The goal of the Teacher Professional Development Workshops is to provide K-12 teachers and environmental educators with a dynamic learning experience based on estuarine and marine science to help foster coastal environmental stewardship and informed decision-making.

Workshops are aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Ocean Literacy Concepts, and National Education Standards.

Participants learn information and concepts about estuaries, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, the North Carolina coast, and current estuarine research. Participants experience field-based explorations and activities to integrate into their learning environment. These workshops include information on the following topics:

1. North Carolina's 2 million acres of estuaries and their importance,
2. North Carolina's seafood industry,
3. Coastal ecology and geology,
4. Human impacts on estuaries, and
5. Field experiences for students.

Participation is open to educators and teachers. Credit for these workshops is offered in teacher renewal credits (CEUs) and Environmental Education Certification (approved as one of the core workshops titled "Coastal Explorations"). Unless otherwise noted, participation is free. Typical length is 10-15 hours per workshop. Workshops are available upon request and are subject to staff availability.