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Program Information and Applications

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences created the Educators of Excellence Institutes to enable exemplary educators to:

  • Experience the natural world in selected outstanding environments;
  • Increase the use of reflection and direct environmental experience in teaching;
  • Become inspired and recommitted to the teaching profession;
  • Become a part of a statewide network of exceptional educators for continued support and learning.

Since 1987, educators from across North Carolina have been inspired by their experiences in outstanding natural areas such as Belize, Ecuador, and Yellowstone National Park. The Institutes are available at low cost because of the support from the Friends of the Museum’s Educators of Excellence Fund.

Applications the January 2026 Yellowstone in Winter Institute are open! Check back in November/December for Summer 2026 applications.

All applications received by the deadline will be considered equally, so please do not rush your application! The selection process for this program is competitive, so please make sure you take your time and fully complete the application.

2026 Institutes

YELLOWSTONE IN WINTER INSTITUTE

Applications for the 2026  Yellowstone in Winter Institute are open and due October 24, 2025!

  • Observe winter wildlife at dusk and dawn.
  • Experience steam and ice in geothermal basins.
  • Snowshoe beneath snow-capped mountains.
  • Travel into the Park’s interior aboard a snowcoach.

Participating educators will experience the magic of Yellowstone National Park in its harshest and quietest season. Learn about the adaptations of Yellowstone’s wildlife to survive the bottleneck of winter. Experience the Park’s unique geothermal features as cold air turns steam to rime ice. Take in the white-cloaked mountains while snowshoeing through snowy meadows. Notice the many creatures that roam the Park as they leave tracks in the snow. The daily program will include morning and evening wildlife watching, interactions with scientists and local experts, and an overnight snowcoach journey to Old Faithful. Discover strategies for teaching about winter weather, wildlife, geology, and the conservation of wild places. Students can follow along and ask questions as we post daily blogs from the field. Return to the classroom refreshed and full of new ideas for bringing natural science to life.

Dates: January 14-20, 2026. (Mandatory pre- and post-trip sessions will be held in Raleigh on Saturday, December 6, 2025 and Saturday, November 7, 2026.)

Locations: Yellowstone National Park, Montana and Wyoming, and Raleigh, NC.

Group Size: Limited to 10 participants.

Activity Level: Moderate to rigorous including walking and hiking on uneven terrain at high altitudes in cold conditions.

Cost: $1200*
Includes supplies; round-trip airfare from Raleigh to Bozeman, MT; all ground transportation; snowcoach tour to Old Faithful; instruction; most meals; and lodging. Participants will be responsible for travel to and from Raleigh, expenses in Raleigh during pre- and post-trip sessions, and some meals in Yellowstone. See below for scholarship opportunities.

*The cost of all Institutes are significantly reduced thanks the generous support of the Friends of the Museum and the Goodnight Educational Foundation.

 

YELLOWSTONE INSTITUTE

Applications for Summer 2026 Institutes will open in November/December 2025.

  • Experience one of North America’s greatest concentrations of wildlife.
  • Observe world-class geological wonders.
  • Learn about the history and management of America’s first national park.
  • Learn from scientists and experts.

Participating educators will study and experience the wonders of our first national park. Join us from sunrise to sunset as we observe the incredible wildlife of Yellowstone, including bears, bison, wolves and elk. Learn about the area’s unique geology while exploring the amazing world of geysers, hot springs and mudpots. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the northern Rocky Mountains as we hike trails throughout the park. The daily program will include field experiences, opportunities to meet with park staff and other experts, and activities designed to help integrate your experiences into the classroom. Discover strategies for exploring the connections between Yellowstone and North Carolina — wolf and elk reintroduction, fire ecology, resource management issues and much more. Students can follow along and ask questions as we post daily blogs from the field.

Dates: June 17-25, 2026 (Mandatory pre- and post-trip sessions will be held in Raleigh on Saturdays, dates TBD.)

Locations: Yellowstone National Park, Montana and Wyoming and Raleigh, N.C.

Group Size: Limited to 12 participants.

Activity Level: Moderate to rigorous including walking and hiking (up to 5 miles) on uneven terrain at high altitudes.

Cost: $1200*
Includes round-trip airfare from Raleigh to Bozeman, MT; all ground transportation; instruction and lodging. Participants will be responsible for travel to and from Raleigh, expenses in Raleigh during pre- and post-trip sessions, and most meals in Yellowstone. See below for scholarship opportunities.

*The cost of all Institutes are significantly reduced thanks the generous support of the Friends of the Museum and the Goodnight Educational Foundation.

 

SOUTH AFRICA INSTITUTE

Applications for Summer 2026 Institutes will open in November/December 2025.

  • Search for the “Big 5” species of wildlife: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo.
  • Take a bush walk with a safari ranger.
  • Explore the majestic Drakensburg mountains.
  • Cruise for hippos and crocs in coastal wetlands.

Experience the best wild lands that South Africa has to offer, from game reserves and grasslands to mountains and wetlands to beaches and estuaries. Enjoy the thrill of coming face to face with a herd of African elephants from an open safari vehicle, walk with safari rangers in the bush of Kruger National Park, hike through the stunning Tegula Gorge in the Drakensberg mountains, take a river cruise in the company of the hippos and crocodiles, and learn from local guides about the diverse flora and fauna of South Africa. Build connections with South African educators as you get to know local teacher participants. The daily program will include activities, field experiences and basic natural history. During the trip, participants will provide daily updates to students in North Carolina via a blog.

Dates: TBD, July/August 2026. (Mandatory pre- and post-trip sessions will be held in Raleigh on Saturdays, dates TBD.)

Locations: Kruger National Park, Wakkerstroom Wetlands, Royal Natal National Park, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa and Raleigh, N.C.

Group Size: Limited to 12 participants. (Note: South African teachers will join with American educators to form an international team.)

Activity Level: Moderate to rigorous including walking and hiking (up to 7 miles) on uneven terrain.

Cost: $2400*
Includes round-trip airfare from Raleigh to South Africa, in-country transportation, instruction, lodging, and some meals. Participants will be responsible for travel to and from Raleigh, expenses in Raleigh during pre- and post-trip sessions, and some meals in South Africa. See below for scholarship opportunities.

*The cost of all Institutes are significantly reduced thanks the generous support of the Friends of the Museum and the Goodnight Educational Foundation.

REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATIONS

Who’s Eligible: Classroom teachers of all subject areas, school administrators, informal educators and university professors who work with teachers.

Qualifications: All applicants must currently be working as full-time educators in North Carolina and must expect to continue working in or with North Carolina schools during the following school year. Applicants must have at least three years of teaching/supervising experience. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in the natural sciences and be willing to use and support innovative teaching methods in the classroom and on field trips. All participants should be prepared for moderately strenuous activity.

Requirements: Participants must attend all portion of the program, including the mandatory pre- and post-trip meetings at the Museum in Raleigh. After the trip, participants must develop an educational project incorporating their experience from the Institute. Projects will be presented at the post-trip meeting in November. Participants are encouraged to share their projects at meetings or conferences of professional organizations.

Selection: The Museum strives to achieve statewide representation from diverse backgrounds and a range of grade levels. Preference is given to educators who show evidence of institutional support, flexibility and a tendency to be active group participants.

Credit: Institutes may be approved for renewal credits by local school districts. Participants receive a certificate of course completion for the number of instructional hours. Participants can also receive credit for the NC Environmental Education Certification Program (more information at www.eenorthcarolina.org).

Financial Support: The cost of all Educators of Excellence Institutes is reduced thanks to generous support from the Goodnight Educational Foundation through the Educators of Excellence Fund. Participant fees reflect about one third of the total cost of the Institute.

We will confirm availability of the Simple Gifts Scholarship for Summer 2026 Institutes by July 2025. This scholarship is provided through the generous support of the Simple Gifts Fund and the Anonymous Trust, which strives to enrich and improve the lives of motivated, rural Eastern NC teachers and their students. The Simple Gifts Fund seeks to provide scholarships to teachers who recognize the value of inquiry, who understand the power of knowledge and who appreciate the importance of inspiring excellence in their students. If the scholarship is available, applicants who are chosen to participate in the one of the Educators of Excellence Institutes and meet the following criteria will be eligible for a full scholarship covering the cost of the experience. Once selected, applicants will be responsible for paying a $200 deposit that will be returned to them upon successful completion of the program.

To be considered for the Simple Gifts Scholarship, applicants must:

  • Have not previously received the Simple Gifts Scholarship for an Educators of Excellence Institute.
  • Be a teacher, guidance counselor, media coordinator or assistant principal in a public school, in one of the following counties:
    Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilson
  • Plan to continue working in their current school system and county during the following school year.
  • Plan to continue working full time in education for at least 5 more years after participation in the Institute.
  • Help spread the word about future Educators of Excellence Institutes and the Simple Gifts Scholarship to other teachers

We do not want cost to be a barrier for any educator. Many participants receive financial support from their schools and/or local civic or professional organizations; contact your local district office for information on grants and scholarships. If the cost of the Institute would prevent your participation, are unable to obtain funding from an alternative funding source, and you do not qualify for the Simple Gifts Scholarship, please reach out to Megan Davis.

Application Forms:
Educator Application
Supervisor Recommendation – This form should be completed a principal, assistant principal, department head, or anyone else acting in a supervisory or advisory role for your position.

Applications and recommendations for the January 2026 Yellowstone in Winter Institute are due by the end of the day on Friday, October 24, 2025. All applications received by the deadline will be considered equally, so please do not rush your application! The selection process for this program is competitive, so please make sure you take your time and fully complete the application.

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