Our Teacher Workshops are built around one idea: teachers learn best when they experience science the way their students should.
From sandstone glades to creeks and classrooms, each workshop connects educators directly to Alabama’s living ecosystems and equips them with tools they can immediately use with their students.
Summer 2026 Educator Field Labs
This summer, WaterWorks is offering two hands-on Educator Field Labs designed for middle and high school teachers looking to bring environmental science to life in their classrooms. These workshops are approved for PowerSchool and TEAMS professional development credit and combine outdoor exploration, field investigations, and classroom-ready activities aligned with Alabama Science Standards. Whether paddling down Flint Creek to investigate water quality or hiking through Alabama ecosystems to study biodiversity, teachers will leave with practical tools, lesson ideas, and renewed confidence in teaching ecology and environmental science through real-world experiences.
June 9
June 11
At a Glance
2023
Educators explored the Hartselle Sandstone Glade with Kyle Lybarger of the Native Habitat Project, studying native prairie ecosystems and Alabama’s native grasses before ending the day paddling Flint Creek.
2024
We hosted two workshops that both concluded on the water. Mandy Pearson of Camp Lee led a session on biodiversity, fire ecology, and the deeper purpose behind environmental education. Later that summer, Helen Czech and Patience Knight of Alabama A&M University guided teachers through the science of vernal pools and Alabama biodiversity, drawing from years of regional research. Each session ended with a guided canoe trip on Flint Creek.
2025
Our partnership with Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Cultivate program brought two PD-certified workshops focused on integrating plant science and ecology into K–6 classrooms. One session concluded with a guided canoe trip, while the other ended with a hike along Flint Creek. Through a partnership with Morgan County Extension, teachers also built and received rain barrels to take back to their schools.