Project Learning Tree seeks more UCCE collaborators

As Project Learning Tree enters its third year as part of UCCE, Sandy Derby, PLT state coordinator, sees more opportunities to collaborate with other UCCE programs to strengthen the environmental literacy of students, educators and communities through new models of professional development, citizen science and stewardship engagement.

California PLT operates through a network of more than 200 facilitators, resource professionals and researchers across the state who deliver information and training to community-based organizations, outdoor schools, formal and non-formal educational settings. CAL FIRE, USDA Forest Service, other state agencies and private forestry companies also provide support.

Derby has been working closely with Mike De Lasaux, UCCE forestry advisor and principal investigator on the CAL FIRE grant in Plumas and Sierra counties, who was instrumental in bringing the environmental education program from CAL FIRE to UC. Together they are trying to recruit more resource professionals for PLT programs and to train more teachers, parents and community leaders who work with youth.

Derby and De Lasaux are working closely with Adina Merenlender, UCCE specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley, and Sabrina Drill, UCCE advisor in Los Angeles County, to link their program with the California Naturalist Program's outreach efforts and professional development opportunities.

To help integrate PLT in the Youth, Family and Communities Statewide Program, Shannon Horrillo, 4-H Youth Development director, is taking on Co-PI status with De Lasaux.

“Ideas, efforts and plans have been shaped for PLT to partner with 4-H volunteer and leadership training,” said Derby, whose position is in the Youth, Families and Communities Statewide Program. “We are also working with ANR's research and extension center directors to use the RECs as training hubs to host upcoming PLT events and workshops.” 

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education of the American Forest Foundation. The primary goal of PLT is to teach students how to think, not what to think about complex environmental issues. Before becoming part of UCCE in 2013, California Project Learning Tree had been delivered through the support of CAL FIRE for 25 years.

For more information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/PLT_UCCE. To get involved with Project Learning Tree or to share ideas, contact Sandy Derby at stderby@ucanr.edu.

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