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2024 Teacher Institute for Watershed Science and Conservation

The Teacher Institute for Watershed Science and Conservation, sponsored by Poland Spring®, educates the next generation of environmental and water stewards by inviting educators from around the country to participate in leading-edge professional development.

The Teacher Institute for Watershed Science and Conservation sponsored by Poland Spring® will be offered to two cohorts:

July 15-18 and July 25-28

The Institute

Through application of The Ecology School’s pedagogy and teaching techniques developed through 20+ years of award-winning outdoor science lessons, teachers are challenged to explore water’s connection to human systems and its impacts on the environment. Immersed in field-based ecology lessons, teachers have opportunities to network and collaborate with colleagues from schools around the country to reimagine their teaching to include outdoor learning, place-based experiences, and community partners.
All attendees receive stipends for participation, reimbursement for travel, and are eligible for additional stipends and scholarships, hoping to remove barriers to entry and provide a more accessible opportunity for anyone interested in attending.

Attendees whose applications fit these parameters will be considered first:

Kindergarten - 8th teachers
Ability to implement water and/or landform curriculum
Have not attended a professional development event hosted by The Ecology School before
Work within historically underserved, underrepresented and under-resourced communities
Black, Indigenous, and Educators of Color

Other applicants are welcome to apply! Please contact Meg directly for more information (nonprofits, school administrators, early childhood and high school teachers, etc.)

Location

The Ecology School at River Bend Farm is a historic 313-acre farm located on a scenic bend in the Saco River, just twenty minutes from the Maine coast and the bustling city of Portland. At River Bend Farm, we strive to live, learn, work, and play in ways that are restorative to the world around us. Our campus will rise to the “Living Building Challenge” that asks for spaces to give more than they take from the environment around them. Learn more!

Our Why

Throughout the world, water is a natural resource that affects everyone, every day. From isolated deserts to bustling city grids, water is ever present in our lives whether in abundance or scarcity. However, it is often overlooked in the education and understanding of how and why natural and economic systems operate. Understanding the ecology of water—how it connects all communities on Earth—is a critical skill for students to learn in science curriculum.