School Forest

Tucked along the eastern edge of Cedar Lake Park, the Cedar Lake Park School Forest is a living classroom—shaped not by walls or screens, but by trees, seasons, and curiosity.

Here, learning happens through experience. Children explore the woods in every season, notice change over time, and begin to understand nature not as something separate from themselves, but as something they belong to. The forest offers space to slow down, observe closely, and build a relationship with the living world—one visit at a time.

Sponsored by Kenwood, Open to the City

Sponsored by Kenwood Elementary School, the School Forest serves both students and the wider community. Schools and youth programs from across Minneapolis come here for hands-on learning and discovery, while neighbors passing through find a place of renewal woven into the larger park.

Part of a Statewide Program

The Cedar Lake Park School Forest is part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources School Forest Program, which supports designated natural areas used intentionally for outdoor learning. In a school forest, students learn with the land—through exploration, observation, and shared care.

What Children Learn

In small, seasonal moments—animal tracks in fresh snow, leaves turning and falling, trees growing and making room for one another—children begin to understand that caring for a place is something people do together. Over time, confidence, curiosity, and empathy take root alongside ecological understanding. Research continues to affirm what educators have long observed: time spent in nature supports children’s physical health, focus, emotional well-being, and resilience.

A Long Memory

The land itself carries a long memory. For thousands of years, this area was part of Mni Sota Makoce, the Dakota homeland—“the land where the waters reflect the sky.” Later, railroads and shoreline filling reshaped Cedar Lake’s east bay, gradually turning open water into the woodland that exists today. The School Forest represents a new chapter—one centered on restoration, learning, and long-term care.

Patient Stewardship

Urban woodlands do not remain healthy on their own. They require thoughtful stewardship to stay resilient and welcoming. The School Forest is cared for through ongoing restoration—removing invasive species, supporting native plant communities, and tending the forest’s long-term health. Much of this work is patient and often unseen, but it ensures that this place can continue to serve both people and wildlife. When we invest in caring for natural places, we invest in children and community.

A Different Pace

Whether visiting with a class, walking with family, or simply passing through, the School Forest invites a different pace. It’s a place to notice small details, seasonal change, and the quiet rhythm of a living landscape. Many adults pause here and think, I wish we had something like this growing up. That sense of possibility is part of its purpose. Care grows where connection is possible—and connection begins by welcoming people, especially children, into nature.

→ Explore the full story at CedarLakeParkSchoolForest.org.