hm - Dec12 - cover.indd - National Hardwood Lumber Association

FOUNDATION
FOCUS
HARDWOOD FOREST FOUNDATION’S TRUTH ABOUT TREES
PROGRAM REVISED, REVAMPED AND READY
By Crystal Oldham, Executive Director Hardwood Forest Foundation
The Hardwood Forest Foundation recently partnered with
Lumberman’s Club of Memphis for the rollout of its revised
and revamped Truth About Trees program with a series of tree
plantings and presentations at elementary schools throughout
Shelby County, Tenn.
“Created in 2006, Truth About Trees serves as the Foundation’s
flagship program and although its message has always been clear and
is long from being outdated, the kit itself needed a facelift,” said
Crystal Oldham, Foundation Director.
Designed to teach children about the importance of harvesting trees
and the usage of tree products in our everyday lives, the kit is still
a box complete with educational materials targeting children in
third through fifth grade, but it is packaged to engage children
and educators.
“The Foundation’s Board of Directors worked tirelessly to rebrand
the kit with leaf characters and colorful artwork…it is designed to
draw children in and make them want more.” Oldham added.
Another notable change is the program’s new lesson plan format.
“One thing us lumbermen sometimes struggle with is reaching
outside of our industry…it’s as if we talk to the rest of the world
the way we talk among ourselves. So, we ditched the script format
and worked with a Tennessee early childhood educator to put the
program in teacher language through a lesson plan,” Oldham said.
“We also added a video featuring the Foundation’s newly acquired
Oakie Acorn and a couple of games that are engaging, force students
to get up out of their seats and involve critical thinking.”
Truth About Trees is available, free of charge, to educators and
industry members seeking to spread its message. To learn more
about the program or to obtain a kit, email Crystal Oldham at
c.oldham@hardwoodforest.org.
24 DECEMBER 2012 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM