On July 15, 2017, Project Learning Tree® (PLT) was transferred to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI) from the American Forest Foundation (AFF).
A transition team comprised of members of PLT’s Education Operating Committee (EOC) and PLT coordinators representing state government agencies, forestry associations, non-profits, colleges and universities that deliver PLT programming across the country is in place to help ensure the transition of PLT from AFF to SFI is as smooth as possible. The full list of the transition team members can be found below.
SFI is a non-profit, charitable organization that has become a sustainability leader dedicated to the future of our forests. SFI’s mission, vision, and key objectives are to strengthen the connections between the conservation values of responsibly managed forests and sustainable communities, as well as provide supply chain assurances. SFI’s community engagement programs have long included support for youth education and connecting youth to forests including previous support for PLT initiatives across the country.
PLT is aligned with SFI’s mission, vision, and key objectives, and bringing the PLT program under SFI’s umbrella will further SFI and PLT’s reach in ensuring today’s youth can be effective future leaders with a strong understanding of the value of responsibly managed forests, a commitment to sustainability, and the skills to make responsible decisions about the environment. PLT and SFI will also work together to engage youth in conservation activities and outdoor education.
Please feel free to contact any of the individuals listed below with questions:
PLT Transition Team
Laura Downey, Ph.D.
PLT Education Operating Committee Co-Chair and Kansas PLT State Coordinator
Executive Director, Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education
785-532-3322
[email protected]
Rafael Salgado
PLT Education Operating Committee Co-Chair
Executive Director, Cal-Wood Education Center, Colorado
303-449-0603
[email protected]
Peter Church
PLT Education Operating Committee Member
Director of Forest Stewardship, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
617-626-1250
[email protected]
Renee Strnad
PLT Education Operating Committee State Coordinator Representative and North Carolina PLT State Coordinator
NC Certified Environmental Educator, NC State University-Extension Forestry
919-515-5518
[email protected]
Ada Takacs
PLT Education Operating Committee State Coordinator Representative and Michigan PLT State Coordinator
Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources Division
231-922-6048
[email protected]
Betsy Ukeritis
New York PLT State Coordinator
Inter-regional Environmental Educator, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Education
315-426-7532
[email protected]
Rob Beadel
Arkansas PLT State Coordinator
Director of Forestry Education, Arkansas Forestry Association
501-374-2441
[email protected]
Ashley Hoffman
Kentucky PLT State Coordinator
Executive Director, Kentucky Association for Environmental Education
270-214-0587
[email protected]
Susan Sahnow
Oregon PLT State Coordinator
Director, Oregon Natural Resources Education Program
541-737-3005
[email protected]
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc.
Kathy Abusow
President & CEO
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
Nadine Block
Chief Operating Officer and Senior VP, Public Affairs
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
202-596-3456
[email protected]