Teacher Professional Development Opportunities

In Acadia, education is a lifelong journey. That's why Acadia National Park offers a variety of teacher professional development opportunities. From one-hour workshops with schools, to week- or month-long experiences in the park, the Acadia education team works to provide multiple ways to explore interdisciplinary instruction in an outdoor setting.

Two ways teachers can participate in Acadia's professional development include the Acadia Teacher Fellowship and the Acadia Teacher Collaborative. The Acadia Teacher Fellowship (formerly the Teacher- Ranger- Teacher program) is a six-week long immersive experience. Teachers from all over the United States work and live in Acadia National Park during the summer and receive a behind the scenes look at the research, administration, and logistics of Acadia National Park education and operations. Teachers receive a stipend and the possibility of shared housing.

For local Maine teachers who want to learn in Acadia without the full time commitment, there is the summer Acadia Teacher Collaboratory. Teachers meet with a ranger once a week during the summer, typically for four weeks, for eight hours. Teachers explore scientific concepts and discuss how to better integrate outdoor learning into their classrooms.

By the end of the summer, both sets of teachers produce lessons or activities that can be used in outdoor classroom spaces. Both of these options include a small stipend and documented contact hours with a ranger (not to be confused with continuing education units).