2026 Summer | Forestry Institute for Teachers

🐦 Early Bird Discount ($25 off) Automatically Applied at Checkout - Offer ends December 31st 🐦

🌲 What is the Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT)?

Ready to take your teaching beyond the classroom? Step into the forest with FIT (forestryinstitute.org) this summer. FIT offers immersive in-woods professional learning experiences designed for both formal and non formal educators. At each week-long session FIT’s team of credentialed instructors and local experts weave environmental education with unique forestry field experiences to explore California’s forest resources and expand your teaching practice! Registration is all-inclusive, covering on-site accommodations, meals and resources; you just have to get there! Whether you're looking to broaden your content knowledge, explore new environmental education strategies, or connect with like-minded educators, FIT provides the perfect setting — outdoors, in the forest, with other inquiring minds!

🫵 Who Can Attend?

FIT welcomes all active California educators. Past participants include TK-12+ credentialed educators, preservice teachers, nonformal educators, administrators, and program leads.  Whether attending solo or as a team, you'll build a rich community of learning with your session's cohort and grade-band breakout groups. If returning as a FIT Graduate, please review FIT's FAQ page regarding fee structure.

🧭 Which Session Should I Attend?

FIT offers four sessions at sites throughout Northern California.  Each session delivers the same curriculum, but leverages localized expertise and credentialed instructors to explore forest ecology and management concepts with participants.

See FIT's session information page for details about sites and accommodations. If your desired Session/Educator Grade-Band ticket is sold out, please add yourself to the Waitlist. You will be notified as space becomes available.

All sessions offer:

• Diverse range of guest speakers representing various forest stewardship perspectives

• Field trips to view active forest management operations and lumber mill

• Indoor and outdoor instruction

• Curriculum (PLT & WET) training in whole-group and grade-band breakout groups

• Collaboration and planning time

• Opportunities to connect and grow with the FIT community, natural resource experts, and peers from throughout California

✅ Does Registration Guarantee Acceptance?

Your registration serves to reserve your space at a session, but does not guarantee acceptance. Please review FIT's FAQ page before registering.

After you have registered the FIT Team reviews all prospective participants to ensure: 

1. Active, in-state (California), educator status

2. Complete answers to order form questionnaires (completed upon check-out) have been provided 

Expect follow-up correspondence detailing your acceptance by January 31, 2025.

💡 Perks of Participation!

Participants Receive:

• All-inclusive experience - registration covers meals, lodging, teaching materials, and program resources.

• 50 hours of professional development instruction

• 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for purchase upon successful program completion

• $200 stipend awarded post-session for implementation of personal FIT Curriculum Project during 2026-27 academic year

• Certification as a Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project Water Education Today (WET) trained educator - includes printed curriculum guides, access to online resources, and first-hand experience engaging with activities

Field-based learning that cultivates meaningful connections between:

• Environmental Education Curricula (see session info above)

• Next Generation Science Standards

• Common Core State Standards 

• Career and Technical Education Standards

• California's Environmental Principles and Concepts

• Climate Science Education

🤝 Program Expectations

FIT provides 50 hours of instruction over the course of seven days.  To ensure Continuing Education accreditation, the program's agenda is designed to provide participants with a rigorous, high-quality and rewarding educational experience.  As a residential program all participants are expected to stay on-site, with days often starting early and ending late.

During a session expect:

• Travel in bus/van to off-site, rural field locations; routes sometimes take winding roads

• Mild/moderate walking on and off established paths and uneven terrain

• Outdoor instruction in variable environments and inclement weather

• Limited cell service/internet access (site-dependent) 

For program completion, stipend and CEU eligibility, participants must:

1. Attend all days of program - plan arrival and departure accordingly

2. Actively engage with planned program activities

IMPORTANT 👁️ 👁️ Read FAQs Before Registering  

FIT is supported by the California Society of American Foresters whose mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology; to ensure the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.