Event
Presenting Discover the Forest: Outdoor Learning for Everyday Life

young boy holding autumn leaf

Date

Event Type

Webinar

Topic

  • Curriculum and Teaching
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Tags

  • Children's Health and Wellness
  • Urban Education

Watch the Recording

In a webinar that took place on November 12, 2025 at, we took an inside look at Discover the Forest! The refreshed program inspires families and educators to connect young children (birth–age 8) with nature through everyday experiences. In this webinar, guest speakers shared the program’s new direction, explore the updated website and social media platforms, and highlight ways to get involved. Discover the Forest manager Emily Van Laan, social media content creator Diamon Clark, and Project Learning Tree content development partner Ana Leirner debuted resources that take the guesswork out of outdoor learning in early childhood, including expert guidance on how to get started, dozens of activities aligned to learning outcomes, and rich examples of the ways nature enhances learning and development starting at birth. 

Watch the Recording

      

Resources

Speakers

  • Emily Van Laan headshot

    Emily Van Laan

    Emily is an experienced early childhood educator and program manager who has spent nearly 15 years helping young children and families connect with nature through play and exploration. She brings a background in teaching, curriculum design, and educator training to her work leading the Discover the Forest program at the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Emily is passionate about making outdoor play and learning accessible, inclusive, and joyful for all, especially our youngest learners.

  • Diamon Clark headshot

    Diamon Clark

    Diamon Clark is a proud Baltimore City native, Maryland Master Naturalist, and holds a B.S. in Environmental Science. She has spent the past decade as an outdoor educator, leading workshops and programs for learners of all ages. For this work, she was named a NAAEE 30 Under 30 Educator of the Year in 2021. Now, as a mom of an infant and toddler, Diamon is passionately nurturing her children’s connection to nature, raising them to be curious, thoughtful, and engaged stewards of the Earth.

  • Ana Leirner headshot

    Ana Leirner

    Ana leads Project Learning Tree's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (STI) training and professional development courses and initiatives including online learning. She advances the work of the SFI education pillar by ensuring that people working with youth and communities have the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to advance environmental literacy, stewardship, and green career pathways through the lens of trees and forests. Ana also creates online learning opportunities that support youth in forging their unique green career pathway. Before joining SFI, Ana worked as a learning designer in various industries, developing courses in topics that included climate and STEM education. Ana holds a Master of Education in educational media and technology from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil. She lives in the Washington DC area and is passionate about creating a more sustainable future for her family and community. Ana also loves taking her Kindergartener outside to do PLT activities!