Project Learning Tree’s instructional materials are delivered through professional development for:
- formal educators who work in classroom settings,
- pre-service students at colleges and universities who are studying to become teachers,
- nonformal educators who work in parks, zoos, nature centers, etc.,
- natural resources managers, and
- other adults who interact with children as youth group leaders, community members, parents and family members.
Our trainings help educators learn how to integrate environmental education into their teaching and become comfortable teaching outdoors—in urban, suburban, and rural environments.
Professional development is offered in person, online, and blended. An online course can be completed in your own time, wherever you are. In-person workshops are planned and conducted by trained facilitators and customized for specific grade levels, topics, and teaching situations.
Day-Long
- In-person workshops, typically 6-hours
- Highly active, hands-on session to experience and model several PLT activities
- Include planning time to integrate PLT into your curriculum or program
- Scheduled year around
- Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop
After School
- In-person workshops, typically 2-3 hours
- Can be single or multiple sessions, depending on content and materials
- Highly active, hands-on session to experience and model select PLT activities
- May include planning time to integrate PLT into your curriculum or program
- Typically scheduled during the school year
- Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop
Summer Institute
- In-person, intensive, professional development, typically 1-2 weeks
- Highly active, hands-on experience
- Explore local natural resources and a variety of locations to expand content knowledge and introduce additional environmental education resources
- Often thematic, focusing on specific topics or grade levels
- May be residential or non-residential
- Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop
Online
- Discover PLT anytime, anywhere
- Our online trainings come with access to an e-book or e-unit
- Great as a refresher or first-time PLT’ers
- Focus on planning lessons and identifying resources
- Successful learners will have basic computer knowledge, particularly navigating web-browsers; check tech requirements
Inservice
- High quality professional development for K-12 teachers
- Focused on school and teacher priorities
- Designed to meet specific outcomes
- Address state and national educational standards
- Duration depends on school and teacher needs
- Can be held at school or offsite
- Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop
Preservice
- Designed for students earning degrees in education
- Integrate PLT materials into syllabus through one-day training or throughout the semester
- Can be delivered by PLT facilitators or trained college/university instructors/faculty
- Participants receive PLT guide(s) depending on focus of workshop
Attend A Professional Development Workshop
PLT offers online and in-person workshops tailored for specific grade levels, academic standards, environmental topics, and formal and nonformal teaching situations. Consistently rated as one of the best professional development events they have ever experienced, most educators attend a PLT workshop because they were recommended to it by a colleague. Learn more at plt.org/trainings/attend-a-training.
During PLT’s hands-on training you will:
- Learn new teaching skills and become comfortable teaching outdoors.
- Receive PLT’s instructional materials and supplements tailored to your state’s standards.
- Practice modeling PLT activities and get tips for lesson planning specific to your educational setting.
- Get access to a network of professionals and support.
- Earn continuing education credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- For more information, read our FAQs.