Dr. Patrick Curley, Division of Academic Innovation and Global Initiatives Onslow County Schools

Why EE is Important Today's generation of children is the first to grow up indoors. Their plugged-in lives are often devoid of exploring the natural world. Consider these facts: American children ages spend 27 percent of their time each week watching television, and only 1 percent outdoors (Hofferth & Sadberg, 2001) Children ages 8 – 18 engaged in over seven hours of media time (e.g., watching TV, listening to music, using the Internet/computer, playing video games) each day (Rideout, Foehr & Roberts, 2010) Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2—19 years were obese in 2008 (Ogden & Carroll, 2010) In 2000 two-thirds of the public failed a basic environmental quiz and 88 percent failed a basic energy quiz (Coyle, 2005)

Benefits of Environmental Education Research suggests that environmental education brings a slew of benefits to students. A few key findings include: EE Helps Build Critical Thinking, and Relationship Skills - Environment-based education emphasizes specific critical thinking skills central to “good science”—questioning, investigating, forming hypotheses, interpreting data, analyzing, developing conclusions, and solving problems (Archie, 2003). EE Instructional Strategies Help Foster Leadership Qualities - Environmental education emphasizes cooperative learning (i.e., working in teams or with partners), critical thinking and discussion, hands-on activities, and a focus on action strategies with real-world applications (NAAEE & NEETF, 2001). Increased Focus/Improved Cognition - Wells observed that proximity to nature, access to views of nature, and daily exposure to natural settings increases the ability of children to focus and improves cognitive abilities. (Wells, 2000).

Benefits of Environmental Education Self Control/Self Discipline Benefits for Children with ADD - Taylor and her colleagues found that children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) benefited from more exposure to nature –the greener a child’s everyday environment, the more manageable are the symptoms of ADD (Taylor, 2001). Health Benefits - At the school environment level Bell and Dyment observed that children who experience school grounds or play areas with diverse natural settings are more physically active, more aware of good nutrition, more creative, and more civil to one another. (Bell, 2006). Studying EE Creates Enthusiastic Students, Innovative Teacher-Leaders - EE offers opportunities for rich, hands- on, real world and relevant learning across the curriculum (Archie, 2003).

About PLT Project Learning Tree Is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for: –healthy forests –quality environmental education –informed decision-making about our communities and our world. In North Carolina PLT is sponsored by: NC Cooperative Extension Services, the NC Forestry Association, and the NC Division of Forest Resources.NC Cooperative Extension ServicesNC Forestry AssociationNC Division of Forest Resources

What is Project Learning Tree? A Comprehensive EE Program High quality, PreK-12 EE curriculum materials Diverse, international network of partners Implementation via a successful delivery system of professional development

Highly Successful Curriculum PLT is one of the most widely-used environmental education programs in America. Today as more children are disconnected from nature, 500,000+ teachers have been trained to use PLT curriculum, opening a door to this country's outdoor natural heritage for 75 million students.

PLT’s Mission PLT uses the forest as a "window on the world" to: - Increase students' understanding of our complex environment -Stimulate critical and creative thinking -Develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues -Instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action

Early 1970’s: Partnership between education, resource agencies, and businesses  started Project Learning Tree to teach young people about the environment 1976: PLT materials first implemented in 13 western states  PreK-6 and 7-12 Environmental Education Guides 1990: PLT materials revamped into PreK-8 and Secondary Modules 2006: Major revisions to the PLT PreK-8 Guide and continued development of Secondary Modules PLT was so effective it inspired other EE programs based on the PLT model Project WILD in 1983 Project WET in 1992 Project Learning Tree History

PLT’s Environmental Education Goals “Teaching students how to think, not what to think about complex environmental issues.” ~Rudy Schafer, Founder PLT Awareness Knowledge Challenge Responsible Action

Global Initiatives PLT’s International Network All 50 states and the District of Columbia Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Slovakia, Sweden, U.S. Trust Territories, The Peace Corps AFF’s Center for Environmental Learning office (“National PLT”) CEL Operating Committee State Sponsors State Steering Committees State Coordinators Facilitators Teachers Students

National, State, and Local Partnerships

PLT Curriculum PLT for PreK-8 –Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood –PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide –Energy and Society PLT for Secondary –5 printed modules –2 online module

PLT’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide New Features –Reading Connections –Technology Connections –Differentiated Instruction –New Design Aligned to National and State Standards Classroom Friendly –96 hands-on, interdisciplinary activities –Indoor and outdoor activities

Energy & Society Kit Activity Guide Music & Dance by Billy B –Energy & Me CD –Energy & Me music and dance DVD Poster Set –Where is the energy? –What powers the move?

Secondary Modules (Grades 9-12) Focus on Forests Forests of the World Places We Live Municipal Solid Waste Focus on Risk Biotechnology (Online) Biodiversity (Online)

Correlations to State & National Academic Standards NORTH CAROLINA ESSENTIAL STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, ART AND SCIENCE IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

Every Student Learns Outside Learn how to make outdoor experiences part of everyday lesson plans Find a series of kids activity pages for “non-educators” based upon PLT activities

Educator Support Materials The Branch, PLT’s quarterly online newsletter Information on PLT’s programs and resources Latest in environmental education news The PLT website, Resources by Activity Pages Download student pages Find additional resources for each activity Calendar of PLT events Standards correlations and more!

Recognizing Excellence PLT’s National Outstanding Educator Program Recognizes educators for their commitment to EE, teaching skills, and use of PLT Five winners chosen each year from state nominations

Youth voice and leadership Promote healthy and sustainable schools Reduce environmental footprint – energy, waste reduction, and water use reduction Improve learning, test scores, and teacher retention Increase student and community engagement Schools can register online at

Grants up to $1,000 for students to complete environmental service-learning projects. Integrates community service with the academic curriculum. Combines the environmental knowledge and resources of PLT with community action initiatives. Applications Due September 30

Project Learning Tree Works 25,000 educators trained a year Half of users report using PLT at least once a month Recipient of national awards 60% of workshop participants are referred to PLT by another educator