Idaho Project Learning Tree

Applications for the Jack Buell Forest Education Grant are officially open!

If you're a teacher or youth educator in Idaho, this is your chance to bring learning outside. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to fund forest-related projects, and we especially want to see proposals that get students into a forest, working alongside a logger or forester, or touring a mill or other wood products facility.

Applications close October 15. Don't wait!

Apply now at idahoforests.org/grants

If you’ve ever been to a state or national park, you’ve likely met some very special people…Park Rangers! Today we celebrate and honor the individuals who help protect, preserve, and defend our forests and open spaces.

The next time you’re at a park, take time to thank any rangers you meet. Better yet? Encourage the young people you’re with to conduct a mini-interview, asking questions about their career path, what they love most about what they do, and more. It’s a great way to inspire the next generation!

Check out PLT’s Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers and Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers for more inspiration and to learn about different careers, including Park Rangers!
https://www.plt.org/journeys
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/green-jobs-careers-conservation/

A few snapshots from our latest forestry tour with educators. A HUGE thank you to our sponsors, presenters, and hosts who make this tour possible and free to educators!

Our tour took educators behind the scenes: walking active harvest sites, talking with foresters, and seeing firsthand how Idaho's forests are managed for wildlife, water, recreation, and the wood products we use every day. From seedling to sawmill, our teachers left with new lessons, new stories, and a serious appreciation for what it takes to keep our forests healthy for generations to come.

PC

They might be small, but their impact is HUGE! This National Pollinator Week, learn more about the ways that birds, bats, and bugs positively impact ecosystems! Check out these fun facts plus 6 ways you can celebrate powerful pollinators. https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/5-hands-on-ways-to-celebrate-national-pollinator-week/

Come join us at Project Green in July! Join fellow educators for hands-on learning, real collaboration, and fresh ideas you can use in your classroom. Register at sustainingus.com

PLT's Nature Activities for Families introduce children to nature and their environment. These fun and easy-to-do activities can be used while you explore your own backyard, visit a local park, or walk in the woods—as well as indoors!

Visit plt.org/activities-for-families/

PC: Ryan Rahn, "Wow McCall's Summers." 2026 Arbor Day Photo Contest honorable mention.

Happy National Get Outdoors Day! There’s no better way to celebrate today than by heading outside to get some Vitamin D and quality nature time. With many children out of school for the summer, check out these fun family outdoor activities! https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/activities-to-do-with-children-outdoors/

🌲 Start brainstorming! Applications for the Jack Buell Forest Education Grants open August 1!

Do you have an idea for helping Idaho youth learn about trees, forests, or forest products? The Idaho Forest Products Commission offers grants of up to $1,000 to support hands-on, engaging forest education projects across Idaho.

Learn more: idahoforests.org/grants

PC: Cooper Molinengo, "A Compromise for the Future." 2026 Arbor Day Photo Contest winner

This World Environment Day focuses on climate topics and sustainable, green solutions such as sustainable forest management.

In The Global Climate / El Clima Global activity from PLT’s Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8, students examine trends in carbon dioxide levels over time and its impact on ecosystems. In groups, they’ll identify potential ways to reduce the effects.

Encourage your learners to get creative while they reduce their carbon footprint!

Biodiversity is the spice of life! Did you know that biologists estimate that Earth’s current biodiversity is somewhere between 10 million and 1 trillion different species? And they’ve only just scratched the surface, classifying only about 1.7 million species.

For International Day for Biological Diversity, check out PLT’s Biodiversity Blitz activity collection and these accompanying resources: https://www.plt.org/activity-resources/grades-3-5-activity-charting-biodiversity/