Highlights from PLT’s 32nd International Coordinators’ Conference

June 15, 2018

The 2018 Project Learning Tree International Coordinators’ Conference was held June 4-7 in Cody, Wyoming. Now in its 32nd year, our annual conference provides professional development, networking, and information about new initiatives to PLT’s partners who deliver high quality environmental education programming to educators across the country and internationally, too.

A New Home with SFI Brings Opportunities for Growth

In July 2017, PLT joined forces with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative as its new home. This conference provided PLT Coordinators and leaders from across the United States, Japan, and Mexico with the chance to get to know the people and programs of SFI.

“PLT’s future is bright,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, who participated throughout the event. “SFI is sincere in our efforts to help make PLT the best it can be. The PLT network is an impressive, diverse and dynamic group of individuals who do amazing work. Their passion for environmental education and inspiring the next generation is evident. It was thrilling to witness the great excitement we share for building on PLT’s strong foundation and exploring numerous opportunities for growth.”

Conference participants reflected on the many ways that PLT helps them to meet their personal, professional, and organizational goals. Ultimately, the network is committed to educating the next generation to be well-informed stewards for our forests and other natural resources.

Some of the opportunities identified for growing the reach of PLT were:

getting more kids outdoors
reaching more college students studying to become educators
creating more pathways to green jobs
ensuring our programs meet the needs of diverse audiences
enhancing society’s health and wellbeing through access to nature.

“This conference marked a significant milestone,” said Esther Cowles, Senior Director of Education Programs for PLT and SFI. “PLT’s new home with SFI is already opening a lot of doors and we are excited to see new state and national partnerships and sponsors. I think people across our network feel confident in our new beginning and see SFI as a land of opportunities for PLT”

“Thank You” to Our Conference Sponsors

The quality of PLT’s conference is enriched by the generous support of several sponsors.

The Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) is a new national PLT partner who sponsored our opening reception. ADF Program Director Michelle Scribner presented a session about ADF’s new recognition program for K-12 school students to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Your True Nature (YTN) provided us all a Yellowstone Nature Journal and gift packet full of co-branded “Advice” products that are also widely available to all PLT educators with a 30% discount. Go to www.yourtruenature.com/plt and enter the code EDUCATOR-PLTDIS. Thank you to founder Ilan Shamir and Melody Dawn for joining us at the conference.

Neiman Enterprises, a South Dakota/Wyoming integrated business and SFI Program Participant, provided the wood for PLT-engraved trivets and they sponsored carbon emission offsets through the Conservation Fund’s North Coast Forest Initiative.

Hancock Natural Resource Group, another SFI Program Participant, sponsored the session “Connecting with SFI’s Network” and we welcomed Heather Druffel, Hancock’s Education and Outreach Forester from Washington State.

ee360 is an ambitious five-year strategy to bring innovative leaders in the environmental education field together through leadership clinics, webinars, online modules, professional development workshops, and conferences like PLT’s. Funded by the US EPA and managed by our long-time friends at the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), we were pleased to have Operations and Program manager, Drew Price, representing NAAEE.

The Albert I. Pierce Foundation is also a long-time friend and supporter of PLT. Under the leadership of Deb Thrall, we are grateful for their years of support for this conference, and for funding an outdoor classroom this year at Sundance Elementary School in Wyoming. As part of this project, conference attendees were invited to create their own state’s “brand” that we burned onto an Aldo Leopold bench for the school’s outdoor classroom.

In addition to these sponsors, WY PLT received additional support for hosting the conference:

Laramie County Conservation District
Northern Rockies Tree School
Wyoming State Forestry Division
Wyoming/Colorado chapter of the Society of American Foresters

More Highlights from the PLT Conference

Seventeen Concurrent and ten Show and Tell sessions provided opportunities for members of the PLT network to learn from each other to enhance their state programs.

Here are just a few highlights:

Several states and Mexico shared how they have created supplemental guides to PLT activities that focus on their unique, local environment.
Texas PLT explained Phenomena Based Learning, a new science education method that has rich opportunities for teachers to incorporate inquiry and STEM into their lesson planning.
A session on state forest literacy plans provided ideas for incorporating teaching about forests into classroom programs.
Opportunities were identified for building connections among the PLT network, SFI Program Participants, and SFI Implementation Committees, including grants to support community partnerships and engagement.
A preconference session introduced the ADDIE instructional design model as an effective tool in planning and implementing professional development programs.

Getting to Know Wyoming

Our keynote speakers provided a warm Wyoming welcome. State Forester Bill Crapser and Kristie Salzmann, Shoshone National Forest Public Affairs Officer, shared the challenges and rewards of managing forest land for multiple uses.

Guest speaker Dan Thompson, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, shared some amazing slides and video that showed the expansion of grizzly bears and mountain lions in and around Yellowstone. He stressed the importance of public education to manage wildlife in harmony with human populations.

An amazing full-day visit into Yellowstone National Park included sightings of grizzly bears, bison, elk, and deer; time to witness Old Faithful, other geysers, and hot springs; and a chance to enjoy Yellowstone Lake that’s been shaped by lava flows within the caldera. A knowledgeable interpretative guide deepened our understanding of the natural history of this first national park.

Dinner and the Triple C Cowboys Band at the Cody Cattle Company—with a special PLT-only encore!

Awards and Recognition

Always a highlight at our conference, we were honored to recognize the following individuals and organizations this year:

Leaders in Education — PLT’s new Leadership in Education Award is designed to recognize individuals and partners who have made significant contributions to support PLT programs and initiatives at the state-level. This year’s winners are Robin Will (Supervisory Ranger, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks, FL), Holly McKenzie (Consulting Forester, Montana Women in Timber, Columbia Falls, MT), Jason Vlcan (Visitor Information Specialist, National Historic Trails Interpretative Center, Casper, WY), Nancy Loewenstein (Extension Specialist, Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn, AL), and The Ross Foundation (Arkadelphia, AR). Read more.

Gold Stars — Since 1995, National PLT has presented Gold Stars to outstanding PLT Coordinators for their years of exemplary service. We are an immeasurably better organization because of their extraordinary personal and professional qualities, commitment and dedication to PLT, energy and expertise. This year, Gold Stars were awarded to (pictured from left to right) Betsy Ukeritis (Inter-Regional Environmental Educator with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) and Misty Bowie (Environmental Education Director at the Texas Forestry Association).

Last But Not Least, A Big ‘Thank You!’ To Wyoming PLT

We especially want to extend our gratitude to the Wyoming PLT team for their wonderful job and hard work in helping to organize a truly outstanding PLT conference. From their warmth and hospitality, to pride in their state, to the beautiful table decorations, painted rocks, and fun outdoor activities at the Hospitality Suite, they sure did show us a great time!