Acorn Quest 2026/27: Signup for Teachers
“The students developed a sense of responsibility — planting acorns, tracking their growth, and seeing themselves as caretakers of the future. It sparked genuine wonder, and that kind of learning is hard to measure but incredibly powerful.”
Maria O - 4th and 5th Class teacher from the 2024 pilot program
“There was a sense of wonder and awe every morning when we arrived into the classroom monitoring the progress of our acorns! The squeals of delight were frequently heard when a shoot or root was noticed for the first time. A huge thanks to the TYers who helped by being on camera for the videos. “
Siobhán D - Senior and Junior Infants teacher from the 2025 program
Help and support with you every step of the way
At the start of each month we will share a helpful new video showing your students what to do and what to expect that month. Together we will go from having a handful of acorns, some acorn holders and some empty jam jars until 6 months later we are planting strong oak saplings into pots. Our videos are created with the amazing help of local transition year students. They contain helpful hints plus interesting facts about trees and nature. Each video is just 3 or 4 minutes in length.
Here is an example of one of our videos from 2025/26
Signup for 2026/27
In 2025/26 1,100 students in around 50 different classrooms took part.
If you would like to take part in school year 2026/27 we invite any interested teacher or Principal to register their interest now. This will allow us to understand numbers and plan. Taking part is free (apart from postage) and we provide everything you need to get going.
We provide one reusable Acorn holder* for everyone who needs one in your classroom
(*plus acorn if needed)
Additional Teaching Resources
The Tree council of Ireland have created sets of Class workbooks which you might consider using alongside the Acorn Quest project. Workbooks come with age appropriate content for Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd Class, 3rd and 4th Class and 5th and 6th Class. Teacher notes are available and the workbooks come in both English and Irish. See this link for full details and downloads. Reproduced here with kind permission from The Tree Council.
Teachers Notes
A full set of teacher notes is provided to help link the worksheet to the Irish Curriculum and give helpful suggestions for how to extend the material as needed.
Feedback from the 2024 pilot program
— Would you recommend the project to other teachers in Kerry, and why?
“Yes, I would absolutely recommend the Acorn Quest project to other teachers in Kerry. It’s a beautifully designed, nature-based learning experience that ties in literacy, science, and environmental awareness in a meaningful, hands-on way. It connects children to their local environment and fosters curiosity and care for the natural world — something that’s more important than ever.”
— How hard was it to run the project?
“The project was very manageable. The materials were clear, engaging, and age-appropriate, and it offered flexibility depending on the needs of the class. It worked well within the curriculum and didn’t require extra resources beyond what we already had. If anything, it energized our outdoor learning and gave us a refreshing break from traditional classroom routines..”
— What unique or special learning did you think the students got from Acorn Quest?
“The students gained a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the life cycle of native trees, particularly the oak. But more than that, they learned to slow down, observe, and value the world right outside their door.”
“The Acorn Quest project reminded us that education isn't just about facts — it’s about shaping thoughtful, future-minded citizens.”
”As the saying goes, “A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in.”
Our students planted those seeds — both literally and metaphorically.”