Join us this summer as Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE) and the Jeffers Foundation present the St. Louis River and Estuary Institute.

A free, three-day, field-based professional development opportunity for educators.

The St. Louis River and Estuary 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.

St. Louis River and Estuary Institute – Duluth, MN Area
June 24-26, 2024

Monday, June 24
Location: Chamber’s Grove Park
The institute will begin at Chamber’s Grove Park. Participating educators will be introduced to the river and estuary and develop a sense of place and a connection with the water. The morning will include an exploration while paddling canoes down the river. Instructors will guide the group through a five-mile stretch of river during which participants will observe the landscape and wildlife of the St. Louis River.

This common experience will set the stage for investigations throughout the rest of the institute. The afternoon will be spent at Chamber’s Grove Park investigating life in the water while sampling macroinvertebrates. This investigation aims to uncover the biodiversity of critters that live in this stretch of the St. Louis River and help educators develop skills to conduct similar studies on their local rivers and bodies of water.

Tuesday, June 25
Location: Jay Cooke State Park
Day two will begin with a reflection on the experiences from day one as captured by participating educators in their journals. The river and estuary will be explored today through the lenses of Geology and Culture. In the morning, participants will investigate the local geology and work to uncover the stories in the landscape in Jay Cooke State Park. The afternoon includes discussions and explorations into local culture through history. Short walks and guided investigations will engage students as they build
their understanding of the natural and human history of the St. Louis River and Estuary.

Wednesday, June 26
Location: Duluth Aquarium and DECC
On the final day, participants will be engaged in a mixture of hands-on and online investigations that focus on the larger watershed. Participants will learn how combined science and engineering projects aim to preserve and restore the health of the St. Louis River and Estuary. A series of journaling activities embedded throughout the 3-day institute aim to engage participating
educators as students and engage in conversations about how they can transfer the ideas, techniques, and resources for learning about the St. Louis River and Estuary and put them into practice with their students.

The Institute Includes:

• Three full days of experiential instruction and lunches
• The Waters to the Sea® multimedia tool
• 21 continuing education units (CEUs)
• The option to purchase two graduate credits at a reduced rate of $195/credit

The focus for the institutes is on elementary and middle school classroom teachers as well as teams of teachers, but all are welcome to apply!

Click here to register through Hamline CGEE

Questions – Contact: david.grack@jeffersfoundation.org