Summer institutes are a great way for educators to stay up-to-date in their subject areas — and can provide opportunities to travel as well.
Summertime holds a special place in the hearts of educators when we take a well-deserved break to recharge our batteries.
But for some of us, summer is the time to take teacher institutes offered by notable organizations across the country that provide practical and unique learning experiences expressly designed for educators.
Professional development is deeply intertwined with our lives during the school year; it’s part of our work week, part of our contract, part of our certification requirements. So why, when you can choose to do almost anything else, would you choose to do more professional development during your summer break?
Teacher institutes are a valuable use of your summer because they introduce perspectives and resources “when you have a little more time to think about bringing these new things to your classroom,” said Shakira Provasoli, a teacher at PS 333, the Manhattan School for Children, who has both attended and facilitated summer programs for educators.
Stephen Kos, who teaches science and robotics at MS 245, the Computer School, in Manhattan, has embarked on many summer institutes that help keep him inspired throughout the rest of the school year.
“In order to keep yourself integrated in the profession, you have to go outside the box and find these opportunities that get you excited,” he said.
Kos brings those experiences back to his science classroom. “You can show your students pictures and tell them stories of the work you’ve done,” he said. “It’s not coming from a text; it’s a real-world application.”
Summer institutes can be a means to travel as some costs are often covered by these programs. Kos maintains his own online list of institutes that incorporate travel. He expands it when other educators send recommendations.
Last summer, Kos attended an institute at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and he previously traveled to institutes at Acadia National Park in Maine and abroad in Costa Rica, Egypt and Morocco.
Taking ambitious trips can “suddenly become accessible,” he said. “You can go and experience a place where you’ve never been, learn from the culture and have a vacation, too.”
Another advantage of institutes is being given private audiences with experts and access to places not open to the general public. At Cape Canaveral, Kos met astronauts and a NASA launch director, and he was able to go into the Vehicle Assembly Building where rockets are constructed, which is normally only accessible to employees.
One of the ironies about being a teacher is that though we’re communicating all day, every day, sometimes we can become isolated in our own classrooms, especially from our peers. Summer institutes can build community, especially when educators converge around a common interest. “It was exciting to meet my kind of people and not feel embarrassed about nerding out,” Provasoli said.
Sarah Slack, a teacher at IS 223 Montauk in Brooklyn, who both leads and attends summer institutes, said she loves opportunities to build connections with fellow educators from across the country. It’s always interesting, Slack said, to hear about “the common challenges we all face, no matter how different our environments are.”
One of Slack’s most notable experiences was through PolarTREK, a National Science Foundation program that took her to Antarctica. “Our cohort of educators continued to stay in touch and share resources and success stories,” she said.
Institutes to consider
Here is a list of institutes for educators being offered this summer with applications still accepted in February. Details vary from institute to institute. Some last weeks while others only a few days. Some reimburse necessary travel expenses or provide room and board. Some charge nominal fees, while others offer stipends. Some take place in New York City or the surrounding area; you must travel a distance to attend others.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Deadline: March 5
Dates and location: Dates vary between one to four weeks; locations vary.
Thirty-one programs for K–12 educators will be hosted across the country and online to deepen understanding of humanities topics. Stipends, travel costs and reimbursements are dependent on program duration and location. Highlights include learning about the American Revolution at Fort Ticonderoga, the Underground Railroad in Massachusetts, and the Asian American experience in the Pacific Northwest. Individuals may attend only one National Endowment for the Humanities program each year.
Watershed Agricultural Council
Deadline: May 16
Dates and location: July 21–25 in Cold Spring, New York
This program immerses teachers in a hands-on study of New York City watershed forestry at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center. Meals, lodging and teaching resources are provided, as well as shuttle service to the nearest Metro-North station on the first and last days of the institute. Participants earn 25 CTLE hours. New York City teachers of grades 6–12 are given priority for acceptance.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Deadline: March 7
Dates and location: July 20–24 or July 27–Aug. 2; locations vary
Seminars on American history topics will be hosted in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia this summer. Meals, program activities and housing are provided along with some travel stipends. If admitted, a $50 nonrefundable registration fee will be charged, along with an additional $50 for required readings. Seminars offer between 32 and 40 professional development hours.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Deadline: March 31
Dates and location: July 20–25 in Alexandria, Virginia
This institute helps K–12 teachers increase their knowledge of the concepts of making, inventing and intellectual property creation and protection. Teachers engage in hands-on, collaborative activities they can bring back to their classrooms. Flights, lodging and meals are covered for teachers outside the local area.
Deadline: March 23
Dates and location: July 14–18 in lower Manhattan
Participants will discover classroom-ready strategies to discuss 9/11, learn how to engage with difficult content, and use artifacts and primary sources to explore issues raised by the attacks. Educators receive a $750 stipend and CTLE hours for participation.
Deadline: April 1
Dates and location: July 13–18 or July 27–Aug. 1 in Charlottesville, Virginia
This program allows K–12 teachers to research and study at Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello and the Jefferson Library. Social studies teachers and those who can make cross-curricular connections should apply. All expenses are covered; stipends, travel reimbursement, lodging and transportation are provided. Participants should expect to walk one to three miles daily on hilly terrain.
Carnegie Hall Summer Music Educators Workshop
Deadline: June 10
Dates and location: June 28–July 1 in midtown Manhattan
Educators will learn how to support classroom work with young musicians and explore educator artistry through performance opportunities. Participants must be music educators working with K–12 students and available to attend all program activities. A registration fee of $75 is required.