Washington, D.C. – Project Learning Tree® (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, has created a national photo contest focusing on National Environmental Education Week, April 10 – 16, 2005.

National EE Week is a week of "Educational Preparation" for Earth Day 2005.   It will capitalize on both educator and student enthusiasm for Earth Day and help educators focus on increasing the number of hours applied to environmental education in the classroom.  It will also help to demonstrate for teachers, first-hand, the high educational value and professionalism that has emerged in EE over the past two decades. 

The photos will showcase the important environmental education work that educators across the country are doing with their students during National EE Week.  This contest will help highlight National EE Week, the importance and benefits of environmental education, and the good work that America’s teachers are doing for school children nationwide on a daily basis. 

One winner from each of four categories will receive either a Canon PowerShot A60 digital camera or a Canon ZR80 digital camcorder.  The photo contest prizes are donated by Canon U.S.A., Inc.

The photo contest is open to classroom teachers and youth group leaders who reach children in grades PreK-12th.  Educators may submit up to five of their best photos, along with a 150 word narrative that describes how they celebrated National EE Week.  The deadline for photo submissions is Friday, May 6, 2005.  The winning photos will be featured on the EE Week (www.eeweek.org) and Project Learning Tree (www.plt.org) websites on June 3, 2005. 
For further contest information and contest rules please visit: http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/36_124_41.html

For more information please contact Amanda Rudy, Manager, Communications, 202.463.2442, Email arudy@forestfoundation.org or visit PLT at www.plt.org.

Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation. PLT uses the forest as a “window on the world” to increase student’s understanding of our complex environment and to help students learn the skills they need to make sound choices about the environment.  Developed in 1976, PLT has an international network of more than 300,000 trained educators using six curricula covering the total environment.  The American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization, works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and informed decision-making about our communities and our world.