Educator Academy in the Amazon

Transformative Professional Development

For K-16 educators ready for a life-changing PD adventure

Join us in Peru July 1-11 for our annual Educator Academy in the Amazon for an experience that will feed your soul, expand your professional toolkit for inquiry based science, anchor your global perspective, and change your definition of professional development. Featuring interdisciplinary programming for elementary and middle school educators and in-depth conservation field research for high school AP/IB and university educators.

2020 Registration Opens September 15th

Educator Academy Dates:

July 1-11, 2020

Estimated Fees:

$2695 in-country land costs, program fees & resources

$900-1500 estimated for flights from USA to Iquitos, Peru

Registration details coming soon

Scholarships & grants available

Keep me updated!

Program Details

Overview

Syllabus

Map

Faculty

Study Sites, Projects, & Partners

Machu Picchu Extension

Overview

The Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest is a cross-curricular professional development workshop offering K-12 educators the opportunity to explore one of the world’s most important natural resources – the Amazon rainforest of Peru. Participants will have unparalleled access to all levels of the rainforest, including the rainforest canopy via one of the world’s most extensive canopy walkways.

Every aspect of the program is designed to engage participants in hands-on investigations, citizen science research projects, and inquiry-based learning activities to deepen understanding of the rainforest ecosystem and its global importance. In addition, participants will explore how rainforest concepts relate to 21st century instructional models such as 5E lesson design, inquiry-based exploration, STEM education, and other innovative instructional tools such as BirdSleuth K-12, Project Learning Tree, iNaturalist, Vernier LabQuest® 2, Celestron® digital field microscopes, and more.

This transformative experience also incorporates the themes of cultural exchange, service learning, and sustainability in order to provide participants with cross curricular learning experiences to inspire classroom instruction and develop student understanding of the complexities global environmental issues.

Syllabus

Map

Faculty

Program Directors

Christa Dillabaugh - Director, The Morpho Institute

Christa has a degree in biology with emphasis in science/environmental education from Purdue University. As a middle school science teacher in Bexley, Ohio, she traveled to one of the first Amazon Rainforest Workshops for Educators in 1993. Nearly every other year since then she has teamed with other science specialists to lead groups of students and teachers in hands-on rainforest field study trips to the tropics. She has also worked as a free-lance science consultant to Pearson Education and Discovery Communications, contributing to curriculum and activity guides as well as educator in-service workshops and training materials focusing on STEM and Understanding by Design in the science classroom.

Allen (Al) Stenstrup - Former Director of Education Programs for Project Learning Tree

Al has more than 35 years of experience in the field of education. As Director of Education Programs for Project Learning Tree (PLT), Al directed the development and implementation of PLT's curriculum materials across the country and internationally with PLT state coordinators and other partners. Al recently published a book Diminishing Resources – Forests that highlights the planet’s changing forests and what people are doing to manage this resource. In 2010, he received the award Outstanding Service to Environmental Education at the Global Level from the North American Association for Environmental Education for his work in 18 countries across the world.

Program Faculty

Kelly Keena, PhD – Blue Lotus Consulting and Evaluation

Kelly is the co-founder of Blue Lotus Consulting & Evaluation; a small firm focusing on supporting programs that engage people through the environment. Kelly's background includes field work and administration in environmental education, international study of cultural geography and the environment, formal classroom work as a licensed science teacher and instructional coach, two honorarium faculty positions working with pre-service teachers in science methods of instruction, and research regarding children's connection to nature in green schoolyards using participatory research methods.

Stephen (Steve) Madigosky, EdD - Professor of Biology & Environmental Science at Widener University

In addition to his academic teaching at Widener, Steve is also Director of Research at the Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies (ACTS) in Iquitos, Peru. Aspects of tropical biology and conservation have been his focus for nearly two decades. As a researcher, he has been investigating the biochemical dynamics of select compounds in tropical plants and animals. The crux of his work centers on understanding how organisms obtain chemical protection from their diets. In addition, Steve is conducting a long term study and detailed climatic profile of the forest layers surrounding the ACTS field station. Also active in science education, he has obtained nearly one million dollars in grants over the past decade to support educational programs to increase science literacy among K-16 teachers and students.

Randy Morgan - Curator Emeritus of Invertebrates for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Randy holds an M.S. in entomology from the University of Wisconsin and his work managing a Leaf-Cutting Ant Colony earned the Zoo a Significant Achievement Award issued by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. This recognition was preceded by other awards in 1999 for Bullet Ants, in 2000 for the long-term propagation of the Peruvian Fire Stick, and two in 2001 for the long-term propagation and captive management of the Giant Water Bug. While regularly serving as faculty during Amazon Rainforest Workshops since 1991, Randy also led the JASON XV team of scientists in February, 2003 during their Rainforests at the Crossroads expedition to Panama and served as a JASON X researcher in the Amazon in March, 1999.

Kristie Reddick and Jessica Honaker - Entomologists and Science Communicators, The Bug Chicks

Kristie and Jessica are entomologists who teach about the fascinating world of insects, spider and their relatives. Through videos, digital media and in-person appearances they inspire people to open their minds and learn about these often-maligned animals. Their drive to create fun, accurate science media has led them to work with some amazing organizations: the U.S. Forest Service, Norman Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture, and National Ag Science Center, Microsoft and many more! They inspire people to be brave and realize that different isn't bad. In this vein, they use bugs to teach about prejudice and racism and reaching your full potential.

Nancy Trautmann, PhD - Director of Education, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Under Nancy’s leadership, the Education Program at the Lab creates resources and opportunities that aim to inspire people of all ages to care about birds and the critical issues facing our environment today. The BirdSleuth Habitat Connections curriculum is one of the resources produced by this team. Nancy’s interests center on curriculum development, teacher professional development, and interactive online learning opportunities that help people build closer connections with nature, learn about birds and the natural world, and participate in citizen science and conservation action. Curricula she has published include Birds Without Borders (Carte Diem Press); Citizen Science, Decay & Renewal, Assessing Toxic Risk, Invasion Ecology, and Watershed Dynamics (National Science Teachers Association), Biodiversity: The Keystone to Life on Earth (California Education and the Environment Initiative); and Composting in the Classroom (Kendall Hunt).

Study Sites, Projects, & Partners

Machu Picchu Extension

Specialized Programming for Different Grade Levels

K-12 Formal & Informal Educators

K-12 educators and interdisciplinary teams will use their Educator Academy experience to explore the Amazon through the lens of place-based learning, inquiry, STEM, and NGSS. Working with our fantastic Amazon faculty, you'll conduct field research, visit Amazon schools, and learn from indigenous communities. Each day in the field will provide you with new knowledge, innovative ideas and exceptional resources designed to help you build direct connections to your classroom!

Cohort Size: Limited to 15

HS, AP/IB, & College Science Educators

HS, AP/IB, & college environmental science educators will use their Educator Academy experience to dive deep into tropical ecology, community-based conservation and sustainable development and make connections directly back to your environmental science classrooms. You'll work in partnership with the Maijuna - the indigenous group responsible for protecting Peru's newest regional conservation area - as well as field researchers and our superb Amazon faculty!

Cohort Size: Limited to 15

What people are saying...

“Amazing. I had high expectations, but overall this experience surpassed them on so many levels. The combination of the people involved, the organization and structure, and one of the most astounding places on Earth made this incredible.” – Joan Bachynsky, Cristo Rey High School, NY

“Every component of the academy can be integrated into my classroom, my curriculum and my teaching philosophy. The faculty provided high quality experiences and resources to help me do this! The best program I have EVER had the privilege of attending!” – Melissa Jordan, Sarah Scott Middle School, Terra Haute, IN

“I left feeling inspired, renewed , and excited about what I will share with my students and peers. I was learning every hour of the day and evening. Not a minute of this trip was wasted.” – Jenny Murphy, Sullivan Middle School, Lowell, MA

“This has been the best professional development program I have ever participated in. With quality staff presentations, shared experiences, hands-on activities, long term online resources, and the comradery of our group members, I am confident I will be able to share what I have learned with my students. Further more I feel that I have what I need to continue to learn.” – Phil Kahler, Tualatin Valley Academy, Forest Grove, OR

Need More Information?

The Morpho Institute professional development field workshops are produced by a team of committed people who work together to make this a life experience for every traveler.

With questions about the educational program and experience in Peru contact:
Christa Dillabaugh, Director, The Morpho Institute
Email or Phone: 800-431-2624

With questions about logistics, forms, and flight arrangements contact:
Deb Smucker, Director, EcoTeach
Email or Phone: 800-626-8992, ext 12