Pennsylvania Gateway to Green

Outdoor Teaching and Learning Camp
2026-06-22 09:00 - 2026-06-26 15:30 (America/New_York) | Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, Pennsylvania, 19311, United States
A Field-to-Classroom Immersion for Educators

When: Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Days 1, 2, and 5: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, Day 3: Octoraro Reservoir and Glenroy Preserve, Day 4: White Clay Creek Preserve.

Audience: Grades 3 to 12 classroom teachers, school administrators and curriculum designers, and nonformal educators.

Credits: Up to 38 Act 48 continuing education hours will be provided for Pa. Certified Teachers.

Cost: $200, including lunch for three days. Out-of-town registrants can find affordable accommodations available nearby, at their expense.

MWEE Designation: Pa. Certified MWEE Educator.

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Ready to Get Your Feet Wet in Real Science?

Join Stroud Water Research Center for a hands-on, field-based professional learning experience where educators become freshwater scientists — and leave ready to lead powerful, student-driven watershed investigations.

This 5-day educator camp blends stream science, outdoor learning, and classroom application, helping teachers transform local waterways into living laboratories while aligning with the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework, PA STEELS Standards, and three-dimensional, phenomena-based instruction.

Throughout the week, you will monitor different streams by sampling aquatic macroinvertebrates and completing water chemistry tests, visit outdoor learning spaces at different locations, canoe on local waterways, and explore local parks and preserves. At the end of the week, participants will become Pa. Certified MWEE Educators, and Pa. certified teachers will receive up to 38 Act 48 hours.

Learning Objectives

Throughout the institute, participants will:

Become familiar with the MWEE framework and outline their own MWEE unit.

Understand three-dimensional and phenomena-based teaching and learning practices to support PA STEELS Standards

Receive information and experiences for outdoor learning, recreation, and classroom space design and implementation.

Learn how to monitor local waterways while collecting and interpreting water quality data for civic action.

2026 Lake Superior Shipboard Science Immersion
2026-07-07 00:00 - 2026-07-13 23:59 | Pennsylvania
When: Tuesday, July 7 to Monday, July 13, 2026.

Where: The ship will be on Lake Superior, departing from and returning to Duluth, MN.

Audience: Grades 5-12 classroom teachers and nonformal educators from the Great Lakes states, including Pennsylvania.

Cost: Free.

MWEE Designation: MWEE and/or EL&S Special Topics and Deeper Dives.

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The Shipboard Science Immersion brings educators aboard the EPA R/V Lake Guardian to work alongside scientists for a week.

The annual program promotes Great Lakes science while forging lasting relationships between Great Lakes scientists and educators. Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) is a collaborative effort led by Sea Grant educators throughout the Great Lakes watershed in the U.S. CGLL fosters informed and responsible decisions that advance basin-wide stewardship by providing hands-on experiences, educational resources, and networking opportunities promoting Great Lakes literacy among an engaged community of educators, scientists, and youth.

Applications are due February 28, 2026.

PA Aquaculture Educator Workshop
2026-07-15 00:00 - 2026-07-16 23:59 | Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16505, United States
When: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 1 to 6 p.m. and Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505.

Audience: Pre-K-12 classroom teachers, school administrators, curriculum designers, and nonformal educators.

Credits: Act 48 continuing education hours will be provided for Pa. Certified Teachers.

Cost: Free, including breakfast and lunch on Thursday.

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Aquaponics is a powerful teaching tool for Pre-K-12 learners. From engineering to chemistry, business to food health, and even global food security, aquaponics addresses many topics and applies placed-based learning methods.

This one-and-a-half day workshop will cover the basics of aquaculture and aquaponics and includes: local facilities tours, make and take aquaponics system, and resource sharing.

Level Up: MWEE Facilitator Workshop
2026-07-27 00:00 - 2026-07-28 23:59 | Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Road, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16506, United States
When: Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m each day.

Where: Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16506.

Audience: K-12 classroom and preservice teachers, school administrators, curriculum designers, and nonformal educators.

Participants must already be a Pa. Certified Ambassador or Educator and live or work in Erie or Crawford County, PA.

Credits: 12 Act 48 continuing education hours will be provided for Pa. Certified Teachers.

Cost: Free. Please bring your own lunch.

MWEE Designation: Pa. Certified MWEE Facilitator.

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This two-day facilitator professional development workshop is designed for K-12 formal educators and nonformal educators in Erie and Crawford counties who are already Pa. Certified Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) Ambassadors or Educators.

The workshop will include classroom and small-group learning, with field experiences at Asbury Woods. Educators who successfully complete both days of the workshop requirements will receive a $190 stipend and supplies to lead Pa. Certified MWEE Ambassador- and Educator-level workshops.
