Monday-Wednesday, June 22-24
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Three full days of experiential instruction and lunches
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Explore the St Croix River by water in canoes
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Develop a Sense of Place through interdisciplinary instruction, including: History, Culture, Science, and Journaling
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The Waters to the Sea multimedia tool
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21 continuing education units (CEUs)
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The option to purchase two graduate credits at a reduced rate of $200/credit
Monday – Wednesday, June 22 – 24, 2026
8am-4pm
Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls, MN
&
William O’Brien State Park, Marine on St. Croix, MN
Develop a sense of place and
enrich your teaching of science, literacy, and more!
The St. Croix River Institute is designed to increase teachers’ science content knowledge
and investigation skills, and help area educators translate their professional experiences
into meaningful, engaging classroom investigations.
The focus of the institute is on K-12 classroom teachers as well as teams of teachers, but
All are welcome to apply!
Register today!
Day One
Monday
Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls, MN
Participating educators will be introduced to the geology of the St. Croix River Valley and develop a sense of place and a connection with the water. The day includes exploration at the Glacial Potholes Area and a canoe experience from Interstate State Park to Osceola Landing.
Instructors will guide the group through a seven-mile stretch of river during which participants will observe the landscape and wildlife of the St. Croix River. Lunch will be provided at Eagles Nest Picnic area about halfway along the canoe journey. Journaling and instructional experiences will take place at three locations along the journey. This common field experience will set the stage for investigations throughout the rest of the institute.
Day Two
Tuesday
William O’Brien State Park, Marine on St. Croix, MN
Day two will begin with a reflection on the experiences from day one as captured by participating educators in their journals. The river will be explored today through the lenses of water quality and riparian forest habitat. Participants will investigate stream life and identify forest types in William O’Brien State Park. Short walks and guided investigations will engage students as they build their understanding of the natural environment of the St. Croix River.
Day Three
Wednesday
William O’Brien State Park, Marine on St. Croix, MN
On the final day, participants will engage in a mix of hands-on investigations and history/culture experiences focused on William O’Brien State Park and the larger St. Croix River Valley and watershed. Citizen science projects and engineering projects aim to connect participants to their local watersheds as well as the St. Croix River. A series of journaling activities embedded throughout the 3-day institute aims to engage participating educators as students and in conversations about how they can transfer the ideas, techniques, and resources for learning about the St. Croix RIver by putting them into practice with their students.