Educators' Field Techniques School

EFTS is 3-day course designed for teachers who want to see their students questioning, measuring, and making sense of the world around them, who know that every schoolyard, soccer field, and sidewalk crack has the potential to be an outdoor classroom, and who believe that the best way to connect to nature is through curiousity—but only if you pursue it.

In other words, EFTS is a field ecology intensive for teachers seeking to cultivate authentic community science programs in their classrooms and schools.

Over three days at Duke Farms, participants will gain hands-on experience with the tools and methods that ecologists use to measure:

• soil health and carbon storage;
• plant, invertebrate, and bird biodiversity;
• wildlife behavior and population dynamics;
• habitat structure and functional diversity;
• and climate-driven phenological trends.

We'll discuss how to set up field studies that produce rigorous science and lasting student outcomes at the same time, and we'll take a look at the analytic and visualization tools that help students turn datasets into understanding.

Your Instructors

EFTS gives teachers the opportunity to learn directly from Duke Farms' conservation scientists. Find out more about our Science and Conservation team here.

Course Fee

A deposit of $50 is required to reserve a spot and will be refunded in full upon completion of the course.

Prerequisites

This program is designed for educators working in a classroom setting with students in grade three or higher. Most participants teach middle or high schoolers, but enthusiastic teachers of younger students are certainly welcome and provide a unique perspective on community science in schools.

No prior experience in field ecology is required or expected, though most participants will find a basic understanding of the life sciences to be helpful.

Field sessions will take place fully outdoors and may require travelling about a mile or standing on mixed surfaces and uneven terrain (paved roads, dirt trails, off trail) for up to 2 hours in summer weather. Please contact us to inquire about possible accommodations or adaptations.

Accessibility

Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access and will make every effort to provide the following accommodations where needed:

• Paved, flat trails
• Instructors with voice amplifiers
• Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
• American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
• KultureCity sensory bags
• We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Program Policies

All programs begin at the Farm Barn Orientation Center unless otherwise noted.

Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable.

Programs at Duke Farms are held rain or shine, but in the event of severe or impeditive weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.