Success Stories
Educators are excited!
Since 1979, Michigan PLT has been connecting educators to their forests and natural resources. In that time, we've had many success stories. From positive feedback to international conferences, Michigan PLT proves to be a robust and relevant program for our educators.
"...great hands-on activities that can be used for any grade level."
- Kim C. Livingston County
"I greatly enjoyed and learned from the program at Hawk Woods last Saturday. It was thoughtfully prepared for and presented. I love to be with teachers who are passionate about their work and it showed. You renewed a spark of enthusiasm for teaching in me!"
- Betsey F. Oakland County
"There are so many great lessons to use about life science, cooperation and awareness of one's community."
- JoAnne H. Ionia County
"Even though my schedule was very, very busy, I am glad to have taken the time to participate with the activities."
- Katrice R. Wayne County
"I enjoyed that I learned and was exposed to new materials. It wasn't all about classroom level science; some of it was new and challenging for me to understand."
- Jamie J. Baraga County
"Thank you for the great PLT training today. You and your team did an outstanding job. This training was the best 6 hours I have spent in over 10 years!"
- Chris W. Oakland Country
Educators Make Forest Connections
The Michigan Forest Resource Alliance received an outreach and education grant from the Forest Stewardship Program to engage educators in the outdoors and include forest education that can be easily transferred to classroom activities and students of all ages.
The purpose of the Forest Stewardship Grant Program is to increase understanding of the benefits of actively managing forest ecosystems, develop long-term management plans that will achieve forest stewarship while at the same time provide outreach and education to all citizens about stewardship of our natural resources.
The week of June 19-23, 2006, Project Learning Tree sponsored a Forest Connections-Land and Water workshop at Fort Custer Training Center in August, Michigan.
Five of Michigan's Environmental and Outdoor Education programs were offered through this workshop including Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Project WET, Project FISH and the Leopold Education Project (LEP).
The Leopold Education Project also received a grant from Pheasants Forever to pay for LEP students and the Potawatomi RC&D donated $300 for snacks and beverages.
A total of 127 attendees participated (including students, exhibitors, speakers, and facilitators). Students included resource professionals, elementary and secondary teachers and pre-service teachers as well as 4-H and Scout Leaders.
Central Michigan University offered 2 credit hours for those attending the entire week. In addition, the state board offered continuing education units for those who did not opt for credit hours.
The educators who attended this workshop left very excited to start using the outdoor and environmental curricula they were provided. We received many notes of thanks. Many comments were made about how productive it was to have all the programs together and about the high quality of materials provided.
For further information about environmental education programs in Michigan, visit www.MAEOE.com or contact info@maeoe.com
Conference Sponsors
The Bookie Joint
Acorn Naturalists www.acornnaturalists.com
Heavner Canoe www.heavnercanoe.com
http://www.nwtf.org/
Author - Jerry Dennis www.jerrydennis.net
Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau
2014 Project Learning Tree International Coordinators' Conference
May 19-22, 2014 Michigan Project Learning Tree hosted The American Forest Foundation and Project Learning Tree for the Annual International PLT Coordinators Conference in Traverse City.
Over 120 Participants from 48 states, 3 countries, and Puerto Rico enjoyed learning through conference sessions as well as field trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes, American Waste and Grand Traverse Conservation District.
GreenWorks! Grants Awarded
Congrats to DeVries Nature Conservancy (Shiawassee County). They were awarded a 2011 GreenWorks! PollinatorLIVE grant. Through this grant DeVries was able to create a pollinator garden as part of the their outdoor learning area.
Congrats to Munising High School (Alger County)! They were awarded a 2008 GreenWorks! Grant for their Native Tree Arboretum. Through this project, students will research native trees and their planting and maintenance requirements.
Congratulations to Missaukee County Conservation District! They were awarded a Spring 2007 GreenWorks! Grant for their N.E.W. Missaukee Fitness Trail. High school students will expand their native plantings at a local and widely-used fitness trail as well as add an outdoor classroom to the site.
Congrats to Britton Macon Area School (Lenawee County)! They were awarded a 2007 GreenWorks! Grant for their Landscape for Learning Project. This K-12 school and community partners will create a series of gardens and wildlife habitat areas surrounding the school. Hands-on learning will increase students' science and literacy skills and personal stewardship of the environment.
