Q: Do you travel to the Milwaukee area?
A: Yes — Forest Whales regularly brings programs to schools and libraries in Milwaukee and nearby towns. Contact us to check dates.
A Science Assembly Milwaukee Students Will Never Forget
Imagine the lights dimming in your gymnasium. Then, over the next few minutes, a 56-foot inflatable gray whale takes shape in front of your students' eyes. That's how a Forest Whales school day begins — and it only gets better from there.
Forest Whales is a traveling science program that brings marine science directly to your school. No field trip buses, no permission slips for off-campus travel, no logistical headaches. We handle everything — setup, presentation, hands-on exhibits, and teardown — so your staff can focus on what they do best.
Our programs are designed for K–8 students and are fully aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Every visit includes curriculum documentation that you can share with your science coordinator or district administrator, plus digital lesson guides for teachers to use in the days following our visit.
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What Principals Are Saying:
"David Daniels' program is not only informative, but he also brings laughter and fun into the experience. His knowledge and understanding of the child's developmental stages help David target his program to meet the needs of the group. Not to mention that the whale is so fun for kids to see and interact with. I would highly recommend having this program brought into schools." — Caleb Feidt, Principal, St. Anne's School, Wausau
What a Forest Whales School Day Looks Like
A full-day Forest Whales program is structured to maximize both engagement and learning across every grade level in your building.
Morning Assembly: The entire school gathers for an opening program inside and alongside the whale. Students are introduced to whale anatomy, ocean ecosystems, and the fossil record through immersive, story-driven presentation.
Small Group Rotations: Throughout the day, individual classes cycle through in smaller groups for deeper exploration. Students handle replica whale bones, examine fossil specimens, and engage directly with the presenter in a setting that encourages questions and curiosity.
Take-Home Fossil Shark Teeth: Every student receives a fossil shark tooth replica to take home — a tangible reminder of the experience that keeps the conversation going at the dinner table.
Teacher Follow-Up Resources: Every visit includes a digital lesson guide aligned to NGSS standards so teachers can extend the learning in the days that follow.
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Setup and teardown are handled entirely by Forest Whales. From the moment you unlock the gymnasium to the moment we drive away, your team's only job is to enjoy it alongside your students.
NGSS-Aligned Learning for Milwaukee Schools
Forest Whales programs directly address the following content areas, which align with Wisconsin's K–8 science standards:
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Structures and functions of living organisms — whale anatomy, adaptations, and survival strategies
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Ecosystems and food webs — ocean food chains, predator-prey relationships, and the role of apex species
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Earth's history and the fossil record — fossil identification, geological time, and Wisconsin's prehistoric past
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Human impact and conservation — how people affect ocean ecosystems and what students can do about it
Full curriculum documentation is available before your booking. If your district requires pre-approval for enrichment programs, we can provide everything you need to move the process forward quickly.
Milwaukee's Connection to Ancient Oceans
Here's something that surprises most Milwaukee students — and many of their teachers: the ground beneath Milwaukee was once covered by a warm, shallow sea. Hundreds of millions of years ago, long before the Great Lakes existed, an ancient inland sea stretched across much of what is now the Midwest, leaving behind a rich fossil record that's still visible in the region's bedrock today.
While whales weren't part of that ancient story, the connection between Wisconsin's geological past and the ocean world we explore in our programs is real and fascinating. Forest Whales uses Milwaukee's own natural history as a launching point for bigger conversations about deep time, evolution, and the ever-changing planet we live on.
It's the kind of local hook that makes students sit up straighter and think: wait, this happened here?
Making It Work for Your Milwaukee School's Budget
We know budget is a real consideration for Milwaukee-area schools. Here are the most common ways principals in the region have made a Forest Whales visit work financially:
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Title I enrichment funds. Many Milwaukee Public Schools and surrounding district schools that qualify for Title I funding have used discretionary enrichment allocations to cover or offset the cost of a visit. Your federal programs coordinator can help identify whether this applies to your school.
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PTA and parent organization sponsorship. Parent groups are often looking for a high-visibility, high-impact way to direct their fundraising. A 56-foot whale in the gymnasium is exactly the kind of event that generates excitement — and the photos to show for it.
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Shared visits with neighboring schools. Forest Whales offers reduced pricing when two or more nearby schools coordinate visits on consecutive days. If you have a relationship with a neighboring principal in Milwaukee or the suburbs, a shared booking can reduce costs for both schools significantly.
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Community and corporate sponsorships. Milwaukee has a strong community of businesses and civic organizations that support educational initiatives. Local sponsors have funded Forest Whales visits at schools across Wisconsin — it's a conversation worth having with your community partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space is needed? A standard school gymnasium works perfectly. The whale measures 56 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 9.5 feet tall.
How long is the program? Full-day school programs run from your first bell to dismissal, with the morning assembly followed by small-group rotations throughout the day. Programs can be customized for your schedule.
What grades do you serve? Forest Whales is ideal for K–8 students. Content is adapted for different age groups — kindergartners and fifth graders will each get an age-appropriate experience in the same visit.
Do you travel throughout the Milwaukee area? Yes. We serve Milwaukee and all surrounding communities including Wauwatosa, Shorewood, West Allis, Oak Creek, Greenfield, Franklin, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Brookfield, and beyond.
Is the inflatable structure safe? Absolutely. The inflatable whale is fire-rated and students are supervised. We follow your school's safety guidelines throughout the visit.