With its 10,000 lakes and miles of winding rivers, Minnesota is a paradise for freshwater turtles. Unfortunately, these turtles face a variety of threats that put their future at risk. Join the Zoo to find out more about these creatures and how to engage students in taking on a real conservation project to help Minnesota freshwater turtles and wildlife. Your students can engage their community, raise awareness, and preserve wetlands in our state.

The Wetland Conservation Workshop for K–5 teachers is June 23–25, 2026!  If you are a K–5 teacher looking for hands on and meaningful ways to guide your students outdoors while empowering young learners to take action to help their community, this professional development is for you! Access to a wetland is not required!

All teachers who attend will receive:

• expert talks from the Zoo's native turtle and mussel conservation biologists;
• light breakfast and catered lunch each day;
• 18 clock hours;
• close encounter with wetland critters;
• access to digital activities and resources aligned with current Minnesota academic science standards and NGSS;
• best practices for outdoor learning and wetland interactions;
• hands on practice with nature journaling, wetland health evaluation, wetland and animal adaptation modeling, wetland conservation action project, and more; and
• access to check out a FREE kit for your classroom containing a classroom set of pond dipping tools, water quality testing equipment (pick up at the Zoo!).

We hope to see you at the Zoo this summer! 

Space is limited! To register, visit the Minnesota Zoo Professional Development Opportunities webpage.