Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education program that advances environmental literacy, stewardship, and career pathways. Over the past 45 years, and through our award-winning curriculum and state and national networks, we have been using trees and forests as windows on the world to increase understanding of the environment while highlighting the critical role forests play in providing sustainable solutions in the face of increasing global challenges. PLT is an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent, non-profit organization that envisions a world that values and benefits from sustainably managed forests.
Designed for schools, teachers, parents, youth group leaders, natural resource professionals, and community outreach organizers, PLT teaches kids how to think, not what to think about the environment and supports getting youth into nature in ways that are meaningful, that inspire them to become environmental stewards and future conservation leaders and to introduce and prepare them for the green jobs of the future.
We are proud of what we have done, and there is still much more to do.
Environmental and natural resource education provides critical tools for a 21st-century workforce. By investing in Project Learning Tree today, you are helping us equip the next generation with the skills they need to make informed decisions in their own lives, make better choices for the planet, and find solutions for real-world challenges facing us as a nation.
What Your Investment Will Support
Project Learning Tree firmly believes that through environmental education we can develop a new generation of leaders prepared with the knowledge and skills to address complex environmental and social issues, as well as take action to keep our natural world healthy, our economies productive, and our communities prosperous and vibrant.
Project Learning Tree is honoring our rich history and legacy, while also working to offer skills, experiences, resources, and connections that are relevant for the 21st century and for a rapidly changing environment. Some of the work we are undertaking includes:
- Building a Diverse & Resilient Workforce. The pool of young people entering green jobs is not sufficient to meet the demand for tomorrow’s workforce. We are working to leverage the connections to green careers across our curriculum to help youth explore the diversity of careers in the forest, conservation, and sustainability sectors and create a diverse talent pipeline.
- Developing Materials to Support Green Career Pathways. We will develop a suite of materials and support the implementation of activities designed to expose diverse young people to green career pathways. Opening the door of possibility to young people so that they see themselves in a green career benefits everyone.
- Mentorship Opportunities. We will develop and launch a national interactive mentorship program designed to thoughtfully pair young people with mentors in the green jobs sector. This will provide young people with the opportunity to learn relevant skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, while having regular access to a real-life professional who is well-equipped to provide guidance and professional development opportunities.
- Engaging Youth in the Outdoors More Often. The majority of our lessons and activities take teachers and their students outside—in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Experiencing nature through forests at an early age can help build a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle focused on the outdoors. We are strengthening our connections to minority, urban, and underserved populations so that youth everywhere can benefit from exposure to nature that has many proven benefits for physical and mental health. We’re also working to build understanding among all people about how we depend on the natural world for a safe and sustainable future for all.
- Equity and Inclusion. PLT is dedicated to ensuring that our education materials contribute to authentic and meaningful learning environments that represent diverse voices. Our newest curriculum has been developed through a critical lens of justice and inclusion. PLT strives to reach every student, regardless of their social or economic identity, and connect them to nature. We are committed to equity and inclusion, both within our organization and in the programs we offer, and to uncovering our own unconscious biases. We are working to build an inclusive movement toward forest and environmental literacy to promote ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and social equity.
- Standards Alignment. PLT can be a powerful solution to formal and non-formal educators looking for meaningful ways to engage their students in environmental and STEM-based learning. We are working to align all our activities and instructional materials to the Next Generation Science Standards and other academic standards to support educators in their teaching and student standardized testing. We will create a searchable index for ease of use and accessibility.
We Invite Your Partnership to Help Us Build On Our Success
There are three ways we encourage you to donate to PLT: by credit card, check, or PayPal.
I would like to contribute:
- $50
- $100
- $1,000
- $10,000
- Other amount
Recurring donations are a great way to show your support!
Make a Contribution
- With PayPal or credit card:
- By completing this donation form along with your check or other payment method:
Note: Please make all checks payable to the SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE, INC. Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an initiative of SFI and your funds will go directly to PLT.
- Remit to:
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.
P.O. Box 424048
Washington DC 20042-4048
PLT is a program of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc, a charitable, non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. SFI will provide a receipt for all donations. Donations to PLT may be tax-deductible. Donors should consult with their tax professional.