South Carolina Project Learning Tree

08/14/2026

Congratulations to South Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral for earning the 2026 SC PLT Jerry L. Shrum Leadership in Education Award! 🎉 Thank you for all you do!

08/12/2026

Our recent Professional Development event taught educators from all over the state about activities ranging from Soil Builders and Soil Shakes to Every Tree for Itself!⁠
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The group of nine attendees had a great time with our facilitators at Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center August 6.⁠
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Here's what one educator said about the experience:⁠
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"The greatest challenge facing educators is time—time to plan, prepare engaging labs, and provide meaningful feedback. Project Learning Tree has equipped me with high-quality, standards-aligned resources and hands-on activities that I can share with teachers across my school district. Just as importantly, PLT emphasizes helping students understand the balance between meeting human needs and conserving our natural resources through informed, sustainable decision-making. This approach strengthens both science instruction and environmental literacy."⁠
- Scott Taylor, EdD⁠
Director of Science⁠
Director of the Lincoln Science Center and Planetarium⁠
Spartanburg County School District 6

Thank you to our facilitators from Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District and Orangeburg County Soil & Water Conservation District for joining our facilitators from The South Carolina Forestry Commission for this PD event!

Project Learning Tree

08/07/2026

Did you know every PLT activity is aligned with academic learning standards? Let us help you save time in finding resources to fit your classroom’s needs! 🌲

💜 50 Reasons to Love PLT – #1: Every PLT activity is aligned with academic learning standards, saving you time in finding resources to achieve your state’s science standard.

We’re so proud to celebrate 50 years of providing formal and informal educators with high-quality lessons that connect young people to the natural world.

🌿 Find the PLT activities that align with your state’s standards: https://www.plt.org/alignment-to-standards

Know an educator that can use another tool in their toolbox? Send this post their way!

08/07/2026

Another great PLT summer workshop is in the books! Happy to host everyone at Harbison! 🌲

08/04/2026

Our Triple Facilitator Refresher workshop with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Greenville County Soil & Water Conservation District was packed with fun, fellowship and learning! Facilitators from around the state gathered at Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve in St Matthews for hands-on training in a few creative activities last week!

The day started off with a presentation by SCDNR biologist Hunter Young, who talked about wildlife management at Congaree Bluffs HP. We then saw some of the topics discussed while on a short, educational hike around the property!

Project Learning Tree State Coordinator Matt Schnabel and Asst. State Coordinator Shelby Bentley walked facilitators through PLT's new Forests, Water & People guide with the activity “From Tap Root to Tap Water.”

South Carolina Project WILD State Coordinator Beth Foley and Facilitator Ari Hippensteal led facilitators through a creative animal track activity called “CSI: Critter Scene Investigation.”

Project WET Facilitator Kendal Juell capped off an awesome day by leading an activity called “In the Zone.”

Thank you to everyone who made this workshop possible!

08/03/2026

Thanks for the shoutout, Environmental Education Association of South Carolina!

"Happy to one of EEASC's longtime members, Matt Schnabel! 🌲
Matt Schnabel, Environmental Education Program Manager with the South Carolina Forestry Commission, was selected to receive the 2026 Honorary American FFA Degree—the highest honorary recognition awarded by the National FFA Organization.
Matt has dedicated his career to connecting students and educators with South Carolina's forests through environmental education. He leads The South Carolina Forestry Commission's education programs, develops forestry curriculum aligned with state standards, coordinates the South Carolina Project Learning Tree program, and serves as a leader within environmental education initiatives across the state and nation.
This well-deserved honor recognizes Matt's exceptional contributions to agricultural and environmental education. He will officially receive the Honorary American FFA Degree at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis 🏆"

Happy to one of EEASC's longtime members, Matt Schnabel! 🌲

Matt Schnabel, Environmental Education Program Manager with the South Carolina Forestry Commission, was selected to receive the 2026 Honorary American FFA Degree—the highest honorary recognition awarded by the National FFA Organization.

Matt has dedicated his career to connecting students and educators with South Carolina's forests through environmental education. He leads The South Carolina Forestry Commission's education programs, develops forestry curriculum aligned with state standards, coordinates the South Carolina Project Learning Tree program, and serves as a leader within environmental education initiatives across the state and nation.

This well-deserved honor recognizes Matt's exceptional contributions to agricultural and environmental education. He will officially receive the Honorary American FFA Degree at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis 🏆

07/29/2026

Thank you to our awesome facilitators and the Joe Adair Outdoor Education Center for making this fun, educational workshop a success!

07/24/2026

Did you know that moths play a very important role as pollinators? It's , and there are nearly 11,000 species of moths in the U.S. alone!

This week, The South Carolina Forestry Commission's Insect & Disease team conducted light trapping at Harbison State Forest to see which types of moths (and other critters) would stop by.

When the butterflies, bees and other pollinators rest for the night, the moths, bats, beetles and more come out to pick up where the day shift left off, pollinating flowers under the cover of darkness!

Using a UV light and a white sheet, which attracts many different nocturnal insects, the crew found moths, a butterfly (surprisingly), hornets, beetles and more!

❗️ This project can be done at home, and there are plenty of Project Learning Tree activities to teach your young students about various VIPs (Very Important Pollinators)! 😎

Learn more: https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/pollinator-activities-preschool?fbclid=IwY2xjawTO-1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPM2Nkb3BPM1hTcDVHZEpzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmPiGRpFu-HfdIZX9SpaCvNbo360sjKLOz9sXZjNg3V0m27P490AQ89_l5H8_aem_pUvpfwoxRnMUMgQMt8m7xw

07/13/2026

Harbison State Forest recently hosted 16 formal and non-formal educators from all over the state for a combination Project Learning Tree/Project WILD secondary education workshop!

Facilitated by Matt Schnabel, Shelby Bentley (South Carolina Forestry Commission), Beth Foley (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources), and Nick Walker (Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District), this workshop provided training for two new secondary activity guides: Project Learning Tree's "Forests, Water, & People" and South Carolina Project WILD's "Climate & Wildlife."

These educators practiced watershed mapping and modeling as well as wildlife population graphing during group activities, then brainstormed ideas for applying these environmental education concepts and lessons in their classrooms/workplaces. We wish them all the best as they finish their summers and prepare to reach more students in the fall!

For more information about upcoming professional development opportunities like this workshop, visit https://www.scfc.gov/education/project-learning-tree/