2027 Summer | Forestry Institute for Teachers

Early Bird Discount ($50) automatically applied on checkout. Register by December 31st, 2026

Ready to take your teaching beyond the classroom? FIT (forestryinstitute.org) offers immersive in-woods professional learning experiences designed for California educators. Step into the forest with FIT’s team of credentialed instructors and local experts for a unique week-long session of environmental education and forestry field experiences! 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!

Field-based learning that cultivates meaningful connections between:

• Environmental Education Curricula

• Common Core State Standards 

• Career and Technical Education Standards and English Language Development

• Next Generation Science Standards

• California's Environmental Principles and Concepts

🫵 Who Can Attend?

FIT welcomes all active California educators including TK-12+ credentialed educators, preservice teachers, nonformal educators, administrators, and program leads.  Whether attending solo or as a team of educators, come prepared to build a rich community with your session cohort. 

Returning FIT Graduates, please review the Returnee Policy on the FAQ page prior to registering.

🧭 Which Session Should I Attend?

FIT offers four sessions throughout Northern California.  Each session delivers the same curriculum, but leverages local expertise and instructors to explore local forest ecology and management concepts.

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

All sessions offer:

• Diverse range of guest speakers representing various forest stewardship perspectives

• Field trips to 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 reserves 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 31st.

💡 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 the following school 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

FIT provides 50 hours of instruction over seven days.  To ensure Continuing Education accreditation, the 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 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

👁️ 👁️ Read FAQs Before Registering