Person standing at the edge of a calm river surrounded by dense green trees in a forest
Logo of Project Learning Tree, featuring stylized green tree and black text.

Project Learning Tree

PLT, an initiative of SFI, teaches youth about forests and the environment through hands-on, inter-disciplinary learning experiences that are correlated to classroom standards and get children outside.

Project Learning Tree
Curriculum by Educational Level

  • Early Childhood

  • Elementary

  • Middle

  • Secondary

View Curriculum

Project Learning Tree Trainings

Project Learning Tree (PLT) provides professional development to help educators use the environment as a context for learning across all subjects. Our trainings are designed for:

  • Formal educators in classroom settings

  • Pre-service teachers studying at colleges and universities

  • Nonformal educators working in parks, zoos, nature centers, and similar settings

  • Natural resource professionals

  • Other adults who work with youth, including group leaders, parents, and community members

PLT trainings equip participants to confidently incorporate environmental education into their teaching and lead outdoor learning experiences in urban, suburban, and rural settings.

PLT offers both in-person and day-long workshops.

Day-Long

  • In-person workshops, typically 6-hours

  • Highly active, hands-on session to experience and model several PLT activities

  • Include planning time to integrate PLT into your curriculum or program

  • Scheduled year around

  • Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop

Online

Discover PLT anytime, anywhere

  • Great as a refresher or first-time PLT’ers

  • Focus on planning lessons and identifying resources

  • Successful learners will have basic computer knowledge, particularly navigating web-browsers; check tech requirements

PLT Professional Development Workshop

PLT offers online and in-person workshops tailored for specific grade levels, academic standards, environmental topics, and formal and nonformal teaching situations.

During PLT’s hands-on training you will:

  • Learn new teaching skills and become comfortable teaching outdoors.

  • Receive PLT’s instructional materials and supplements tailored to your state’s standards.

  • Practice modeling PLT activities and get tips for lesson planning specific to your educational setting.

  • Get access to a network of professionals and support.