Educator Academy in the Amazon - professional development for teachers

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The Educator Academy in the Amazon

Place-based Inquiry Professional Development for K-12 Educators.

Info Zoom Session
September 10th, 7 pm EST

Recording

Enrollment Opens

Sept. 15, 2026

Prep-Course Begins

Dec. 20, 2026

Field Experience

July 1-10, 2027

Group Size

Program Fee

$3,275

The Amazon Inspires the Questions. You Bring Them Home.

Imagine professional development that is a life-changing inquiry adventure. The Educator Academy in the Amazon is a wide-ranging journey through rainforest ecology, culture, and conservation, where inquiry-based learning isn't a strategy. It's the experience itself.

You'll spend 10 days in one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth. The Amazon becomes your classroom, your lab, and your curriculum. But what you're really signing up for is so much bigger.

Months before you travel, you'll begin connecting with your cohort and Morpho's faculty, building the relationships that make everything in the field possible. Then the Amazon takes over. You'll do the kind of learning that shifts how you yourself, your teaching, and what's possible in conservation education.

And when you come home, you don't come home alone. You return to a community of practice that includes your cohort, Morpho's faculty, and a supportive network of colleagues and friends.

Educator Academy Details

Your investment covers FAR MORE than 10 days in the field.

The Educator Academy program fee funds preparation before you travel, the field experience, and a professional learning community for life!

The $3275 Program Fee Includes:

$825 Morpho Institute Fee

Pre-departure Course: 8-module online course - opens in December and runs through June
Faculty Webinars: 5+ live sessions with Morpho faculty before you travel
Mailed Resource Kit: Inquiry kit, field journal, and classroom resources sent to your door
Life-long access to Morpho's Professional Learning Community: on-going support and networking with alumni and faculty - webinars, resources, and working groups.

$2450 Field Experience Fee

10 Day Field Program: 40+ hours of facilitated inquiry in the Amazon + in-country ground transportation, room, board, and activity fees outlined in the Educator Academy itinerary.
Naturalist Guides & Faculty: Morpho faculty, Peruvian naturalists, guest researchers, Indigenous community members
Community Partner Donations: Support of Morpho’s Amazon community conservation partners
Carbon Offsets: Your air travel miles converted to carbon offset dollars to support the Maijuna Federation's protection of nearly one million acres of rainforest in northern Peru.

Not Included

Flights to Iquitos, Peru. Participants arrange and pay for flights separately. Participants should arrive in Iquitos, Peru on July 1 and depart late afternoon/evening on July 10, with arrival back to the US on July 11.

Travel insurance, tips ($150US), optional activities beyond the field program itinerary, expenses of a personal nature, or passport costs.

One Journey. Three Phases. All of it matters.

The Educator Academy in the Amazon is professional development that begins long before you board a plane and continues long after you return home. But at its heart is a 10-day immersion in one of Earth's most extraordinary ecosystems: the Peruvian Amazon, where teachers build the knowledge, skills, and relationships that transform how they teach science, conservation, and the natural world.

Before the Amazon

From the moment you enroll, you will have access to an online pre-departure course and resource library that blends Amazon background knowledge with practical classroom application. Modules cover Amazonian ecology, biodiversity, and conservation frameworks alongside inquiry-based teaching strategies, field research methods, and cross-cultural context for your time with our local and Indigenous partners. By the time you land in Peru, you will arrive not just informed but already thinking like a Morpho educator — and connected to the cohort you will spend 10 days learning alongside.

In the Amazon

Skilled Peruvian naturalist guides lead explorations by small boat, along jungle trails, and on one of the world's most extensive canopy walkways. Professional scientists engage educators directly in field studies and citizen science. Indigenous community members share their conservation and sustainable development projects, along with their vision for the long-term health of the rainforest resources on which their livelihoods depend. Specialized tracks for elementary, middle school, and HS/AP educators connect every field experience to classroom practice, with built-in time to collaborate with colleagues on concrete ideas for student learning. All field activities support NGSS 3D learning, STEM, 5E, and more.

After the Amazon

Program evaluation consistently shows that participants return home with increased confidence, deeper content knowledge, and new capacity to lead student-directed field studies. Through MorphoNet, Morpho's Professional Learning Community for alumni, the learning continues: peer connection, shared resources, and ongoing collaboration with educators who understand exactly what it means to stand in that rainforest and see what you saw.

Dowload Full 2027_EAA_Syllabus

PROGRAM: EDUCATOR ACADEMY IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

DATES: JULY 1–10, 2026

LOCATION: IQUITOS, PERU

CONTACT HOURS:

20+ hours of required pre-departure preparation include readings, discussions, and webinars.
40+ hours of fieldwork in the Amazon include guided investigations, conservation projects, and curriculum workshops.

OVERVIEW

The Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest offers professional development that transforms teaching and learning through direct immersion in one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Educators strengthen their ability to engage students in scientific research, cross-cultural connections, and community-based conservation initiatives. The Academy is built as a hands-on teaching-practice program: participants leave with lessons, tools, and a plan they can bring directly into their own classrooms.

Morpho PD is built around a three-phase approach: a pre-departure online course that builds shared knowledge and connects participants before they travel, an immersive field experience in the Amazon that is the core of the Academy, and a post-program professional learning community through MorphoNet that keeps the learning going long after everyone returns home.

The program highlights cultural competence, encouraging participants to value diversity, reflect on cultural assumptions, and adapt instruction to be responsive to Indigenous and local knowledge systems. It also introduces connections to international conservation priorities such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, showing how inquiry-based learning can link classroom practice to global efforts in biodiversity and sustainability.

Opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school/AP educators to collaborate on 5E lesson design, action plans, and inquiry-based investigations, ensuring that each experience is developmentally appropriate across diverse teaching contexts. Participants return with greater confidence and the skills to lead student-directed inquiry, integrating their Amazon experiences into NGSS-aligned, STEM-focused, and 5E instructional practices.

RATIONALE

The Amazon Rainforest is a globally significant biome that provides unique opportunities for growth in science, culture, and conservation. Immersed in this environment, educators gain firsthand insight into biodiversity and sustainability challenges while experiencing how Indigenous knowledge and worldviews shape conservation practices. These encounters deepen their ability to teach with inclusivity, cultural responsiveness, and global perspective.

The Academy also aligns with international priorities such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, which underscores the role of education in building biodiversity knowledge and stewardship. By practicing inquiry, conducting authentic research, and collaborating in the Amazon, educators prepare themselves to create similar opportunities for their students.

Ultimately, the program equips teachers to guide youth in becoming informed global citizens—able to investigate environmental issues, evaluate multiple perspectives, apply scientific evidence, and reflect on the human dimensions of sustainability. This transformation positions students to connect local learning with global conservation challenges.

GOALS

The Academy provides a compelling context in which participants gain:

Experience in conducting field investigations, design challenges, and culturally responsive place-based learning that empower them to guide students in authentic inquiry and research.
Appreciation for the Amazon rainforest as a critical global life-sustaining biome, along with a deeper understanding of their role as global citizens in addressing conservation and sustainability challenges.
Insights into the importance of Indigenous knowledge for conservation, and the ability to integrate diverse ways of knowing into their teaching practice.
Skills to connect field-based learning to classroom instruction, applying NGSS, STEM, and inquiry frameworks to support student-led exploration and action.
Cultural competence to honor and integrate Indigenous and local knowledge, reflect on cultural values and assumptions, and adapt teaching to diverse contexts with inclusion, equity, and respect.
Knowledge of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its targets, and the ability to translate these international conservation commitments into classroom practices that build biodiversity literacy and inspire student action.
A strong foundation of shared background knowledge and cohort connection, built during the pre-departure course, so participants arrive ready to make the most of every day in the field.
Ongoing support and collaboration through MorphoNet, the Academy’s post-program professional learning community, where alumni continue to grow as teachers and conservation leaders long after they return home.

OUTPUTS

A 5E Lesson Plan: Participants will design a 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) lesson plan that integrates Amazon biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, and inquiry-based methods. This lesson can be directly implemented in their classrooms and adapted for NGSS and STEM connections.

A Collaborative Action Plan: During the program, educators work together to develop a collaborative action plan for incorporating Amazon-focused content into their instruction. This plan encompasses strategies for student-directed inquiry, curriculum integration, and opportunities to connect classroom learning to global conservation priorities.

A Field-Based Inquiry Investigation: Participants will design and carry out a field-based inquiry investigation in the Amazon, applying research tools, citizen science methods, and culturally responsive approaches. The investigation is then translated into a classroom-ready project that models authentic scientific practice for students.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

A central goal of the Academy is to help educators translate the Amazon field experience into meaningful classroom practice. Through EAA, educators:

Connect to Standards by applying 5E lesson design and field-based inquiry methods to NGSS three-dimensional learning and
Integrate Inquiry across disciplines by pairing natural history study, citizen science, and cultural exchange, helping students investigate ecosystems through multiple lenses.
Advance Global Frameworks by linking classroom projects to the Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goals.
Incorporate Indigenous Perspectives by engaging with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and community-based conservation practices, modeling cultural respect and stewardship.

By pairing hands-on field study with classroom-ready tools, the Academy equips educators to teach with rigor, cultural responsiveness, and a clear line back to the standards they are already accountable for.

PROGRAM FORMAT - A THREE-PHASE APPROACH

The Academy is built around three connected phases: a pre-departure course, the field experience in the Amazon, and a post-program professional learning community. Each phase supports the next, so the learning that begins online carries all the way through to the classroom.

Phate 1, Pre-Departure: Participants complete an eight-session online course with readings, reflection activities, and community-building opportunities. This preparation provides essential background knowledge and ensures participants are ready to engage fully in the field experience. Beyond building content knowledge, this phase gives participants a chance to set personal goals for their time in the Amazon, connect with their cohort before they ever meet in person, and begin thinking about how they will bring their experience back to their classroom.

Phase 2, In the Field: The field experience is the core of the Academy, the phase the pre-departure course prepares participants for and the phase everything else in the program builds toward. The Academy immerses participants in the unique learning environment of the Amazon—its biodiversity, ecosystem complexity, Indigenous cultures, and global significance. Field sessions combine topic introductions, hands-on exploration, and guided reflection. Activities include natural history studies, inquiry-based investigations, citizen science, cultural exchanges, and community conservation projects. Grade-level connections are woven throughout, supported by partners such as the Pacific Education Institute, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, PocketLab, and Celestron. Sessions are led by Academy faculty, guest researchers, and local naturalist guides.

Phase 3, Upon Return: The Academy experience continues beyond the Amazon through MorphoNet, the Morpho Institute’s professional learning community, and the wider Morpho alumni network, a community of educators committed to biodiversity, sustainability, and inquiry-driven teaching. Alumni stay connected with their cohort and the larger network, extend field learning into classroom practice, and collaborate on curriculum, research, and conservation initiatives. Exclusive opportunities include webinars, workshops, conference presentations, and leadership roles within the Morpho community, ensuring alumni remain part of a supportive and innovative professional network. Through MorphoNet, alumni goals include staying connected to their cohort, finding ongoing support as they bring the Amazon into their teaching, and building lasting collaborations across a growing professional learning community of like-minded educators.

STUDY SITES

The field component of the Educator Academy in the Amazon is set in the Loreto district of northeastern Peru. This area is accessible only by boat from Iquitos and provides access to some of Peru’s most untouched rainforest. Field accommodations are hosted at Explorama Lodge and ACTS Field Station and Canopy Walkway, which provide participants with unlimited access to both flooded and upland forest as well as a ¼ mile canopy walkway. These study sites are also located adjacent to the newly formed Maijuna-Kichwa Regional Conservation Area, which protects nearly a million acres of Maijuna indigenous ancestral lands, robust Amazon biodiversity, and our partner community of Sucusari.

PROGRAM ASSIGNMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES

To create a meaningful and collaborative experience, participants are expected to:

Complete all pre-departure readings and activities.
Share and apply their learning during the field experience.
Actively contribute as engaged and supportive team members before, during, and after the program.

PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

Christa Dillabaugh - Director, The Morpho Institute

Christa Dillabaugh is the Program Director for The Morpho Institute and coordinator of our flagship program, The Educator Academy in the Amazon. Prior to founding the Morpho Institute, she launched Amazon Rainforest Workshops, LLC, and has coordinated numerous student and university field programs in the Amazon. Christa began her love of the Amazon and Neotropical rainforests while leading expeditions for her own students from Bexley, Ohio. She has also worked as a freelance 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. Her current area of focus is community-based conservation and conservation education.

PRE-DEPARTURE COMMUNICATIONS/COURSEWORK/RESOURCES

All course communications are hosted on MorphoNet, the Morpho Institute’s online community platform. Participants receive access upon registration. The eight-module pre-departure course is delivered on-line, with access beginning in December and content opening in January. Modules include Amazon background readings, classroom connections, and guided opportunities for personal and professional reflection.

In addition to the online course, participants receive a mailed resource packet with key program information and materials to support preparation. A recommended packing and equipment list is also provided in advance to ensure readiness for the field experience.

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION & CONTINUING EDUCATION

Participants who satisfactorily complete both the pre-departure coursework and the field experience receive a Certificate of Participation documenting 60 clock hours of professional development (20 hours pre-departure, 40 hours field experience).

Participants may also apply for continuing education units (CEUs), certified through Fresno State University, upon satisfactory completion of both program phases.

Meet the Faculty

Program Coordinators

Christa Dillabaugh, Director, The Morpho Institute

EAA role: Program architect and lead faculty, the through-line from enrollment to alumni community

Christa created the Educator Academy in the Amazon in 2013 and has been designing and leading field-based professional development programs in the Peruvian Amazon for over 20 years, first through Amazon Rainforest Workshops, LLC and now through the Morpho Institute. Her background in STEM curriculum development with Pearson Education and Discovery Communications and her focus on community-based conservation shape every dimension of the Academy's design.

Rosanna (Ro) Ruiz, EdD, Director of Educational Engagement, The Morpho Institute

EAA role: Educational framework, participant experience design, and the research foundation behind why this program works.

Ro holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from CSU Fresno, and her dissertation was literally about Morpho. Titled "Awe as a Professional Development Approach in Environmental Education," her research examined the EAA as a transformative PD experience for K-12 educators. A former engineer turned conservation educator, she brings both rigorous research and deep field experience to designing and facilitating Morpho's programs.

Sandy Elsberry, Program & Field Coordinator, The Morpho Institute

EAA role: Field logistics, facilitation, and the elementary educator's perspective throughout the program.

Sandy is an elementary science teacher in Kansas City, Missouri who has been traveling to the Peruvian Amazon since 2000, with student groups, parent groups, and as a Morpho faculty member. Her dual identity as a practicing classroom teacher and a seasoned Amazon field educator makes her an unusually effective bridge between the field experience and what happens back in the classroom.

Program Faculty

Kristie Reddick & Jessica Honaker, Entomologists & Science Communicators, The Bug Chicks

EAA role: Entomology, science communication, and the art harnessing SEL in nature-based education.

Kristie and Jessica are entomologists and science communicators who have built a national reputation for making invertebrate science accessible, accurate, and genuinely exciting. They have worked with the U.S. Forest Service, Microsoft, and the Norman Borlaug Institute, and they bring to the EAA a rare combination of scientific rigor, classroom relevance, and the ability to turn a teacher's reluctance into curiosity.

Nancy Trautmann, PhD, Visiting Fellow, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Morpho Institute Co-Founder

EAA role: Citizen science, and curriculum connections, helping educators see Amazon birds as a gateway to inquiry their students can continue at home.

Nancy spent her career at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology developing teacher professional development and curriculum rooted in biodiversity science and citizen science. She has published 10 books in collaboration with teachers, and her book Birds Without Borders won the top award from the Association of American Publishers for supplemental science curricula. She is one of the foremost practitioners of bringing real conservation research into K-12 teaching.

Kirsten Franklin, MA, Director of Curriculum Connections, The Morpho Institute | Environmental Literacy Coordinator

EAA role: Elementary curriculum connections, classroom application support, and living proof of what the program makes possible.

Kirsten is a 34-year elementary educator who first came to the Educator Academy in 2015 and has returned four times since. A Fulbright exchange teacher and former teacher on special assignment for elementary science, she brings both the veteran classroom teacher's perspective and the lived experience of someone who has gone through exactly the transformation the EAA promises.

Amanda Dworak-Rowland, EdD, Superintendent, Tule Springs National Monument, Morpho Board Member

EAA role: Place-based learning, youth engagement frameworks, and the connection between field experience and long-term conservation stewardship.

Amanda brings over 20 years of experience in place-based and outdoor education, youth leadership, and public lands interpretation, including doctoral research on connecting youth to their public lands through social change leadership. Her work at Zion National Park and Tule Springs, along with her background in resource interpretation and environmental science make her a natural fit for an inquiry program rooted in place and ecological wonder.

Morpho Institute Study Sites in the Peruvian Amazon

Sample Itinerary (subject to change)

July 1 – DAY 1: Arrive in Iquitos Peru. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our ground team and transferred to your Iquitos hotel. A city tour and other activities may be arranged for an additional fee.

July 2 – DAY 2: Iquitos to Explorama Lodge

We will depart for our first study site no later than 9:30 AM. You'll be met at the hotel by our ground team and transfer via boat to Explorama Lodge● Travel by boat on the Amazon River and deepen your understanding of this important global resource ● Evening orientation: Where in the World Are We?

July 3– DAY 3: Explorama Lodge

Birding and wildlife investigations each morning ● AM field workshop: Place-based inquiry in the Amazon ● Guided hike and inquiry-based explorations the rainforest ecosystem ● PM field workshop: Designing Field Studies & The Tools of Inquiry ● Pre-dinner round table discussions ● Evening boat ride.

July 4– DAY 4: ACTS Field Station

AM field workshop: Amazon biodiversity: Arthropods Rule! ● PM field workshop: Amazon Biodiversity – Secret Lives of Amazon Plants ● Pre-dinner round table discussions ● Evening discussion night hike.

July 5 – DAY 5: ACTS Field Station

AM grade level field & curriculum workshops: Forging connections to forests and climate change ● PM field workshop: Tropical Ecology 101 with guided hike and explorations at the ACTS field station. Canopy walkway exploration and sunset viewing. ● Evening Exploration: STEM design challenge.

July 6 – DAY 6: ACTS Field Station

AM/PM field workshops: Research in the Rainforest – Trade your Lab Coat for a Rain Poncho ● Small group field studies and explorations with Academy faculty ● Explore STEM applications of research protocols, investigation tools, and inquiry resources ● Pre-dinner round table discussion: Science, Conservation, and Sustainability ● Night hike.

July 7 – DAY 7: ACTS Field Station

AM field workshop: Research in the Rainforest wrap up ● PM field workshop: Meet the Maijuna with visit to community of Sucusari to meet with community members and learn about their culture and history and efforts to protect nearly a million acres of the Amazon ● Evening Exploration: “Have you touched a rainforest today?”

July 8 – DAY 8: ACTS Field Station

AM/PM field workshops: Full day in the Maijuna village of Sucusari ● In-depth exploration of the creation of the Maijuna-Kichwa Regional Conservation Area ● Hands-on explorations of Maijuna community conservation projects, including stingless bee honey cultivation, aguaje palm fruit harvesting, GPS animal tracking and hunting initiative, and chambira fiber workshop ● Pre-dinner round table discussion: Connecting the Amazon to your NGSS Classroom ● Night boat ride on the Sucusari River.

July 9 – DAY 9: Explorama Lodge

AM field Workshop: The Maijuna Foodshed – agriculture and water resources ● Lunch at Napo ● PM: Creating a collaborative action plan for integrating the Amazon into your instruction. Evening: Awards ceremony and celebration!

July 10 – DAY 10: Iquitos to Lima and return flights to US

Transfer to Iquitos for return flight to Lima and international flights. Most flights to the US are overnight flights and will return you to the US on July 11, DAY 11.

From the Amazon to your classroom

Every field experience in the Educator Academy is designed to translate directly into classroom practice — not as inspiration, but as transferable skills, frameworks, and ready-to-use materials.

The Classroom Connection — At a Glance

An inquiry framework you can teach
The PEI Field Investigations model gives you a repeatable process for leading outdoor and place-based inquiry with your own students — not just a description of what you did in Peru.

Data tools you've used in the field
PocketLab sensors and citizen science tools, including iNaturalist and eBird, are used throughout the program so you return with hands-on fluency, not just familiarity.

Global frameworks in student language
NGSS, GBF, and SDG connections are woven into field activities so you leave with the vocabulary and examples to make global conservation legible and relevant to your students.

Three classroom-ready deliverables
A 5E lesson plan, a field inquiry investigation, and a collaborative action plan — all developed during the program, all ready to implement when you return.

Program Outputs — What You Bring Home

1. 5E Lesson Plan

A classroom-ready lesson integrating Amazon biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, and inquiry-based methods. Adapted to your grade level, aligned to NGSS and STEM frameworks. Directly implementable upon return.

2. Field-Based Inquiry Investigation

A field investigation designed and carried out in the Amazon using PEI framework and PocketLab tools — translated into a classroom-ready project that models authentic research for students.

3. Collaborative Action Plan

Developed with your cohort during the final field days. A concrete plan for bringing Amazon-focused inquiry into your instruction with curriculum integration strategies and global conservation connections.

Morpho scholarships are merit awards.

They recognize educators with the vision, commitment, and creativity to multiply their Amazon experience.

Every year, Morpho awards merit-based Fellowships, Scholarships, and Explorer awards to educators whose applications reflect extraordinary potential — not financial circumstances.

Awards are available at three levels, aimed at supporting participants who are passionate about challenging themselves and inspiring their students to learn, grow, and act as environmental stewards.

Scholarship consideration requires no financial disclosure. Indicating scholarship interest on your registration does not affect your admission. It triggers a separate scholarship application — sent to you by email — which is reviewed by our volunteer committee using a defined rubric.

Please visit our Scholarships and Funding page for details and a link to the application form.

FAQs: The questions teachers ask us most

Is $3,275 really worth it?

Your fee covers an 8-module pre-departure course, faculty webinars, a mailed resource kit, 40+ hours of expert-guided field learning, indigenous community activities, and lifetime alumni network access. This isn’t a trip. It’s a comprehensive professional development experience.

Do I need a science background?

No. The program welcomes educators across all subject areas and grade levels. What matters is curiosity and commitment to your students. Morpho faculty and naturalist guides lead every session.

How do I get my school or district to support this?

The program supports NGSS, STEM, and 5E instructional frameworks. Post-program deliverables, including a 5E lesson plan, field inquiry investigation, and collaborative action plan, demonstrate clear professional value to administrators.

What if I’ve never traveled internationally alone?

You won’t be alone. Morpho and our Amazon partners coordinate all in-country logistics. From the moment you land in Iquitos, you’re with your cohort and the Morpho team.

Who will be in my cohort?

Up to 28 educators from across the country, from early-career to veteran, formal and nonformal, elementary through post-secondary. You’ll have grade-level breakout tracks and mixed-group sessions.

What do I bring home to my classroom?

Three deliverables: a 5E lesson plan, a field-based inquiry investigation, and a collaborative action plan. Plus lifetime access to the Morpho alumni network for curriculum collaboration and peer support.

What happens after I come home?

Your Morpho experience continues through MorphoNet, a community of practice that includes webinars, workshops, curriculum collaboration, and leadership opportunities. The Amazon doesn’t end at the airport.

Heard From Other Teachers...

5.0

Wendy F.

The most valuable & transformative experience I've had as a teacher. So thankful for this unique program that immerses you in the biodiversity of the Amazon while challenging your focus as an educator and global citizen. You become a part of the local community & Morpho family. The learning, equipping & support continues as you return to the classroom. This is an adventure & opportunity you can't miss out on! Photos by participants of the 2026 Morpho Educator Academy in the Amazon

Dina D.

The Educator Academy in the Amazon is a transformative experience that will change the way you approach teaching. The program allows teachers to be immersed in the most rich and biodiverse ecosystem on Earth. This is the most authentic professional development program I have had the opportunity to attend.

Jo-Anne S.

Morpho provides educators with the complete experience! They partner with an ecotourism group that takes care of every detail so that you fully immerse in the Amazon rainforest in Peru. The faculty and staff that facilitate the workshops are not only experts in their fields, but kind and generous people that make you feel like you're on vacation and not at a professional development. I had such an amazing experience I went back for a second alumni trip just two years later. If you have the opportunity to take this trip - do it. They will help you through every step of preparation - from finding scholarships and funding to what to pack and the best flights to book!

Marie T.

The Morpho Institute provides an outstanding experience that combines world-class science, conservation, and education in the Peruvian Amazon. Whether you are a K–12 educator or a college professor, the programs offer meaningful, hands-on professional development that can be directly applied in the classroom while earning professional development credit. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, welcoming, and passionate about sharing the region's remarkable biodiversity. I highly recommend the Morpho Institute to any educator looking for an inspiring and transformative learning experience.

Michelle W.

Incredible inquiry based, experience rich Professional Development for educator traditional and unique settings.

Debbie R.

Wow! There are no words to describe how life altering exploring the Amazon rainforest with the Morpho Institute can be! I had the privilege of attending the Educator Academy to the Amazon in 2022. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. They treat you like family. The food and lodging is impressive, tasty and comfortable. Their mission is incredibly important and educational. You won’t be disappointed and you will gain friendships and experiences that last!

Rachel G.

The Morpho ARIE program is a truly unique and incredible experience! Helping with research and seeing incredible biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest was amazing, but what truly made the experience unforgettable was the people. The staff, scientists, and guides are absolutely outstanding. From the very beginning, they welcomed everyone with so much kindness and enthusiasm that it felt like joining a family. Everyone genuinely wants to help each other learn and have an incredible experience, and the passion for science, conservation, and education is contagious. Every day brought new adventures, fascinating wildlife, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful research while also learning about the local indigenous communities and issues. The guides have eagle eyes and could always find wildlife as we journeyed through the rainforest, and their great humor and concern for safety made the outings feel safe, educational, and fun. If you're looking for a program that combines authentic science, adventure, personal growth, and some of the most wonderful people you'll ever meet, ARIE is it!! I came home with unforgettable memories and a deeper appreciation for the Amazon.

Jacqueline Carrelha _ Staff - G.

A wonderful opportunity to learn and experience awe for all educators.

Carly L.

Exploring the Amazon Rainforest with a group of passionate educators through the Morpho Institute was both career and life changing. You'll have time to design and try out your own scientific investigation in the most awe inspiring PD location and you'll also see the human impact on the Amazon first hand. It influences how I teach every day.

Teresa R.

I had an incredible professional development experience in 2013 with the Morpho Institute in the Peruvian Amazon, and it remains one of the most meaningful learning opportunities I’ve ever had. The program was well organized and thoughtfully designed, blending immersive fieldwork with rich, hands-on learning in one of the most unique environments on Earth. The facilitators were knowledgeable, supportive, and deeply passionate about both conservation and education. They created an environment where participants could truly engage with the landscape, the local communities, and the ecological concepts in an authentic and impactful way. The experience challenged me to think differently about teaching and learning, and it has had a lasting influence on me. I left with not only new content knowledge, but also renewed inspiration and practical ideas I could bring back to my own work. I highly recommend Morpho Institute to any educator seeking a transformative, once-in-a-lifetime PD experience. It was unforgettable, well worth it, and continues to shape how I approach my work in both education and conservation.

Ready to join us?

Space is limited and the roster fills quickly.

Enrollment Opens September 15th

Join Interest List

Funding Options

Before you click, here's what you need to know:

Enrollment requires a $350 non-refundable deposit. It does three things:

Secures your spot in the Academy.
You gain immediate access to our pre-departure resources.
The deposit will be applied to your total amount due.

Merit-Based Award Options

Enrolled participants are welcome to apply for one of Morpho's merit-based awards. A link will be emailed to you with instructions on how to apply.
Awards range from $800 to $2800.
Deadline to apply: November 1, 2026.

What's Included in the full fees?

$3,275 Educator Academy Program Fee Includes:

$825 Morpho Institute Fee: Pre-departure course, faculty webinars, resource kit, MorphoNet alumni access, community partner donations, carbon offsets, program administration.
$2450 Field Experience Fee: In-country ground transport, lodging, meals, naturalist guides, canopy walkway access, and all field activity fees.

Not included:

Flights to Iquitos, Peru. Participants arrange and pay for flights separately. Participants should arrive in Iquitos, Peru on July 1 and depart late afternoon/evening on July 10, with arrival back to the US on July 11.
Travel insurance, tips (Budget $150US), optional activities beyond the field program itinerary, expenses of a personal nature, or passport costs.

What if I require financial support?

While we can't offer full funding, we have built a pathway specifically for educators needing more financial support.

We offer merit-based awards

Fellow ($2800)
Scholar ($1800)
Explorer ($800)

These awards are applied toward the $3,275 program fee. Award level is assigned by the review committee based on the strength of your application. Deadline: November 1, 2026.

If you need funding to make enrollment possible, add your name to our Interest List. You'll receive access to the same scholarship application available to enrolled participants. Our reviewers see only your application; not your enrollment status, your financial need, or anything else. Awards are based entirely on the strength of your application.

Note: Our programs hold 28 participants, and spots fill quickly after enrollment opens in September. Funding awards are announced in early December. If you receive an award, a reserved spot is waiting. If you don't receive an award and are not already enrolled, we cannot guarantee that a spot will be available in December.

Still Have Questions?

For questions about the Morpho Institute, our non-profit mission, and our professional development courses and field experiences in the Amazon, please contact:
Christa Dillabaugh, Director, The Morpho Institute by Email or Phone at (913) 214-6126.