Teacher Workshops

We offer teacher workshops and professional development opportunities for your campus or group of teachers. We can cater to any grade level or a mixed grade level group, and can work with you to design a relevant, meaningful experience for your teachers.

We also offer Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) professional development trainings. TOTE is a research and field-based teacher training initiative of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The goal of TOTE is to improve teachers’ and students’ understanding of the environment using local examples and to provide resources and experience to support the integration of estuary and watershed topics into classroom teaching. The program also promotes stewardship of watersheds and estuaries.

REGISTRATION FOR TOTE 2025 IS NOW OPEN!

Teachers on the Estuary 2025 Seagrass Ecology

The Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) Workshop will take place July 7–9 at the Patton Center, 855 East Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Hosted by the Mission-Aransas NERR, this free 2.5-day workshop is designed for middle and high school educators and will focus on estuarine ecology, with an emphasis on seagrass communities and estuarine resiliency. Seagrass beds are complex ecosystems that depend on environmental health and biodiversity. Teachers will engage in hands-on learning with NERR educators, utilizing real-world scientific data. Participants will receive a $200 personal stipend, lodging in the NERR dorms on campus, and supplies for classroom, field, or laboratory activities. The workshop also includes access to free, downloadable lesson plans, data sets, and estuarine resources.

Teachers on the Estuary 2025 Estuarine Ecology

The Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) Workshop will take place July 16–18 at the Patton Center, 855 East Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Hosted by the Mission-Aransas NERR, this free 2.5-day workshop is designed for elementary school educators and will focus on estuarine ecology, with an emphasis on estuarine communities and resiliency. This broad overview of this vital habitat will help teachers develop lesson plans and activities that integrate multiple disciplines. Educators will be immersed in an outdoor, hands-on learning experience, using real-world scientific data and interactive activities. Participants will receive a $200 personal stipend, lodging in the NERR dorms on campus, and supplies for classroom, field, or laboratory activities. The workshop also includes access to free, downloadable lesson plans, data sets, and estuarine resources.

Our Teachers on the Estuary Trainings (TOTE) get teachers out into nature and into the laboratory to learn engaging instructional activities and the latest scientific findings from our researchers.

Please contact msi-edureserve@utlists.utexas.edu for information about Teachers on the Estuary workshops or other professional development opportunities.