Educating for the Future: Integrating Forests in School Curricula

Maine TREE is renowned for engaging students and community members in hands-on, forest-based education, fostering a shared understanding of the importance of our state’s forests. This approach equips students with skills for forestry careers and inspires all Mainers to appreciate our state's abundant natural resources. Most of our well-known programs occur in the summer when forests are vibrant with life. However, we work year-round, providing workshops that help educators integrate forest-based education into their curricula. Our workshops also incorporate climate education to enhance awareness of issues like invasive species and shifting seasonal patterns. Incorporating these topics into school curricula prepares students to make informed environmental choices. A North American Association for Environmental Education study indicates that those exposed to environmental education demonstrate greater civic engagement and stewardship than their peers.

Our strategy promotes school-wide collaboration through projects and curricula that build lasting relationships among schools, nonprofits, and communities, sharing forest-based learning experiences statewide. We combine authentic, local, project-based outdoor and climate learning with existing academic subjects, allowing teachers to implement place-based curricula while teaching core competencies across grade levels. Our program uses the Project Learning Tree (PLT®) curriculum and the Forest Ecology Research Network (FERN) as its core foundation. Utilizing these resources while connecting educators and students with local organizations to analyze trends in Maine's forests enhances access to experiential learning. It introduces students to local ecosystems and skills for careers that positively impact their communities.

Over the last three years, we have developed a tailored approach to offer school districts custom programs through long-term collaborations. This support leads to more schools and teachers embracing student-led projects and outdoor experiential learning. By working closely with educators, we design workshops that boost teachers’ confidence in integrating forest-based and climate education across subjects. A recent Census highlighted the need for climate-focused training in K-8 schools where teachers juggle multiple subjects with limited resources. 

Integrating forest-based and climate education into the curriculum creates a well-rounded learning experience, encouraging critical thinking and connections across subjects. For example, a science lesson on ecosystems can link to geography, habitat discussions, examining the economics of pollution, or integrating art through nature-inspired projects. Merging English Language Arts (ELA) with science enhances literacy and scientific understanding, fostering critical thinking and communication. Science provides context for applying reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, enabling effective communication of complex topics. This interdisciplinary approach enriches learning and makes education more engaging. 

Last school year, thanks to funding from the Maine Department of Education Climate Education Professional Development Grant, we participated in district collaborations with School Union 93 on the Blue Hill Peninsula and Fryeburg Academy. We are working with Westbrook Middle School and Calais School Department this school year. Our collaboration with Westbrook has included educator workshops, the installation of a FERN Plot, and the inclusion of natural resource professionals at their career day on May 1. With the Calais School Department, we provided a forest-based education workshop for 60 Elementary and Middle/High school educators. The workshop featured a community assessment, in which the teachers put their heads together to identify all of the outdoor education resources they have in their community. Our next step is to plan a local teachers’ tour to take the educators to sites throughout their community to learn how to incorporate local resources into their curricula.

Integrating forest-based education into school curricula is essential for fostering a sustainable future. By providing students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and sense of responsibility needed to address environmental challenges, we can prepare them for the future and leadership roles in their communities. Educators often feel unprepared to teach ecological concepts without proper training or resources. Continuous professional development equips educators with the confidence and skills to incorporate these concepts with their students.

The support of our community is vital to sustaining these initiatives, allowing us to build on our successes and innovate for the future. By investing in our mission, your contribution is more than just a donation; it is a decisive step towards a healthier future for Maine's forests, wildlife, and residents. Your generosity directly supports education for Maine educators and students and promotes forest literacy throughout the state. 

If you’re interested in collaborating with Maine TREE for Climate Education Professional Development opportunities in your school or within your school district, contact Lena Ives, Director of Education, at lena@mainetree.org.