Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award winning international environmental education program. It uses the forest as a "window on the world" to increase students' understanding of our complex environment. PLT teaches not only about trees, but has informative lessons about land, the air, and the water. These lessons help to instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment.

Teacher Resource List–Outdoor Education and Forests

PLT is an international program operating in all 50 states, several US territories and many other countries.

PLT activities are:

• Hands-on

• Appropriate for indoor and outdoor learning

• Designed for formal and non-formal educators of children in grades PreK through 12

• Interdisciplinary-integrating important environmental lessons into the sciences, mathematics, art, social studies, language arts, music, &  English.

NEW!  Demonstration Forest Handbook

PLT Outdoor Classroom and Demonstration Learning Guide

Creating a Demonstration Forest Handbook

A handbook to Plan, Fund, Build, and Effectively Use a Community Educational Resource.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) Workshops

PLT-trained facilitators conduct workshops for educators throughout Maine. A PLT workshop (usually about six hours long) can be arranged at a variety of locations during weekends, weeknights, work hours, or after school. Educators receive written curriculum materials as well as practical, hands-on training during the workshop. 

Workshop participants will learn about new sources of information and identify resources. They receive the PLT curriculum guides, the Tree Links manual, a Maine Forests Forever Green CD-ROM and information about programs available to PLT educators.

Link to A Maine Forest Service PowerPoint: Maine Forests Produce Excellent Water Quality

"Forests provide the best land cover when it comes to protecting soil, moderating streamflow, supporting healthy aquatic systems, and sustaining good water quality." Barnes et. al. 2009 Forests Water & People

The Kennebec Woodland Partnership is a county-based initiative launched in 2009 to provide tools and strategies to help landowners make informed decisions about their woodlands and ensure a sustainable future for the county’s forests.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/kennebecwoodlands

Forests of the United States: Understanding Trends and Challenges
Lead Author: Steve Bratkovich

Is the forest area of the U.S. shrinking or expanding? Does annual tree growth exceed harvest? Is the amount of wood in our forests increasing or decreasing? Are our forests sustainable?  In part, the answers depend on your perspective (local vs. national), timeframe (decades or centuries vs. a few years) and definitions (e.g., What is a forest? What is sustainability?). 

This report is a brief overview of the status of U.S. forests and an update to an earlier Dovetail report. This report is predominantly based on two recent publications from the U.S. Forest Service – The National Report on Sustainable Forests-2010 (published in 2011) and Forest Resources of the United States-2007 (published in 2009).

To download the full report: http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailUSForests0312.pdf

Looking for a concise and illustrated guide to understanding trees? The following site is perfect for student research and use with your outdoor learning experiences:

The “Silvics of North America” Volume 1 –Conifers and Volume 2 – Hardwoods provide a maximum age attained for each species. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm

Recommended Websites Featuring information on Children & Nature

Children & Nature Network: Building a Movement to Reconnect Children and Nature.

No Child Left Inside:  A special initiative of Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, coordinated by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to encourage Connecticut families and visitors alike to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities available in Connecticut's state parks, forests and waterways.  From Kent Falls in Kent to Stratton Brook in Simsbury to Fort Trumbull in New London, it's time to discover the great outdoors!

Take-it-Outside: Take it Outside is an initiative led by Governor John E. Baldacci to encourage Maine's children and families to reconnect with nature. Take it Outside! is your one-stop shopping information source for year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in Maine.

Learn Outside: Project Learning Tree offers multi-disciplinary tools and resources for educators who want their students to learn about the natural world … by being there. 

Website links to the Maine Learning Results & the National Common Core Standards

Maine Learning Results: Maine’s Learning Results serve as the focal point for state and local efforts to improve student learning, define professional development needs, update local curriculum and instructional practices, and assess student achievement. The Learning Results web pages provide information about the rich activity currently underway both in the Department and in schools and educational organizations around the state.

The Common Core State Standards: The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

The PLT PreK-8 Guide - Resources by Activity:
www.plt.org
Click On: Resources then PreK-8 Guide Resources by Activity