These workshops are subsidized by the Educators of Excellence Fund, which enables outstanding educators to experience the natural world firsthand. Admission to the Institutes is through a competitive application process.
Applications for the 2010 Institutes (PDF) Due March 12, 2010
For more information, please contact Sylvia Jones at 919.733.7450 x600.
Join us for Bluegrass & Barbeque: A Benefit for Educators of Excellence — April 10, 2010
Yellowstone Ecology Institute
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, USA
Sunday, June 13–Monday, June 21, 2010
Home to American Bison, Gray Wolves, Elk, Moose and Grizzly Bears, Yellowstone National Park is one of the premier wilderness areas in the world. Explore America's first national park and its magnificent wildlife, unique geology and historical importance in the formation of our National Park System. Learn about the reintroduction of wolves, the role of fire in natural ecosystems and other conservation and environmental issues facing both North Carolina and Yellowstone. Read journals and see images from previous Yellowstone Ecology Institutes.
Ecuador Culture and Ecology Institute
Ecuador, South America
Wednesday, June 23–Friday, July 2 2010
Explore the connections between environmental sustainability and poverty during the seventh year of this special collaboration between the Museum and Heifer International (www.heifer.org). Experience and learn about Ecuadorian ecosystems and the people who live and work in them. Participants will have an opportunity to work with Ecuadorian students and teachers, and to visit several Heifer International projects which focus on helping impoverished families move from poverty toward self-reliance. There will be many opportunities to observe and learn about the wildlife of Ecuador. Read journals and see images from previous Ecuador Culture and Ecology Institutes.
Tropical Ecology Institute
Belize, Central America
Tuesday, July 20–Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Learn firsthand about surprising similarities between the tropics and your own backyard. Discover exotic species of birds, butterflies, arthropods, and other animals unique to the tropics. On this nine-day adventure, educators from North Carolina and Belize will explore the Cockscomb Basin rain forest, Mayan ruins, and a coral reef, with in-depth information provided by Museum naturalists. Since 1987, the Tropical Ecology Institute in Belize has helped outstanding North Carolina educators experience the connections between North Carolina and the tropics. Read journals and see images from previous Tropical Ecology Institutes.
