Connecting Children to Nature
Every Student Learns OutsideFor 30 years, Project Learning Tree has been taking kids outside to learn. In response to the growing interest in encouraging children to get outside, AFF’s CEL has launched a national Every Student Learns Outside™ initiative and website
www.learnoutside.org to help educators make outdoor experiences part of their everyday lesson plans. We continue to provide educators with the tools, training, and resources they need to get their students outdoors and learning about their local environment. In addition, we are encouraging families to use PLT activities at home, as they provide enjoyable and educational opportunities for parents and grandparents to help children connect with nature.
A series of
activity pages for families to use in the outdoors are currently available. These activities are also being published in forest owner magazines, including AFF’s Tree Farmer magazine, the Ohio Woodland Journal, and Louisiana’s Forests & People magazine
.
Teach kids about forests through music! Project Learning Tree® and well-known children's performing artist and songwriter Bill Brennan have teamed together to produce a new CD - all about trees! The CD has been recommended by Parents’ Choice! Nineteen high energy songs engage kids in learning about trees, forests, and people who work the land. Cost $15 (includes shipping and handling).
Order now! No Child Left Inside Act The American Forest Foundation is a member of the No Child Left Inside Coalition (currently 1,400 member organizations representing more than 50 million people) that is seeking new support and funding for environmental education through the No Child Left Inside Act.
The No Child Left Inside Act was introduced by Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland to include environmental education as part of a new Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Their legislation provides funding for environmental education programs and teacher professional development in states with K-12 environmental literacy plans. It does not add any new mandates or testing requirements.
AFF is playing an active lobbying role on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to urge members of Congress to support the No Child Left Inside Act. Visit the policy section of this website to learn more about the No Child Left Inside Act and for our latest Action Alert about what you can do in your state to make environmental education and outdoor learning part of the curriculum in our schools.
