Boys Skiing
Land and Recreation
In the 2025-2026 school year, Slinger High School students and community members practiced inquiry learning in the fields of Recreation, Land, and more using a regional focus. Students collected data using interviews, observation, survey, and secondary source research. This web page showcases a small sample of their work. Thank you to the community members, workers, and staff members who helped students practice learning about these subjects.
Ice Age Trail
Slinger High School Sociology and History students studied the local Ice Age Trail in 2025-2026. As part of this research, students interviewed local citizens and hikers, hiked and observed the trail, looked for data in secondary sources, and conneccted with the Washington/Ozaukee chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation, Village of Slinger Recreation department and Slinger Community LIbrary, Slinger Museum, and more. Students wrote papers, built displays, wrote a children's book, and created a video. The children's book, by 2026 grad and Sociology student Adeline Piedot, will be part of the Ice Age Trail youth reading section at the Slinger Community Library. Sociology student Madelynn Tobey's video short is below.
Student-created video from 2025-2026 (above)
Summary Statement from Ice Age Trail Book author
Reflection on Student-Led Focus Group by Author's Club Adviser
Book available at local libraries (sample below)
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Six Points of Connection
Several Social Science students had the opportunity to talk with Slinger Athletic Hall of Fame member, Sierra West, about her sports journey, the impact of being involved in Student Council/SOWL in HS on her career journey, and also the progress of her Seattle start-up, Cennec, which focuses on connecting adults impacted by the social isolation epidemic. Sierra stressed ways that her start-up hopes to help human beings connect more meaningfully. She also shared examples of professional studies she uses to support the mission of her start-up and her volunteer work with a non-profit in Seattle called Six Points of Connection
"With the loneliness epidemic, being connected and being in communities is essential....It’s fascinating to look at the metrics and data, but at the end of the day, do you know your neighbors? Do you play? Do you volunteer and are you active in the community? Are you having 1x1 conversations? To have a really connected life, you have to have more than 1x1 conversations over a meal or over a fire or with eye contact. Did you feel fully understood? We create that social good that binds us all together." Sierra West, 2008 Slinger Alum, Social Connection Leader
Blue Lotus Center
Restoration Land Trust
Slinger Village Rec
Slinger students talked to Michael Larson at the Volunteer Center of Washington County and a student followed up with a site visit. Here is her summary.
Slinger students talked to Restoration Land Trust at the Volunteer Center of Washington County as well as Elizabeth Van Maanen of Slinger Recreation.
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"Teaching about the land, preserving the land, and me, in my lifetime, I’m trying to preserve the soil. We’ve lost 70% of the soil on this earth." Angie Curtes, Slinger Alum who provides composting and soil workshops in the area and works with Big Cedar Lake.
Students learned about the history and culture of Little Switzerland ski hill. Click on link above for a link to some previous research.
Students learned about the norms and cultural symbols
at Little Sweetz including how community connected. Click on link above for student created video short.
Cedar Community
"Important activities included chair yoga, music, and outdoor activities. Getting people outdoors or down by the lake." (Slinger Sociology student summary statement after listening to Erin, the life enrichment director and Bonnie, volunteer coordinator, at Cedar Community speak)
*Several students were intrigued with the life enrichment director job and how the recreation, psychology, sociology perspectives were involved. Volunteer angles were described.
Fondy Farm
Students learned from Angie Curtes about composting done at the farm, which led to a discussion with Stephen Petro, Fondy Farm director. Petro discussed sustainability, food scarcity, and the work being done to provide farming options for stakeholders who sell their vegetables at the Fondy Food Market. Photo taken in May 2026. Fondy Farm website can be found here and the Mequon Nature Preserve can be found here.
Cedar Lake Conservation Association
"Students researched the CLCF, the Hembel-Lidington property, and the Zuern Farm as they learned more about the Ice Age Trail partnerships and conservation projects.
Pleasant Valley Tennis Club
"We want to help people build social bonds and be a place where people can feel good about themeselves." Kyle (Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club)
Golf Courses
*Technical Education students designed golf courses
*History students studied WB Country Club
*Sociology students discovered caddy subculture
The Kettle Recreation Center
*Sociology students studied recreation norms including at the The Kettle, a rec center opened up in Slinger in Fall 2025.
*The simulators were a favorite for group outings
Birnamwood
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*History students studied land changes along Hwy 60 the last few years. One interview was conducted with Nancy Schilling-Genz whose parents' owned the land where Birnamwood subdivision is today..
*Student paper here
“It is a peaceful place to just sit and regroup especially if you have a long hard week. Very calming place. People love the meaning of the garden” Member of St. Luke Church describing the garden behind the church for a student paper on impact of nature
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