PACIFIC EDUCATION INSTITUTE

STEM Education of Sustainable Forest Practices

Project Overview

Sustainable forest management and conservation are essential parts to preserving forests for the future. For students to connect these ideas, first their teachers need to understand the issues too. That’s why SFI Inc. is providing the Pacific Education Institute $5,000 to host a sustainable forestry workshop for both science education professors who train future teachers and educators at environmental learning centers who facilitate Project Learning Tree (PLT). The workshop will include PLT’s Focus on Forests and Forests of the World modules with added material about the SFI Program. The workshop will include a SFI certified forest owner and a nearby forest analysis. This will allow participants to train other teachers about the importance of sustainable forestry and how the SFI Standard helps conserve the environmental, social, and economic values forests provide us. Graduating teachers will also be encouraged to access SFI or American Tree Farm System Forests for student field trips and other projects required by the national Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Supporting the SFI Standard

The project will support SFI 2010-2014 Standard Objective 17: Community Involvement in the Practice of Sustainable Forestry, including Performance Measure 17.2 requiring that program participants support and promote public outreach, education and involvement related to sustainable forestry management.

Project Partners

Washington Forest Protection Association

Project Resources

Project Overview PDF

About Pacific Education Institute

The Pacific Education Institute (PEI) expands students’ opportunities to learn in outdoor settings throughout Washington State. Students apply math, science, the arts, and social studies skills to field investigations both out-of-doors and in their classrooms. PEI’s rigorous research-based approach assures that students are “learning by doing”.