As children have the most to gain from forest restoration, FORRU-CMU places emphasis on this age group for education. FORRU-CMU works with both local and international schools. Activities for schools can include a visit by the FORRU education team to the school itself or a visit by the school to FORRU's nurseries or field sites, including guided walks in natural forest. Visits to a nursery usually entail nursery modules such as how to pot seedlings correctly, basic facts about fruits and seeds, different seed structures and how seeds are dispersed, as well as nursery care for growing trees. Then the kids are taken along the Fig Trail through Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, to visit the biggest tree on the mountain, which takes around an hour. The walk is easy and we stop along the way to talk with the children about forest regeneration, biodiversity and view some of the most interesting plant species in evergreen forest. Above: Regular groups come to visit the nursery and take the forest walk that leads to the giant fig tree. Here Tiderach from the education unit takes an international school from the Philippines on an educational forest walk. We have some fun educational resources about forest restoration we have compiled. Please check them from education resources.

Local Schools

Local school programs, covering a range of topics related to the environment and forests, are tailor-made to entertain and educate children from kindergarten to high schools. FORRU-CMU aims to ignite in children an interest and respect for nature; one that they will take with them through life. For young children, sessions may be about introducing a simple environmental concept, using interactive education such as music and acting. While for older children, we look at the environment and forest in more detail, and introduce issues such as forest degradation and forest restoration.

International Schools Programs

Prem Tinsulanonda Centre for International Education (Prem Centre) and FORRU have been working together on a Collaboration for Environmental Education since 2005. The aim is to promote environmental education among school children, with a focus on forests and trees. This collaboration is comprised of three main activities:
1. Environmental education services at FORRU-CMU’s nursery and field facilities for
schools participating in programs run by Prem Centre.
2. The same for local schools, funded by the proceeds raised from international events.
3. Provision of advice and trees for improving the ecological quality of PTIS School
campus.
The partnership has proven to be a successful one, and FORRU-CMU looks forward to working into the future with the Prem Centre. To view the first year report for this collaboration,click here.
Above: Education Officer Koonakorn teaches students from Kardinia School, Australia, about fruit and seed structure at the FORRU nursery at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.