[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     PROJECT LEARNING TREE: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR OUR FUTURE

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I rise today to tell the Senate that 
today, May 5, 1994, is an exciting day for the youth of the United 
States, Mexico, and Canada.
  In my home State of North Dakota, at the International Peace Garden 
on the border with Canada, hundreds of schoolchildren from both sides 
of the border are coming together to learn more about our environment. 
They'll be joined by teachers, policymakers, and leaders in the fields 
of business and natural resources. A member of the Canadian Parliament 
will speak. North Dakota State Forester Kotchman will be there. And I 
understand that Smokey the Bear might even show up. This is all in the 
cause of educating kids to build a safer and cleaner environment. 
Similar events are happening at our border with Mexico and here in 
Washington today.
  These events are part of the launching of an important new 
environmental education curriculum--Project Learning Tree. Developed by 
the American Forest Foundation and the Western Regional Environmental 
Education Council, Project Learning Tree is an environmental education 
curriculum used by 20 million students and 400,000 teachers here in the 
United States and around the world. By placing our natural surroundings 
in their proper international perspective, the Project Learning Tree 
curriculum fosters respect for the environment and encourages 
cooperation among young people across our continent.
  Students from all 50 States, Canada and Mexico are participating in 
these events by sending environmental exchange boxes to border sites 
for inclusion in permanent exhibits displaying representative items 
from students' communities. I understand that young people from 12 of 
North Dakota's schools cannot wait to find out what's inside these 
boxes.
  These events are important because the future of our environment 
depends on educating today's youngsters about how important the 
environment is. Project Learning Tree is a new and exciting way to 
teach students about our fragile and diverse environment. This Project 
crosses the physical and cultural borders that often divide neighbors 
from each other. It will lead to new international respect and 
understanding. And it will teach tomorrow's citizen leaders about our 
natural resources today--at the International Peace Garden.
  While North Dakota is honored to host this event, people across North 
America and around the world will benefit from it. We need citizens who 
act more responsibly towards our environment and who make it their duty 
to preserve the natural beauty of their communities. Project Learning 
Tree is the future of environmental education. I hope that our three 
great nations will embrace it.

                          ____________________