WVFA Mountain State Forestry Fall 2020

P R O J E C T L E A R N I N G T R E E 24 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry  | Fall 2020 www.wvfa.org For the Future Quality environmental education teaches students the skills they need to be informed consumers and decision makers. It provides critical tools for a 21st century workforce faced with devising solutions to increasingly complex environmental issues, like climate change and energy. Our forests face a daunting array of threats that will require a new generation of leaders with top STEM skills— and an awareness and appreciation for the natural world. PLT is helping prepare the next generation for the future by working to empower educators and inspire youth to become responsible stewards of forests and other natural resources. Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers Project Learning Tree has a new resource for helping learners ages 12–25 explore green careers in forestry and conservation. Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers is designed for adults working with youth in settings ranging from community youth programs to school classrooms, on forestry or mill tours, or as part of college and career prep. Many people think that green jobs are only in the renewable energy or technology sectors. But some of the most exciting—and perhaps greenest jobs—involve forests. These jobs help to sustain forest ecosystems and ensure that forest products are produced in the most sustainable way possible, ensuring that wildlife habitat is conserved, forests are managed, and workers are treated fairly. Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers includes four hands-on instructional activities for youth to practice managing forests and research forest jobs. The activities introduce learners to the array of forest job opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds, skills, interest areas, and personal qualities.