Teacher Workshop Overview

Our free professional development workshops for middle school and high school science teachers began with 12 participants in the summer of 2006. A dozen high school life science teachers from all over Southern California were invited to the Beckman Center for Conservation Research, housed behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, to experience a week in the life of a conservation scientist. The pilot program focused on the conservation history and recovery of the California condor, and was designed to bring topics of conservation science into local classrooms.

Over a decade later, we have built a nationally recognized and fully accredited program with a stellar reputation for giving teachers access to unparalleled information and experiences. To date, we have trained more than 2,000 middle and high school educators from 50 states and 30 countries. Participants spend their days in intensive study in the Conservation Education Lab and their evenings at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, engaging with staff members and acquiring invaluable new skills to take back to their home campuses. During the workshop, teachers work together to frame content standards in the context of wildlife conservation and explore ways to challenge students to apply textbook knowledge of life science to current biodiversity challenges. Participants engage in activities that focus on critical issues facing endangered species using a variety of advanced technical tools and techniques; all activities support the Next Generation Science Standards and can be implemented back in the classroom. Our generous grant funding allows this residential program to include all meals, lodging, and materials for free, as well as a $500 stipend to help offset any travel or childcare expenses, paid upon full completion of the program.

We also offer a registration option for educators with access to professional development funds that can cover the cost of attending Teacher Workshops. Educators who wish to register (as opposed to apply for the workshop for free) and guarantee their spot will pay a $2,000 fee, which includes all the same experiences and accommodations as applicants, minus the stipend.

Application:

The application and registration form for the 2025 Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science is now open! The tentative weeks for this summer are:

• June 30–July 2: High School Focus
• July 7–9: Middle School Focus
• July 14–16: High School Focus
• July 21–23: Middle School Focus
• July 28–30: High School Focus

Each educator must submit their own form. The deadline to apply is April 6. Please contact TeacherWorkshops@sdzwa.org with any questions. The application can be found on our website.