Project Learning Tree®
Hands-On Learning
Growing Environmental Literacy
Project Learning Tree® helps young people develop a deeper understanding of forests, conservation, natural resources, and the many career opportunities available within the forest sector. Through engaging, hands-on activities aligned with Alabama Courses of Study and national education standards, Project Learning Tree® encourages students to explore real-world environmental issues while developing critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Founded nationally in 1976, Project Learning Tree® has been supported in Alabama by the Alabama Forestry Foundation since 1980, connecting thousands of educators and students with the state’s forests and natural resources.
Place-Based Learning
Living Classrooms
Alabama’s remarkable variety of ecosystems, forests, wildlife, and natural communities makes the state an ideal living classroom for environmental education. From the Appalachian foothills to the Gulf Coast, Alabama’s diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity provide countless opportunities for place-based learning, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to the natural world in their own communities.
Project Learning Tree® teaches students how to think, not what to think. Through inquiry-based learning, students investigate environmental issues, analyze information, and develop the skills needed to make informed decisions. Today, thousands of Alabama educators, foresters, landowners, and natural resource professionals use Project Learning Tree® in classrooms, nature centers, after-school programs, and outdoor learning environments to inspire the next generation of informed citizens and environmental stewards.
Curriculum & Resources
Why It Works
Project Learning Tree® provides educators with high-quality curriculum resources that build environmental literacy through engaging, standards-aligned lessons. Professional development workshops give participants the opportunity to engage in activities firsthand while learning practical strategies they can apply immediately in their classrooms and programs. A strong distribution and support network connects educators with resources and opportunities across Alabama and the nation.
Whether teaching in a classroom, nature center, homeschool program, or community setting, educators gain practical tools that make learning meaningful, engaging, and memorable.
Project Learning Tree® Lessons
-
Align with Alabama Courses of Study and national education standards
-
Support STEM learning through real-world environmental investigations
-
Integrate science, mathematics, language arts, and social studies
-
Foster critical thinking and problem-solving
A Strong Educational Partnership
Alabama Forestry Foundation is proud to partner with the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and the Alabama State Department of Education to deliver high-quality Project Learning Tree® professional learning opportunities across the state.
AMSTI’s mission is to support Alabama educators and students in learning STEM through doing STEM. Through this partnership, educators receive standards-aligned training and classroom resources that engage students in hands-on, phenomenon-based investigations focused on environmental education, forestry, and natural resources.
Together, these organizations help bring outdoor and environmental learning experiences to students across Alabama.
Educator Testimonial
Monica Ousley, Landowner and Retired AMSTI Educator:
Project Learning Tree® provides classroom resources for growing environmental awareness and understanding through well-organized, hands-on activities. High-quality professional development opportunities enable educators to experience lessons that align perfectly with state standards and expectations. These engaging, multi-disciplinary lessons are easily adaptable across the K-12 progression of scientific content, concepts, and practices. Best of all, they allow teachers and students to take their learning outside.
Ready to get started?
Get Involved with Project Learning Tree®
Project Learning Tree® provides opportunities for educators, forestry professionals, community partners, and supporters to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Discover workshops, professional learning, classroom resources, and ways to help expand environmental education across Alabama.
Get trained. Get involved. Grow the next generation of environmental stewards.