Nurturing Future Green Leaders with Forest Literacy and Environmental Education

November 05, 2024

By Ellen Long, Director, Education and Forest Literacy, SFI

Growing up, I always admired the profound impact teachers have on shaping future generations. I was raised in a family of educators and always thought I was destined to be a teacher, but I instead found other ways to engage with the education system outside of the classroom. Early on I realized my calling was to support the educators guiding students toward becoming their best selves.  

Today, as the Director of Education and Forest Literacy at Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada), I get to do just that—using trees and forests to help teachers and students connect with the natural world in meaningful ways, all while setting the stage for the next generation of leaders in the forest and conservation workforce. At PLT Canada, we are also committed to ensuring that our efforts are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being, honoring the stewardship and deep connection Indigenous peoples have maintained with forests since time immemorial.

Embedding Forest Literacy into the Classroom 

My role at PLT Canada is exciting and filled with possibilities. I can strategically plan, build connections, and intentionally bring forest literacy to the forefront of education in Canada. When we embed forest literacy and environmental education into classrooms, we open students’ eyes to how forests are vital to who we are. Forests play an indispensable role in our lives, from providing clean air for us to breathe to preserving cultural and historical connections to the environment. 

With recent wildfires forcing us to think more about our environment, awareness and engagement surrounding forests and their benefits are more important than ever. Forest literacy isn’t just for those interested in pursuing environmental careers—it’s for everyone to understand the values and benefits of sustainably managed forests. By highlighting the importance of forests in our education systems, we’re not just teaching students about trees; we’re teaching them about resilience, community, and sustainability. 

More than 30% or about 367 million hectares of Canada is forested.

Building Green Career Pathways through Education and Mentorship 

One of the most fulfilling parts of my role is working alongside educators to promote forest literacy. Teachers are as unique and diverse as the students they serve, and we strive to meet them where they are. Whether through social media, webinars, or face-to-face interactions, we aim to connect with educators, both formal and non-formal, and provide them with the tools they need to integrate forest literacy into their classrooms. Many of Project Learning Tree Canada’s resources, like Forest Quest and A Guide To Green Jobs In Canada: Voices Of Indigenous Professionals, are designed ready to implement and linked to curriculum to make educators’ jobs easier.  

We want to ensure that students have access to the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a green career, starting long before they apply for their first job. And once they’re ready to enter the workforce, we continue to support a lifetime of learning with free mentorship programs for young professionals in Canada and webinars in November where students can learn about a variety of green career pathways available. 

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