Educational Programs
The American Chestnut Learning Box
TACF’s American Chestnut Learning Box is a hands-on educational resource for people of all ages.
The Learning Box includes:
- nuts, burs and leaves from American and Chinese chestnut trees
- a chestnut “tree cookie” (tree ring slice)
- five different types of wood blocks
- chestnut tree sections showing inoculation sites and chestnut blight
- binder with explanatory fact sheets for each sample and learning materials
(view contents of Learning Box binder here) - curricula on a CD
Learning Boxes will be available in the near future for a fee. If interested, contact Lisa Sousa at TACF’s National Office at (828) 281-0047.
American Chestnut Experiences in Learning Contest
Help us build a better Learning Box!
TACF is soliciting submissions of new learning activities to be included in Version 2.0 of the Learning Box. The winner(s) will receive as a prize, his or her own Version 2.0 American Chestnut Learning Box. Winners will be announced at TACF’s Annual Meeting October 21-23rd in Java Center, NY and acknowledged on the TACF website. All entries will be displayed at the Annual Meeting.
Download the full announcement and rules here
Deadline for entries has been extended through January 2012! Send us your ideas!
Stuck for ideas? Fred Paillet used his wonderful drawing skills to create two sample learning activities that may inspire you:
Hidden Chestnut Game - Find the chestnut items on this cluttered forest floor:
Activity (JPG) | Answer Key (JPG)
Chestnut Match Game - Match each tree with its bark, leaves, and fruit or nut:
Activity (JPG) | Answer Key (PDF)
Contests Entries should be sent to:
Lisa Sousa, Director of Grants & Agreements
The American Chestnut Foundation
160 Zillicoa Street, Suite D
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 281-0047
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:
Link to additional Education Resources
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.