The Sustainability Institute for Educators challenges participants to help learners build awareness, recognize responsibility and take action as global citizens working to build a sustainable world. Held annually in June, the institute is designed for informal and K-12 educators from all roles and environments.
Join us June 16-18, 2025
Water: An Educators Guide to Conservation, Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice
The Sustainability Institute for Educators is an event tailored for educators of all backgrounds. This year's focus is on the significance of water; specifically, the critical relationship between water and environmental justice, conservation and sustainability.
Through hands-on activities and discussions, educators will gain tools to inspire students to protect and conserve this essential resource while fostering a deeper understanding of the intersection between environmental justice, water and climate resilience. Participants will explore how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by water issues and investigate the importance of equitable access to clean water.
Educators will also explore literature connections to water and how to bring those connections back to their learning spaces. Participants will receive ready-to-use lessons on the global water cycle, watersheds and sustainable practices. You will also hear from local experts on water related issues, challenges and solutions happening right here in the St. Louis region.
Sessions will demonstrate how a range of disciplines, grade levels and learning environments can work together to understand and address water literacy issues, solutions oriented actions, resources and more to help learners build their knowledge and protect the future of water on this planet.
This workshop will include a certification and curriculum guide from Project WET.
The three-day institute will be held at three locations in the St. Louis area: Missouri Botanical Garden (Shaw Nature Reserve), Saint Louis Zoo and Webster University.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the interconnectedness of sustainability issues and the intersection with education
- Recognize local resources that can support curriculum and changes for sustainability
- Collaborate with others to empower sustainably minded citizens
- Create a community of advocates for sustainable schools, institutions and communities
- Setting a foundation for adaption and resilience in sustainability education
2025 Event Information
Registration
The cost of the three-day institute is $125, which includes lunch. For more information, contact anglinsh@webster.edu.
Graduate Credit
The institute may be taken for 3 graduate credit hours through Webster University for an additional $480. To register for credit, contact anglinsh@webster.edu prior to conference registration.
Event Location
- Day One: Saint Louis Zoo
- Day Two: Missouri Botanical Garden's Shaw Nature Reserve
- Day Three: Webster University
Directions and exact locations will be sent to registrants
Scholarships Available
The organizers for the 2024 Sustainability Institute for Educators are offering scholarships for educators and administrators.
Priority Scholarship Awards: March 1, 2025 to May 1, 2025
Award notification by May 8, 2025
General Scholarship Awards: after May 1, 2025
Award notification on a rolling basis until all scholarships are awarded
Educators receiving scholarships must be able to commit and agree to attend all three days of Institute.
Scholarships will be evaluated and awarded based on the following criteria:
- Schools with 75% free and reduced lunches
- Schools located in a zip code that is in the 70th percentile or higher for low-income neighborhoods (according to EJ Screen)
- Schools/teaching teams with multiple participants attending the Institute
- Schools who are enrolled in Missouri Green Schools+ or Green Schools Quest
- Educator is not able to have their school or organization pay for the SIE registration fee
- Strong educator rationale for attending
Eligibility
Educators applying for priority scholarships should meet at least 3 of the 5 criteria listed above. Any applications received prior to May 1 that do not meet this requirement will be evaluated and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis after May 1 until all scholarships have been awarded.
Please note, if you are applying for a scholarship do not register for the Institute
through the online registration system.
Contact for Information
For scholarship application, contact Kat Golden at katherine.golden@mobot.org prior to conference registration.
If you plan to take the Institute for graduate credit, contact anglinsh@webster.edu to register.
Hosts and Partners
The Sustainability Institute is hosted by
- EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden
- Saint Louis Zoo, Education Division
- U.S. Green Building Council–Missouri Gateway Chapter
- Webster University, School of Education
Founding Partners
