A $1,000 grant from Georgia Project Learning Tree (PLT) is helping teacher Sarah Lynn Kalinowsky launch an exciting new learning experience for second through fifth-grade students at Richmond Hill & Carver Elementary School. Kalinowsky is transitioning from 22 years of classroom teaching to developing the school’s new outdoor education program. The “Wildcat Outdoors Initiative” is an immersive, hands-on learning environment that fosters environmental literacy, stewardship, and real-world application of academic concepts. “The Wildcat Initiative aligns perfectly with the goals of PLT,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Education Coordinator Chelsea York. “The ‘Georgia Seedling Mini-Grant’ provides educators with the resources they need to inspire lifelong learning about environmental issues. With support from this mini-grant, Richmond Hill Elementary will have new opportunities to engage students in hands-on investigations of forests, wildlife, and natural systems while building critical thinking skills and environmental stewardship.” York said PLT’s wide-ranging curriculum tools and activities will be utilized throughout the program. Kalinowsky said she grew up hunting and fishing and is passionate about getting students to discover the joy and value of outdoor exploration. “I want to foster curiosity,” she said. “I want to plant a seed and help kids see the world around them.” Her husband of 20 years, Chris, is a marine biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural…
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