkins. Together, they are creating a new installation to honor Aldo Leopold and his work in conservation. This piece will replace a previous artwork by Gisela Moyer, which was sadly lost in a fire two years ago.
Every student at Aldo is taking part in the art creation process. The first step was to collect invasive plants, such as phragmites, to make handmade paper that acts as the foundation for the art piece. Through this process, students had a chance to explore a full range of STEAM learning, from the science of papermaking and plant dyes to the math, engineering, and artistic design needed to build a large‑scale sculpture.
Elementary students said they enjoyed learning to sculpt, getting messy, and “being able to talk with friends and make art at the same time.” Middle school students shared that they liked using environmentally friendly processes to form the crane. One student shared, “I think it’s really cool to be a part of an art project as big as this.”
Throughout the year, students have taken field trips to places like the Wildlife Sanctuary, Renard Island, and Baird Creek to study ecology, invasive species, and the legacy of Aldo Leopold. In the classroom, each grade learned about topics such as birds, cranes, conservationists, and the science behind turning plants into paper.
In this final phase of the project, Naomi is working directly with students and staff to assemble the permanent installation. Once complete, the school will invite families and the local community to view the piece and learn about the year-long creation process. This project is a shared journey that evokes the spirit of Aldo Leopold, and it will leave a lasting mark on the school and all the students involved.
LEGACY DAY is May 30th - 10:30-1:00! The day's events are listed below:
KICK OFF IN GYM - 9:30 AM
A.I.R. PROJECT REVEAL - 11:00 AM
FOLLOWING THE REVEAL, FIND FUN ALL AROUND SCHOOL INCLUDING: