Organization · Stewardship & Education
Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree has been putting hands-on, forest-focused education into classrooms and backyards for more than four decades. Its activity guides and training programs give parents, teachers, and youth leaders practical tools for turning any outdoor space into a classroom worth exploring.
This page from Outside, the family adventure app, profiles Project Learning Tree (PLT), a nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1976 and administered by the American Forest Foundation. The page covers what PLT does, how families and educators access its curriculum and workshops, what programs exist for kids ages 4 through 14, and which families are likely to get the most from it. Key facts include PLT's PreK-8 activity guide, its state-based facilitator network, and free and low-cost entry points for families.
| Season | Year-round |
|---|---|
| Entry point | Facilitator workshop or plt.org |
| Best for ages | 4 to 14 |
| Program reach | All 50 states |
| Cost to families | Free to modest workshop fee |
What Project Learning Tree is
Project Learning Tree is an environmental education program administered by the American Forest Foundation. It was established in 1976 and has since reached millions of children across the United States and in more than 40 countries. The core idea is straightforward: give educators and parents a structured, field-tested set of activities that connect kids to forests, trees, and the broader natural world, then let the learning follow from real observation and hands-on work.
PLT is not a school or a camp. It is a curriculum resource and professional development network that equips the adults who work with children, whether those adults are classroom teachers, scout leaders, homeschooling parents, or park rangers.
The activity guides at the center of it all
PLT's flagship resource is its PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide, a large, well-organized collection of interdisciplinary lessons built around trees, ecosystems, and human relationships with forests. Activities range from close observation exercises suited for a backyard or schoolyard to multi-day investigations designed for a nature center or state park.
The lessons meet national academic standards in science, math, language arts, and social studies, which makes them easier for homeschooling families to fold into a structured day. Each activity lists the materials needed, the grade range, and the learning objectives, so a parent can pick something up on a Sunday afternoon and feel ready to run it Monday morning. A separate guide focuses on early childhood, and PLT also publishes themed modules covering topics such as forests and water, sustainable forestry, and urban trees.
How families get involved
The most direct way for a family to access PLT materials is through a facilitator workshop. These workshops are run by trained PLT facilitators, usually through state forestry agencies, nature centers, cooperative extensions, or school districts. When a parent or educator attends a workshop, typically a half-day to full-day session, they receive the PreK-8 activity guide and become certified to use the curriculum.
Workshops are available in every state. Some are free, offered by state forestry agencies as a public service. Others charge a modest fee, often under fifty dollars, which covers the printed guide. Homeschooling co-ops and parent groups have organized their own workshops by contacting their state PLT coordinator. A directory of state programs is available at plt.org, and state coordinators can point families toward upcoming training dates and local partners.
Programs worth knowing about
Beyond the core curriculum, PLT runs several programs that give kids more direct participation.
**GreenWorks** is PLT's community action grant program. It funds student-led environmental service projects, such as planting trees, building schoolyard habitats, or restoring a stream bank. Schools and youth groups apply; grants have historically ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
**Green Schools** recognizes schools that integrate environmental learning across subjects and take measurable action to reduce their environmental footprint. Families at participating schools often find more outdoor learning woven into the regular school day.
**PLT's digital resources** include a growing library of activities and videos available at no cost through the PLT website, which gives families a low-barrier way to sample the curriculum before attending a workshop.
Who fits best
PLT is a particularly strong fit for homeschooling families who want structured, standards-aligned outdoor lessons without a rigid program schedule. The activity guide works well for mixed-age groups, which suits families with children across a range of grades.
Families connected to a school that already uses PLT will find the curriculum showing up in science and social studies classes, with some teachers sending activity suggestions home. Parent volunteers at nature centers or scout troops often find PLT training useful because the activities are designed to work in any outdoor setting, not just forests.
Children who are naturally drawn to close observation, building things outdoors, or asking questions about how ecosystems work tend to engage most readily with PLT activities. That said, the curriculum is specifically designed to pull in kids who would not call themselves nature kids, meeting them through art, storytelling, and hands-on investigation.
Pick one tree near your home or school and visit it once a week for a month. Each time, draw or describe one thing that has changed and one thing that has stayed the same.
Frequently asked questions
Do parents need to be teachers to use Project Learning Tree materials?
No. PLT workshops are open to any adult who works with children, including homeschooling parents, scout leaders, and youth group volunteers. Attending a workshop is the main requirement to receive the full activity guide.
How much does it cost to get the PLT activity guide?
Cost depends on how the workshop is offered in your state. Many state forestry agencies provide free workshops and include the guide at no charge. Other workshops charge a modest fee, typically under fifty dollars, which covers the printed curriculum. Check with your state PLT coordinator for current offerings.
Can we use PLT activities without a forest nearby?
Yes. Many activities are designed for schoolyards, city parks, backyards, or even a single tree. PLT publishes materials specifically for urban settings, and the broader guide includes lessons that work in any outdoor space where a child can observe plants, soil, light, and weather.
How do we find a PLT workshop in our state?
The PLT website at plt.org maintains a directory of state programs and coordinators. Each state runs its own schedule, often through the state forestry agency or a network of nature centers and cooperative extensions. Contacting your state coordinator directly is the fastest way to find upcoming dates.