PLT Explorations: Environmental Education & Outdoor Teaching: January – May 2025
January 1, 2025 - May 31, 2025
$35.00Event Navigation
WHEN: Begin the course and complete it anytime between January – May, 2025. All coursework is asynchronous – completed on your own.
WHERE: Online and wherever you are. A course website contains course instructions and links.
WHAT: Unlock the power of nature in your classroom with this dynamic, hands-on professional development course designed specifically for Idaho teachers and nonformal educators. This introductory course will immerse you in Project Learning Tree (PLT), an award-winning environmental education program that empowers educators to teach students about the world around them. Through engaging, real-world activities and lesson plans, you’ll explore how to integrate environmental literacy, sustainability, and outdoor learning into your teaching practice.
In this course, you’ll:
• Discover Project Learning Tree: Gain a solid understanding of PLT’s curriculum and how it supports interdisciplinary learning in a variety of subjects, from science to social studies.
• Learn the Essentials of Environmental Education: Understand the core principles of environmental education and how to inspire students to think critically about the environment, sustainability, and their role in protecting the planet.
• Teach Outdoors with Confidence: Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to take learning outside the classroom, with practical tips for teaching in natural settings, promoting hands-on exploration, and fostering environmental stewardship.
In this course, you’ll:
• Discover Project Learning Tree: Gain a solid understanding of PLT’s curriculum and how it supports interdisciplinary learning in a variety of subjects, from science to social studies.
• Learn the Essentials of Environmental Education: Understand the core principles of environmental education and how to inspire students to think critically about the environment, sustainability, and their role in protecting the planet.
• Teach Outdoors with Confidence: Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to take learning outside the classroom, with practical tips for teaching in natural settings, promoting hands-on exploration, and fostering environmental stewardship.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to teaching, this course will equip you with the tools to bring outdoor learning to life, enhance student engagement, and foster a deeper connection to nature. Join us and transform your teaching approach, bringing the world beyond the classroom into your students’ everyday experiences.
This course is ideal for K-12 teachers and nonformal educators in Idaho who are looking to enhance their teaching toolkit with effective, environmental education strategies. No previous experience with outdoor education is required—just a passion for learning and inspiring the next generation of leaders!
HOW IT WORKS: After you sign up, Idaho PLT will send you an email with course instructions. This will usually occur on the same day that you sign up. Contact plt@idahoforests.org with any questions.
CREDIT: (1) optional PD credit (for recertification) is available from choice of NNU or BSU, $60 payable to the university.
PLT CURRICULUM CHOICES: When you sign up for this course through Idaho PLT, you will receive more information about the curricula to help you decide which is the best fit for your current needs.
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- Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide
- Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children
- Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers Educator Guide – Ages 12 to 25
- Treemendous Science E-Unit – K-2nd Grades
- Energy in Ecosystems E-Unit – 3rd-5th Grades
- Carbon & Climate E-Unit – 6th-8th Grades
- GreenSchools Investigations – Middle and High School