School District of Rhinelander

160 acres obtained in a land trade with Samoset Council. BSA in 1976.
Area named Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom in late 1970’s. Mr. Vig was the Superintendent of Schools for many years in Rhinelander. He is well known in the area for his “Wood Smoke” column in the local newspaper as well as his radio comments on nature topics.

Rominsky Lodge, Caretaker house, and other outbuildings constructed by RHS students in the 1980’s. Mr. Rominsky was a member of the Rhinelander Board of Education and was instrumental in obtaining the land for the school district.
In the early 1980’s, a high and low ROPES course was constructed on the site.
In the mid 1980’s a nature trail along with guide was developed.

During this time, curriculum was developed for CAVOC and a one-acre clear cutting project was conducted.

By the year 2000, over 5000 individuals use the CAVOC site annually.
Early in the 2000-01 school years, a School Forest Advisory Committee was reestablished to make recommendations to the board concerning decisions and policies about school district forest properties and oversees CAVOC.
In the summer of 2001 a handicapped accessible pier to Long Lake, a picnic shelter, and handicapped accessible bog walk were constructed.
The lower logging road was graveled to make it handicapped accessible.
The nature trail was revised and a new guide developed by environmental education (EE) intern hired for the summer.
A group of elementary teachers and an intern worked to develop K-4 EE activities that align with the state EE standards.
A handicapped-accessible portion of the ROPES course was installed.
Numerous nature trails near the Rominsky Lodge were paved.

A sustainable logging project is complete at the CAVOC school district forestry site.
A community Fall Festival event (2011 & 2012) has been successful to bring the community to the CAVOC facility.
A large-scale construction project, led by Russell Germain and the RHS Building Trades class, creates the new School Forest Environmental Education Center (SFEEC) addition, which expands the Rominsky Lodge to more than two times its current size. The SFEEC addition includes additional restrooms, display areas, storage space, and a large classroom.
Development and addition of Summer School curriculum and classes (2016, 2017, 2018).
Development of new K-3 curriculum (2017).
Ski trails added and nature trails widened (2017).
Downstairs part of Rominsky Lodge is converted into Lu Berndt Active Learning Center (2017).
First phase of Playscape area is completed - dedication ceremony held at 1st Annual Run Back to School event (2018).
Cellcom Green Gift award is received to fund butterfly/pollinator habitat (2018).
Construction begins on 3-stall garage (2018).

History