By Kathryn Reed

Tromping through the forest with hard hats on, the group listened intently to scientists talk about the affects of fire on the landscape.

The 150 people with Project Learning Tree were divided into groups Wednesday as they scoured the Tahoe Mountain area that was burned in the 2007 Angora Fire.

Today they head home – which is all over the country. The headquarters for the group is in Washington. They have been on the South Shore since Monday for a convention.

Project Learning Tree members get an education in forests and fires. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Wednesday was their field trip. Ecology and fire were the topics, according to Sarah Lobner, with the U.S. Forest Service. They started the afternoon at Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

The group of men and women are the teachers for Project Learning Tree.

“We learn how other coordinators use different activities with different audiences,” said Lori Brant, who traveled to Lake Tahoe from Connecticut for the conference. “We teach the teachers.”

Their curriculum is for K-12.

Part of the experience on the South Shore included speaking with South Tahoe High School students about how they have worked with younger students to educate them about the environment.

“We checked on the health of the trees they planted last year,” Brant said of the student project.

For more information about Project Learning Tree, click here.