Teton Science Schools

“I appreciated the place prism model as a way for me to structure principles of place-based learning in a memorable way. I also appreciated being inspired to write project plans and read others' project plans to brainstorm more ways to use our school's unique place.“

“I believe the course as a whole was beneficial to me and most helpful in improving my teaching practice.” -Winter 2026 Introduction to Place-Based Education course participants

Educators - we hope you will join us for summer professional development in our online programs. Past participants have gained lots of takeaways - as the testimonials above help share.

Participants in our summer courses are eligible for continuing education hours!

Sign up today!

🌲📚 Turn Wyoming into the classroom!

The Place-Based Education Microcredential helps teachers connect learning to the places students know best—their communities, local history, natural resources, and culture. By making learning relevant and meaningful, place-based education boosts student engagement, strengthens community connections, and brings academic standards to life.

✅ Design a standards-aligned, community-focused unit ready to implement
✅ Build student curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world connections
✅ Leverage Wyoming’s incredible landscapes and local expertise as learning resources

Registration closes June 20! Don't miss this opportunity to transform learning through place-based education.

Learn more: https://www.tetonscience.org/wyoming-place-based-education-microcredential-starting-in-june-2026/

[email protected]

See you there!

Education Insight: What Happens When Nature Becomes the Classroom? - Growing Inland Achievement About This Episode Season 7. Episode 20. In this episode of Education Insight, Lacey Kendall sits down with Chris Bessonette, Head of School at Mountain Academy, part of Teton Science Schools in Wyoming, where students learn far beyond the traditional classroom setting. Surrounded by the natural lan...

As teachers and schools wrap up the school year and head into summer break, we send CONGRATULATIONS on all the place-based teaching and learning you've accomplished! And we hope you can enjoy some of your favorite places over the summer.

Here are some of the Professional Learning team’s favorite places in the summertime:
Sharon, I love spending time on my front porch with friends and family. My little town is a great place to celebrate July 4th, and you can watch the parade from my porch–a quintessential Vermont experience!

K - My favorite place to spend the summer is in my parents' backyard, which overlooks the farm, has lots of shady trees, a tire swing I helped put up when I was just a kid, and the smell of BBQ and fresh-cut grass is always present.

DT - My favorite place to spend time in the summer is an even split between my garden and high up in the Tetons, camping near alpine lakes.

Leslie - My favorite place in the summertime, really anytime of year, is by the water, especially the little side channel of the Snake River that is next to the Murie Ranch.

Ready to breathe new life into your curriculum? 🌱 Make a real-world impact with our Place-Based Education Microcredential, developed with Teton Science Schools!

Whether you’re revamping an existing project or building a brand-new unit from scratch, this program gives you the tools to engage your students with their local environment.

How it works:
1️⃣ Master the basics in our online virtual cohort.
2️⃣ Align your passion with standards during a 5-day immersive workshop in the Tetons.
3️⃣ Leave with a concrete plan to turn your community into a thriving learning environment.

Turn your passion into practice, register by June 20: https://www.tetonscience.org/programs/wy-place-based-educator-microcredential/
Hey, educators! Level up your teaching practice with a Place-Based Education Microcredential!

This credential, developed with Teton Science Schools, will help you turn our unique landscapes and communities into your greatest teaching tools. This comprehensive program is designed to support you every step of the way:

💻 Step 1: The Online Cohort. Master the fundamentals, connect with peers, and design a starter lesson you can use immediately.
🥾 Step 2: The In-Person Workshop. Pack your boots for a 5-day immersive workshop in the Tetons! Collaborate to build a full unit aligned with state standards.
🌍 Step 3: Real-World Impact. Leave with a concrete plan to deeply engage your students with their local environment.

Don't miss out, register by June 20! https://www.tetonscience.org/programs/wy-place-based-educator-microcredential/

What does community stewardship look like?

In 2025, Teton County W**d and Pest District Habitat Heroes volunteers participated in 57 volunteer events, removed 4,865 invasive plants, and collected more than 110 pounds of invasive plant seed across Teton County.

We're proud that Teton Science Schools staff, participants, and community members were part of this effort, helping care for places like our Jackson and Kelly campuses, public lands throughout the valley, and R Park, Jackson Hole Land Trust's flagship community open space.

Thank you to Teton County W**d & Pest District for leading Habitat Heroes and to all who showed up to care for the places we love.

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." — John Muir

Happy National Trails Day! Today, we're celebrating the trails that connect us to place, spark curiosity, and remind us to slow down and pay attention. From student adventures to quiet moments of discovery, we're grateful for the paths that make so much of our learning and exploration possible.

🌿 Happy trails, wherever they may lead.

With our colleagues at Rural Schools Collaborative we are excited to host the Grants in Place Celebration of Learning today - Friday, June 5th. Join us to celebrate the awardees from across the USA and their place-based projects!

Here’s the official link to register - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lKB_U4ppRzybF6oq_Yzhqw #/registration

Awarded teachers receive $2500 to support a place-based project for their school and community. We are excited to celebrate Bre Crester, the Rocky Mountain region teacher awardee. Bre teaches at Mountain Community School in Tamarack, ID, and has been on a place-based project with the Nez Perce tribal members near their school to raise and release salmon fry into the Salmon River near their school.