Are you a classroom teacher (or admin or environmental educator that works closely with students in schools) with at least 3 years of teaching/supervisory experience that plans to still work in or with NC schools next year? Do you have an active interest in the natural sciences and love to bring innovation and hands-on learning to your students? Are you ready to spend long, exciting days outside learning from local scientists and experts in the field, and then enjoy a campfire and sleeping in a tent at night? If you said "YES" to all of these questions, then we have a fabulous opportunity for you this coming summer.
Applications are now open for the
2021 Educators of Excellence Institutes with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. You might have heard of our Yellowstone or Belize Institutes (sadly the global pandemic has put those destinations temporarily on hold), but new this year is our
Blue Ridge Institute--- right here in our beautiful state of NC!
Join us as we:
- Immerse yourself in the wilds of western North Carolina
- Hike to waterfalls and balds
- Snorkel a mountain stream
- Sleep under the stars
- Learn from scientists and experts
Participating educators will study and experience the wonders of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Join us as we traverse the Blue Ridge Parkway from Cherry Lane to Cherokee, exploring the wonders of this incredibly biodiverse region of North Carolina. Learn from scientists and other experts about the ecology, geology, history, and culture of the Blue Ridge. Connect with nature, gain experience in outdoor leadership, and build camaraderie with other outstanding educators as we camp at multiple sites during our adventure. Discover strategies for bringing the natural history of North Carolina to life in your classroom. During the trip, participants will provide daily updates to students in North Carolina via a blog.
Dates: This Institute will be offered twice:
July 8-16, 2021 (A mandatory orientation meeting will be held either in Raleigh or virtually on March 13, 2021. A mandatory post-trip session with be held in Raleigh on November 6, 2021.)
July 29 – August 6, 2021 (A mandatory orientation meeting will be held either in Raleigh or virtually on March 20, 2021. A mandatory post-trip session with be held in Raleigh on November 6, 2021.)
Group Size: Limited to 8-9 participants.
Activity Level: Moderate to rigorous including camping most nights, walking and hiking on uneven terrain, and swimming and snorkeling in mountain streams.