Sustainability Institute for Educators
June 15–17, 2026
The Sustainability Institute for Educators (SIE) is a transformative three-day gathering of educators who share an interest and passion for exploring sustainability education.
This year’s focus explores systems thinking as a framework for understanding how different parts of a system influence one another. SIE will look at systems thinking as a way to see patterns, relationships, and feedback loops as tools to better understand root causes of complex problems. We will then explore how these tools help students better understand the relationships between environmental, social, and economic systems while fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Through hands-on activities, discussions, and guest speakers, educators will gain tools to inspire students to investigate the way different parts of a system interact within a whole, identify leverage points for action, and aspire to become change-makers and problem-solvers.
What We Will Explore
- Integrated Curriculum Design: Learn to weave sustainability themes across subjects you already teach. Help students see the invisible threads connecting sustainability issues across sciences, social studies, arts, mathematics, and more.
- Action-Oriented Project-Based Learning: Move beyond the textbook and explore how students can use systems mapping tools to analyze and identify action projects that address relevant community issues. Help students move from feeling overwhelmed by complex issues to inspired and capable change-makers.
- Whole School Sustainability: Discover how to turn your school into a living lab that provides students the opportunity to audit and benchmark their school building waste, stormwater, and energy.
- Purpose-Driven Partnerships: Bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. Learn strategies for collaborating with local organizations on authentic environmental projects and promote leadership and civic engagement.
Registration opens beginning of March. A link to learn more and register is coming soon.
$125 Registration Fee; includes lunch.
Graduate Credit Available.
Full scholarships are available. Contact Kat Golden at kgolden@mobot.org for more information.