Forest Whales in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Look up at the bluffs surrounding La Crosse and you're looking at the bottom of an ancient ocean. The limestone and sandstone cliffs that frame this city were formed hundreds of millions of years ago beneath a shallow inland sea — and they are loaded with fossils to prove it.
La Crosse already knows it lives in a place with deep prehistoric roots. Forest Whales is here to bring that story to life for your students
Bringing the Ocean Back to La Crosse
Forest Whales is a traveling marine science and paleontology program based in Wausau, Wisconsin. We bring a 56-foot inflatable gray whale named Clara into your gymnasium alongside a hands-on fossil collection that includes Megalodon teeth, a narwhal tusk, cast replicas of whale bones, and specimens from some of the most remarkable creatures that ever lived.
For La Crosse students, this program hits differently. When kids learn that the bluffs outside their windows were once the floor of a vast ocean, and then hold a Megalodon tooth in their hands, the connection between their community and deep time becomes real in a way no textbook can replicate.
We have visited La Crosse area schools and are actively booking programs for the 2026-2027 school year.
Programs for La Crosse Schools and Libraries
Forest Whales offers two program options for La Crosse area schools, libraries, and community events:
The Explorers Package — $2,500 A full school day experience with multiple sessions by grade level. Every student in your building gets hands-on time with Clara and the fossil collection. Recommended for schools with up to 500 students. Includes NGSS-aligned curriculum materials, classroom experiments, teacher guides, and student take-home resources.
The Discovery Exhibit — $1,400 A flexible half-day or single-session experience ideal for smaller schools, libraries, and community events. Perfect for summer reading programs, family science nights, and library events along the Mississippi River corridor.
Why La Crosse Schools Book Forest Whales
La Crosse sits at the confluence of three rivers and beneath bluffs that tell a 500-million-year story. Your students live in one of the most geologically rich landscapes in the Midwest — and most of them have no idea.
Forest Whales connects that story to real science. Our program covers marine ecosystems, prehistoric life, fossil formation, and deep time in a way that is genuinely unforgettable. Kids who walk inside a 56-foot whale and hold ancient specimens don't forget that day.
The program is fully NGSS-aligned and designed to complement what your teachers are already doing in the classroom. We handle setup, teardown, and all presenter materials. You provide the gymnasium and the students.
Funding Your Program
La Crosse area schools have access to several funding paths for enrichment programming:
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Title I funds can cover assembly programs at qualifying schools. Forest Whales programming qualifies as STEM enrichment.
PTO and parent organization budgets are a common funding source for schools across the La Crosse area. We can provide documentation to support your funding request.
Local grants and community foundations — the La Crosse Community Foundation and other regional funders support educational enrichment programming throughout western Wisconsin.
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We are happy to help you identify the right funding path for your school.
Serving La Crosse and Western Wisconsin
Forest Whales serves schools and libraries throughout the La Crosse area and the broader western Wisconsin region, including Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Viroqua, Sparta, and surrounding communities.
We also serve schools across the border in Minnesota and Iowa. If you are within driving distance of La Crosse, we can likely make it work.
Book Forest Whales for Your La Crosse School
We are currently booking programs for fall 2026 and the 2026-2027 school year. La Crosse area availability is limited — contact us today to check dates and reserve your program.
Visit forestwhales.com to learn more or reach out directly to start the conversation. Clara can't wait to see those bluffs again
