(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana educators have a chance to take learning out of the classroom and into the woods this summer through a free, immersive forestry program hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Purdue University.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Natural Resources Teacher Institute, scheduled for June 15 through June 19 at the Forestry Training Center in Morgan-Monroe State Forest. The week-long program will select up to 18 educators from across the state.
The institute is designed to give teachers real-world experience in forest ecology, research and management. Participants will tour public and private forests, visit forest industry sites and take part in hands-on activities they can adapt for their own classrooms. All meals, housing and instructional materials are provided at no cost.
Educators who complete the program will earn more than 30 Professional Growth Points and receive Project Learning Tree curriculum materials, a forestry toolkit, Indiana-specific field guides and a stipend for developing and teaching a lesson plan.
The program is open to Indiana teachers who can attend all five days and fully participate. Organizers say the goal is to help educators bring practical, place-based environmental education back to their students.
Teachers can learn more or request an application at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/programs/education/nrti, or by contacting forestry education specialist Lexi Eiler at leiler@dnr.IN.gov or 463-253-8835.