Welcome to the The Blanchard Community Forest 

This project was inspired by Wangari Maathai's work to conserve forests in Kenya (including our local Karura Forest) and in planting trees to restore Kenya's native forest ecosystems and the native biodiversity that they support.   This project was initiated by the ISK HS Environmental Science Class and was funded primarily through donations from the graduating classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021 as well as though funds raised by our "Adopt A Tree" fundraiser.  In November and December of 2021 the project resulted in ES, MS and HS students planting 250 native trees (of 15 indigenous species) and 125 native shrubs (of 16 indigenous species) in an area of about 1/2 hectare below the lower parking areas.  The trees planted in the The Blanchard Community Forest and elsewhere around the ISK campus created a forest classroom for outdoor learning as well as contributed to the conservation of native plant and animal biodiversity as well as helps our school towards the goal of becoming carbon neutral.

We encourage teachers to bring your classroom out to explore nature and try an environmental education activity (check out this promotional video, (produced by Environmental Science students).  Check out some ideas we have shared for educational activities you can try under the Environmental Education Tab or just come out and enjoy the outdoor classroom and meeting space with wooden benches or enjoy the many log benches throughout the forest and by the new stream.  Come take a walk through the arboretum trail with your class with iPads or smart phones and look for any of the 50 signs containing QR codes linked to information about each tree and shrub species in the forest.   You can access the forest  from any of three places near the ES, MS and HS entrances (look for the zebra striping across the road or parking area).  

Explore this website's many sections to inspire you and your class to enjoy learning in The Blanchard Community Forest.  

How can you make use of this beautiful outdoor learning space with your classroom (art, writing, quiet reflection, sensory awareness, environmental education, natural history, science, math...)?

Image Above:  The Main or Middle School entrance near the lower parking lot.   Look for zebra striping across the road. 

Image Above:  High School access near the lower parking exit gate (shown above) 

Images above and below: Outdoor classroom and group meeting space.  A great place to base your outdoor learning activities from.