UC Cooperative Extension works with a wide range of collaborators to advance the field of Forestry and Natural Resources. Core to these efforts is preparing today's youth for the management and workforce challenges of the future.
Forestry Curriculum Resources
Interdisciplinary, hands-on curricula support students in exploring the value of forests, environments, wildlife, water, air, energy, waste, climate change, invasive species, community planning, and more. These lessons and teaching resources empower students to think critically about the state’s forests and explore future career opportunities in natural resource management. Natural resource-focused curricula provide accessible, adaptable and approachable entry-points for educators to incorporate forestry education into their teaching practice.
Forestry Institute for Teachers
The Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) is a residential professional learning program offered to Kindergarten through 12th grade educators in California. FIT brings educators into an immersive, week-long field experience with topic-specific training about California’s forest ecosystems, human use of natural resources and environmental education curriculum. The knowledge, skills and tools provided enable educators to effectively teach about forest ecology and forest resource management practices while adopting Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) through Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WILD. FIT curriculum and sessions are directed by teams of University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Natural Resources/Forestry Advisors and highly qualified K-12 education professionals. To learn more about FIT, contact airoughton@ucanr.edu
Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree (PLT) advances environmental education, forest literacy, and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows to the world. Its award-winning resources support learning from early childhood through adulthood, while its network provides professional development for educators and opportunities for young people to explore forests and pursue green careers. PLT helps students develop the knowledge, awareness, and problem-solving skills to make informed decisions about complex environmental issues.
PLT is an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and, in California, is hosted by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) with delivery through UC Cooperative Extension and the 4-H Youth Development Program. For more information or to sign up for a workshop, contact the California State Coordinators.