Sustainability Institute for Educators

June 16–18, 2025

The Sustainability Institute for Educators is an event tailored for educators of all backgrounds. This year's focus is on the significance of water; specifically, the critical relationship between water and environmental justice, conservation and sustainability.

Through hands-on activities and discussions, educators will gain tools to inspire students to protect and conserve this essential resource while fostering a deeper understanding of the intersection between environmental justice, water and climate resilience. Participants will explore how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by water issues and investigate the importance of equitable access to clean water.

Educators will also explore literature connections to water and how to bring those connections back to their learning spaces. Participants will receive ready-to-use lessons on the global water cycle, watersheds and sustainable practices. You will also hear from local experts on water related issues, challenges and solutions happening right here in the St. Louis region.

Sessions will demonstrate how a range of disciplines, grade levels and learning environments can work together to understand and address water literacy issues, solutions oriented actions, resources and more to help learners build their knowledge and protect the future of water on this planet.

This workshop will include a certification and curriculum guide from Project WET.

Learning locations will include Missouri Botanical Garden's Shaw Nature Reserve, Saint Louis Zoo, and Webster University. The $125 registration fee includes participation in the three-day Institute and lunch. Graduate credit is available through Webster University for an additional cost. Scholarships are available.

Learn more and register

Thinking Beyond the 3Rs Workshop

June 24, 2025

If you’ve ever wanted to start your students thinking about trash and recycling, but didn’t know where to begin, we have something for you. This free workshop will provide you with the resources, tools, and knowledge you need to bring solid-waste related topics like recycling, composting, and household hazardous waste, into your classroom and empower students to make change in their community. The “Thinking Beyond the 3Rs” workshop was developed to assist educators in curriculum support, implementing special projects, and creating behavioral changes that promote wise resource use in schools throughout the greater St. Louis region. We encourage educators from all schools, subjects, and grade-levels to attend.

In this workshop, you’ll:

• Receive $100 stipend and lunch
• Learn more about plastic waste and ways to reduce plastic use
• Get a full understanding of what happens when we throw things “away.”
• Build confidence in your own content knowledge.
• Learn best practices to encourage environmental stewardship in students.
• Develop students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Help students plan, implement, and evaluate projects with real-world impacts.
• Access cross-curricular, inquiry-based materials and lesson plans.

Register

Teach Climate Network Summer Institute

July 14–15, 2025, with one additional regional cohort day on July 16

Are you looking for a community of educational professionals and mentors who can support your climate change knowledge and teaching strategies? Our Summer Institute network is full of educators and climate change practitioners doing just that! Discover best practices, activities, lesson plans, and tools that will help you strengthen your climate curriculum and better support your learners.

Whether you’re a formal classroom teacher or a non-formal educator, this is the perfect opportunity to grow your climate change education skills and connect with like-minded professionals. 

You will gain the skills, tools, and resources to teach climate change concepts and empower students in all subject areas and receive on-going support throughout the year.

This workshop is ONLINE and is presented by Missouri Botanical Garden, Climate Generation and educators across the nation!

Registration is $250. Scholarships are available. Graduate credits are available.

Learn more and register!

Clean Water Educator Workshop

July 24, 2025

Get started in building your knowledge and understanding of stormwater issues in the St. Louis area! This free workshop is designed to help facilitate your desire to learn more about stormwater management and water quality while discovering new ways to bring this topic back to the classroom.

During the workshop we will:

• Discuss issues related to stormwater management and water quality such as non-point vs point source pollution, pollution impact, and best management practices for our community.
• Review curriculum ideas that tie to state standards while still providing meaningful, engaging, and hands-on learning opportunities you can do with your students!
• Train YOU on how to use the popular EnviroScape® watershed model; models are available for loan FREE from the MSD Clean Water Education program. Work with staff to learn how to present and use this model in your classroom.

Eligible Educators will receive a stipend for attending this workshop and participating in the program. Educators must teach at a school located in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District's service area to be eligible for the stipend.

Learn more