The environmental education program that already has touched more than 1 million Pennsylvania school children now is even more useful to teachers.

PP&L, Inc. has expanded Trees for the Future, which over the past six years has become popular among elementary school children for its free evergreen seedlings and fun activities, and welcomed among teachers for its innovative approach to teaching environmental issues.

Materials are being mailed to teachers beginning Wednesday (3/17), with shipments of Douglas fir seedlings to follow in April.

This year, the program has been enhanced to address new Pennsylvania Department of Education standards for environment and ecology. Its revamped curriculum includes valuable lesson plans and activity guides endorsed by the Education Department.

"It's only natural that PP&L, Inc. would continue to improve this excellent program," said Larry Sparta, the company's education relations director. "We've had a long-standing commitment to education, and to helping children learn about the environment. Trees for the Future gets kids excited about the environment."

"We thank PP&L, Inc. for its hard work on behalf of teachers and students in Pennsylvania." said Patricia L. Vathis of the Office of Environment and Ecology in the Education Department's Bureau of Curriculum and Academic Services. "This is an excellent example of using the new standards in an integrated curriculum program."

This year, 187,671 students and 8,261 teachers throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania will be participating in Trees for the Future. The program is just one aspect of PP&L, Inc.'s education partnership efforts.

Teachers receive a packet of resource material including lesson guides and activities to teach children about trees. Children in kindergarten and first grade receive a personalized coloring and activity book; students in grades two and three get Douglas fir seedlings to plant at home; and those in fourth and fifth grades receive specially designed pencils and bookmarks. Throughout its first six years, more than 1 million students have participated.