The Planetwalker Fund

The primary purpose of Black Oak Wilderness School as a non-profit is to support accessible outdoor and experiential education to students from historically excluded and marginalized communities. The "Planetwalker Fund" helps us provide food, safety gear, first aid supplies, tools, materials, and much more to our students from these communities. This fund is in the namesake of John Francis "The Planetwalker". 

After witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, Dr. John Francis chose to travel the United States for 22 years without using motorized vehicles to raise awareness of the needs of our environment. He spent most of that time walking and 17 years not speaking and cultivating his listening skills. He earned a Ph.D. in land resources from the University of Wisconsin at Madison through it.

In his spirit, we see the opportunity for change in our world, our environment, our cultures, and our communities!