INDIANA– A week-long, free professional development program for educators that covers forestry topics will be offered at Morgan-Monroe State Forest this summer.
Adult educators and youth leaders are encouraged to apply for the Natural Resources Teacher Institute, which will immerse participants in the topics of Indiana forests, forest management, forest products, and forestry research in two separate sessions, June 20–24 and July 18–22.
Daily sessions include site visits to public and private forest lands. Also included are tours of forest industry facilities and the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, a 100-year research project on the impacts of forest management practices.
The Forestry Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest can accommodate a maximum of 18 participants for each session. Meals will be provided. Participants must be available to attend all days of the institute and actively participate in activities. Each participant will be asked to develop a lesson plan or project during the week. A small stipend will be awarded upon completion and implementation of the lesson plan or project.
The institute is a joint program of the DNR Division of Forestry and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources. The goal is to provide Indiana educators and youth leaders with knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest management.
Participants will receive Project Learning Tree and Leopold Education Project curriculum materials, a forestry tool kit, and Indiana-specific field guides.
Contact Donna Rogler, DNR forestry education specialist, for an application or for more information at drogler@dnr.IN.gov or call 317-234-5143.
