Teach Earth
Extraordinary teachers know that inspiration is contagious.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earthwatch’s Teach Earth fellowship, we are proud to continue one of the nation’s few programs that embeds teachers with world-class scientists on active research expeditions. For five decades, this fellowship has empowered educators to bring cutting-edge environmental science into their classrooms, inspiring new generations of students.
Teach Earth fellows step out of the classroom for 7 to 14 days to work alongside scientists, studying nature, learning real-world research protocols, and recording critical field data. These teachers collect information that drives scientific progress and, over time, helps shape a better future. In the evenings, teacher fellows collaborate to develop new lesson plans, ensuring their students experience the excitement of real-world science back at school.
Apply for a Teach Earth Fellowship!
Teach Earth is open to K–12 teachers of all disciplines and is unique among professional development opportunities in three key ways:
Depth of Experience
Teach Earth fellows gain confidence and a first-hand understanding of science as they conduct hands-on research in the field. Each project has been designed by a PhD-level scientist, who also leads lectures, trains teachers on data collection techniques, and shows how those data are used to answer hypothesis-driven problems. Teachers gain more in-depth access to scientists than through any other program, spending 7 to 14 days in the field together.
Inspiration
An Earthwatch expedition takes educators away from their everyday lives, out of their comfort zones, and into the natural world—where they not only bear witness to the impacts humans have on the environment but can take meaningful steps toward saving threatened species and habitats. Humbled and inspired by nature and each other, Teach Earth fellows return to their communities with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Resources
All participants on a Teach Earth expedition are educators—peers who share your passions and frustrations and who can be a valuable support network throughout your career. Each team also has a Teach Earth lead fellow who leads workshops and helps teachers translate their field experiences into lesson plans they can use in their schools and communities. After the expedition, fellows join our growing network spanning 50 years of Earthwatch educator alums, with special access to educator alum community updates and teaching resources.
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Too often, teachers sit in professional development classes and HEAR about how they should engage students with hands-on, problem-solving experiences. On my Earthwatch expedition, I got to experience first-hand what engaging learning truly is, and this will make me a better teacher.
— Erica Marlaine, Teach Earth fellow, kindergarten and pre-K special education teacher at Nevada Avenue Elementary School, Canoga Park, California
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How to Apply for a Teach Earth Fellowship
- Click here to apply for Teach Earth 2025!
- Complete your online application by January 10, 2025.
- Fellowship notifications will be sent by April 30, 2025.
- 2025 teams will run for 7–12 days between late June and mid-August.
- Interested in applying for Teach Earth but missed the application deadline? Complete an interest form. We will notify you when we launch the application for 2026.
- Direct inquiries to [email protected].
Are you looking to spread the word about this opportunity with friends and colleagues? Please share our 2025 Teach Earth flyer!
Teach Earth Award Details
We were thrilled to field our Teach Earth 2024 teams on Climate Change and Caterpillars in Nevada and Conserving Wild Bees and Other Pollinators of Costa Rica. Check out the Nevada and Costa Rica blogs for a glimpse of the Teach Earth expedition experience. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of passionate educators in 2025!
Funding Structure
Each year, Earthwatch fundraises to cover the cost of as many Teach Earth fellowships as possible. This includes the expedition, travel stipend, and a unique Teach Earth fellowship experience. In recent years, we’ve received an astounding number of applications for Teach Earth—over 20 times as many applicants as fully funded fellowships. In response to this interest, we now include partially funded fellowships at a subsidized rate. With partially funded fellowships, Earthwatch funding covers a portion of the total program cost, and the teacher applies external funding to cover the remainder. External funding sources may include personal funds, school support, or grants.
Click here for a list of teacher professional development grants.
You must specify whether you seek a fully or partially funded fellowship on your application. If awarded a fellowship, we will inform you of the level of funding covered by Earthwatch grants. All applications will be reviewed need-blind, and fellows are chosen based on merit.
Teach Earth Qualifications
- Current K–12 classroom teacher in the United States
- Available to travel for 7–14 days
- Passion for education
- Interest in environmental issues or how scientific research is conducted
- Desire to improve environmental or science education
- Enthusiasm for collaborating with a team of teachers from diverse backgrounds and expertise
- Commitment to engaging your students and community inside and outside the classroom
(An individual may only receive two Teach Earth fellowships in their lifetime unless applying to return as a Teach Earth Lead Fellow).
Teach Earth Lead Fellow Qualifications
In addition to all the above qualifications, Lead Fellow qualifications also include:
- Enthusiasm to lead a team of other K–12 grade teachers from diverse backgrounds and expertise.
- Past experience participating on an Earthwatch expedition.
- Experience successfully translating past Earthwatch expedition experience(s) into impactful classroom curriculum.
- Commitment during the Teach Earth expedition to organize a team blog and run five workshops on how to translate an Earthwatch experience back to the classroom and community (workshop curriculum and training provided in advance by Earthwatch).
Are you a high school teacher interested in taking your students into the field?
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My participation in the Teach Earth program has profoundly influenced my teaching practices and boosted my confidence in the classroom. It has encouraged me to pursue creative ways to bring environmental science to life, which is especially valuable as I teach in an urban area.
— Jacob Turner, 2nd Grade Teacher, Brooklyn, New York
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