Educational Outreach Programs
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is committed to providing educational opportunities to our nation's youth. Younger generations have heard stories about the chestnut tree from their parents and grandparents. Some even live on "Chestnut Street," but if asked about the relevance of the American chestnut tree, the vast majority would have no concept of the impact the loss of the tree had on our social and economic lives. The following initiatives are just two of the ways in which TACF is reaching out to educate our communities:
FOR SCHOOLS OR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING
The Charlie Chestnut Environmental Education Program
Charlie Chestnut is TACF's in-class and online interdisciplinary curriculum, for grades three through six, designed to inspire students to learn more about the environment and about the American chestnut. Developed by TACF, in cooperation with Knowledge Environments, and sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Charlie Chestnut Environmental Education Program integrates math, science, and social studies into a comprehensive and flexible curriculum of hands-on activities based upon the saga of the American chestnut tree. Students learn about TACF's goal to restore the American chestnut tree to its native woodlands, and about the continuing stewardship of forests.
The curriculum may be started at any time and can reach millions of students, primarily because of its Internet-based support. Charlie Chestnut uses a tutorial-style scrapbook, interactive online activities, and a pop-up glossary.
"The Charlie Chestnut website adds a new significance to educational websites because it represents a real effort to reach out to kids and educators."
- Eric Mollenhauer, Science & Social Studies Program Supervisor,
EIRC, New Jersey
Students from Poolesville High School's Global Ecology program take measurements in Maryland's ThorpeWood orchard in the Catoctin Mountains.
Two of TACF's youngest members, twins Dan and Tim Williams, are active participants in the foundation's meetings and currently serve on the TACF board committee that oversees chestnut education and programming. Shown here with TACF President and CEO Marshal Case.
The Chestnut Tree Loaner Laboratory
The Maryland Chapter/Carroll County led to a partnership with the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) and the creation of a Chestnut Tree Loaner Lab where students learn advanced genetic concepts and utilize gel electrophoresis techniques in the context of learning about the relationship between chestnut blight fungus and hypovirus that can infect and weaken the blight. The American chestnut lab kit is available for use in classrooms at no cost to teachers who have been trained to use it. Nearly 2000 students used the kit during the 2006-2007 school year. Maryland Chapter members contributed funds to enable the UMBI Loaner Lab Program to purchase and equip an additional lab as teacher requests exceeded lab availability. Carroll County science faculty have had success using the American Chestnut Lab with diverse classroom groups and have found that participating students scored well on state tests of science concepts taught by the lab.
The Maryland Chapter's partnership with Carroll County schools has helped the school district to incorporate American chestnut learning experiences throughout its science curriculum by involving students in American chestnut restoration activities. The chapter has provided science and technical expertise for training of teachers and staff as curriculum was developed and as the county established a backcross breeding orchard at its outdoor school in 2007. The success of the American Chestnut Project in Carroll County has served as a model for other school districts that plan to initiate similar partnership efforts.