Georgia Project Learning Tree

08/20/2026

Planting a seed for outdoor learning in Bryan County!

After 22 years in the classroom, educator Sarah Lynn Kalinowsky is taking on a new adventure—developing the outdoor education program at Richmond Hill & Carver Elementary Schools.

And Georgia Project Learning Tree is excited to help her get started!

Sarah is a recipient of a 2026 Georgia Seedling Mini-Grant, providing $1,000 to support the school’s new Wildcat Outdoors Initiative. Students in second through fifth grades will take learning outside to explore forests, wildlife, and natural systems through hands-on experiences

Sarah summed up her goal beautifully:

💬 “I want to foster curiosity. I want to plant a seed and help kids see the world around them.”

We can't wait to see what grows from that seed!

🔗Read the full story behind this year’s Seedling Mini-Grant recipient: https://georgiaplt.org/forestry-grant-boosts-outdoor-learning-in-bryan-county/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…AUGUST 6, 2026

08/17/2026

🍎🌳 Welcome back, Georgia educators!

As classrooms fill back up and a new school year gets underway, we're wishing all of our educators a wonderful year filled with curiosity, discovery, and plenty of opportunities to learn something new—inside and outside the classroom.

And remember: you don't need a forest to bring forestry and environmental education into your classroom. Sometimes, big lessons can start with just one tree.

Whether you're teaching science, math, reading, writing, or social studies, Project Learning Tree offers hands-on, adaptable resources that help students explore trees, forests, and the natural world around them.

🌱 Take learning outdoors.
🌳 Explore the trees on your school grounds.
🔎 Turn observation into investigation.
📚 Connect forestry to what you're already teaching.

Here's to a great school year! We can't wait to see where learning takes you and your students.

🔗 Explore resources from Georgia PLT: https://georgiaplt.org/resources/
🔗 Discover even more from Project Learning Tree: https://www.plt.org/

Activities and resources to engage children in learning about the environment through the lens of trees and forests. SEE PLT IN ACTION

08/13/2026

Congratulations to Georgia PLT’s 2026 Outstanding Educator of the Year, Arielle Hooks!

A Fulton County 4-H Youth Development Agent with UGA Extension, Arielle has a gift for finding creative ways to connect people with the outdoors.

Through programs like Groove on the Green, she brings together environmental education, music, storytelling, STEM, and hands-on exploration to create experiences that engage not only young people—but their entire families.

And for Arielle, it all comes back to paying forward the experiences that shaped her own path:

💬 “Kids need their people! I’m always thinking, ‘How can I help you?’”

We’re proud to recognize Arielle for her creativity, passion, and commitment to helping the next generation build meaningful connections with the natural world.

Help us congratulate our 2026 Outstanding Educator of the Year!

🔗 Read more about Arielle and her work: https://georgiaplt.org/ariellehooks/

UGA Extension Fulton County Georgia Forestry Commission Project Learning Tree

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…AUGUST 6, 2026

08/11/2026

ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER! 🌳🍃

Ready to step outside and bring learning to life? Join Georgia PLT for Step Outside! Practical Tips for Outdoor Learning, a FREE virtual webinar packed with practical ideas for taking learning beyond the classroom.

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ 3:30–4:30 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom
💚 FREE

Learn from experienced educators Lauren Johnson and Gage Williams as they share practical strategies, helpful tips, and ideas you can use to make outdoor learning engaging and approachable.

🌿 Don’t miss out—registration closes in ONE WEEK!

👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/StepOutsideGAPLT

Tag an educator who would love to take learning outdoors! 🌳

08/03/2026

Georgia educators and district leaders—don't miss this free webinar! 🍃

Discover how environmental education can help support academic achievement, workforce readiness, and student engagement while strengthening connections with your local community. We're proud to share this opportunity from Project Learning Tree and NAAEE and hope you'll join the conversation.

Register today, and if your schedule doesn't allow you to attend live, you'll still receive the recording!

📅 Registration link in the shared post below.

🌱 What if one approach could help advance multiple district priorities at once?

Schools are constantly asked to do more with less. Join Project Learning Tree and the North American Association for Environmental Education - NAAEE Superintendents' Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) for a free webinar exploring how environmental education can serve as a unifying strategy to support your district's goals.

Hear from education leaders and practitioners who are using environmental education to:
🌿 Strengthen interdisciplinary learning across STEM, English language arts, social studies, and the arts.
🌿 Foster positive youth development through meaningful, hands-on learning.
🌿 Expand career exploration by connecting students with high-demand careers in natural resources, sustainability, and beyond.
🌿 Build partnerships with nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations that enrich student learning.

No district succeeds alone. Join a growing network of education leaders sharing practical strategies, innovative partnerships, and real-world examples to help prepare future-ready students.

🎥 Can't attend live? Register anyway, and we'll send you the recording! https://eepro.naaee.org/learning/growing-future-ready-students-how-environmental-education-advances-district-priorities

06/29/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to support Georgia Project Learning Tree? 🌲

Donate an item to the Georgia Forestry Association's Live & Silent Auction and directly support Georgia Project Learning Tree—your contribution helps fund hands-on forestry and environmental education across the state.

Want your donation to benefit Georgia PLT specifically? Simply note that you'd like the proceeds from your donated item to be designated to Georgia Project Learning Tree.

Whether you donate an auction item or place a bid, you're helping provide hands-on forestry and environmental education for students and educators across Georgia. Thank you for your support!

06/26/2026

🌻Don't let National Pollinator Week buzz by! There's still time to celebrate the tiny creatures with an outsized impact on our world. 🦋

Discover fun pollinator facts and try 6 simple activities to help protect the birds, bats, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that support healthy forests, gardens, and ecosystems:
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/5-hands-on-ways-to-celebrate-national-pollinator-week/

06/16/2026

Thankful for all of our Georgia educators who are taking time out of their summer to join us for the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop this week!

Also a special shout out to the Georgia Forestry Commission and Resources Division - Georgia DNR for investing in our Georgia educators!

05/22/2026

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

05/15/2026

Did you know there are more than 1,500 endangered or threatened plant and animal species across the U.S.? On Endangered Species Day, encourage your students to collaborate on a research project and advocate on behalf of a plant or animal on the brink of extinction.

In PLT’s Life on the Edge / La Vida al Límite activity from the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8, students model processes that can lead to species becoming rare or endangered and use their creativity to develop an advocacy and awareness campaign.

For younger learners, check out these endangered species art project ideas! https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/21-endangered-species-art-project-ideas