Washington, D.C. – Project Learning Tree (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, named Heidi Campbell of Mabelvale, Arkansas, a 2006 National Outstanding Educator of the Year.  Campbell is one of five environmental educators selected nationwide and will receive her award on May 9 during PLT’s 20th International Coordinators’ Conference, May 8-12, in Virginia Beach, VA.  The award honors educators who demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental education, exceptional teaching skills, and exemplary use of PLT.

Campbell teaches science and Arkansas history to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students at Mabelvale Middle Magnet School in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Heidi uses all manner of scientific inquiry, experimentation, research projects, field trips and camping trips, and hands-on activities to transform her students’ attitudes and misconceptions and get them accustomed to working outdoors.

“I use PLT extensively because the activities are so fun and engaging, as well as educational,” said Campbell.  “Over time my students discover they enjoy spending time outside. They learn to tolerate a little dirt under their fingernails; some actually realize they like it.”

As students progress through her various lessons Campbell gives them more opportunities to get involved and take ownership in year round campus projects.  They learn to care for the classroom animals, plant trees, and landscape the school grounds, keep up the greenhouse, and maintain a Koi pond.  Every year, Campbell takes her students on a four day camping trip and, for some students, she helps them design service-learning projects with an environmental emphasis.

Campbell also brings her students together with physically challenged students. Together they have worked on a butterfly garden, and planted vegetables. She incorporates technology into her curriculum and she frequently has students conduct online research, design fliers and presentations, and develop charts and graphs to complete environmental education projects.

“Heidi’s enthusiasm for environmental education is inspiring,” said Mary Ann Halsey, Arkansas PLT Coordinator and Education Director for the Arkansas Forestry Association.  “She has a tremendous impact on her own students and takes every opportunity to show other teachers the usefulness of the PLT curriculum that teaches critical thinking skills.”

Campbell, a PLT facilitator since 2002, averages six teacher-training workshops a year.  She’s developed new ways of presenting workshops so that teachers can meet the inservice requirements for Arkansas and for No Child Left Behind.  She includes technology, literature,

and writing skills along with correlations to Frameworks (Arkansas academic education standards) so educators know how PLT fits with existing curriculum.  Campbell pioneered Arkansas’ first technology-based K-8 workshop and has developed several advanced and special topic workshops.

For more information please contact Brigitte Johnson, Director of Communications, 202.463.5163, email bjohnson@forestfoundation.org or visit PLT at www.plt.org.  Photos are available upon request.

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 students’ 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 500,000 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.
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