The program, offered in all 50 states, aligns with Common Core State Standards in science, social studies, language arts and math.

Students also learn about pollinators and how bees help produce the food we eat. They learn how seeds travel through the wind and grow in the soil where they land.

The kids develop their creative writing skills that way — crafting stories from their observations.

The kids choose a tree to “adopt” and they learn about that species; from the bark to the type of leaf, and watch how it changes through the seasons.

Whether you are an educator, a parent, or a volunteer interested in the outdoors, you can find free nature activities and games for kids to download or pull up on an iPad on Project Learning Tree’s website. Or you can get training online to hold an informal class in your own community.