Teacher Workshop: Field Studies at Forfar and Beyond
Welcoming teachers from around the world that are new to Forfar Field Station or new to offering field study experiences to their students. This workshop will provide teachers with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to conduct field studies and incorporate meaningful travel experiences into their teaching and learning practices.
teachers studying marine life
Details
Date: June 28 - July 3, 2025
Location: Forfar Field Station, Andros Island, The Bahamas
Accommodations: Forfar Field Station’s rustic style, beachfront cabins. Click here to check out our virtual tour!
Pricing: Free
Additionally, participants will be responsible for the cost of transportation (airfare) to and from Forfar Field Station.
Focus: Education, planning, and implementing field study experiences with students.
Eligibility: Middle and High School teachers. Open to US citizens and Non-US citizens. English speaking proficiency required. We will accept 2 teachers from the same school district, but only 1 teacher per school.
Application: A short application is required focusing on why participating in our teacher training would be beneficial to you. We are prioritizing teachers from schools who have not brought students to Forfar Field Station in the past. Interested participants are encouraged to apply early. Application Deadline is December 31, 2024
Professional Development Credit: PD or CEU credit may be available depending on your district. Each district is different in how they award PD or CEU credit. Please let us know what your district may need from us.
cabins
Overview
Most educators agree, immersion experiences are among the most lasting, meaningful types of education. Since our founding in 1970, we stand by our mission:
“International Field Studies is a non-profit organization providing environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness through experiential learning.”
International Field Studies, Inc. (IFS) is an educational and scientific non-profit organization established to promote and assist educators with field study programs.
This Marine and Island Ecology Field Study Teacher Training at Forfar Field Station, Andros, BS will provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and a guidebook of resources to help them propose and promote a field studies course of their own.
This workshop will include a total of 40 hours of instruction with a combination of lectures, labs, field trips, and discussions.
teacher studying coral
Engagement
This opportunity welcomes teachers with varying levels of experience in the classroom. Our target audience is 7th-12th grade science teachers with little to no experience conducting Field Studies or Travel experiences with students.
Participants will experience the beauty of marine life in The Bahamas while learning the fundamentals of Field Studies including:
Coordinating logistics, paperwork, and payment
Gaining support from your administration
Managing group dynamics
Using nature as a classroom
Responding to emergencies
Utilizing field logs/journals
Incorporating cultural experiences
Field Studies skills/gear
Field Studies lesson planning
Questions? Email office@intlfieldstudies.org.
Sample Itinerary
view from field station
Day 1: Arrive at Forfar. Introduction to the week: Field Studies as best practices for learning
Day 2: The day will focus on incorporating Field Logs and Journal Entries with student trips. Teachers will spend their day in the field, acting as students to record ideas, experiencing some of the snorkel and geological sites around Andros island, and reviewing field logs.
blue hole
Day 3: The day will focus on using nature as a classroom. Teachers will visit an inland Blue Hole on Andros Island while developing skills for teaching in the field. Teachers will continue to explore the coral reef and island sites while snorkeling. Responding to emergencies in the field and learning how to keep students safe will also be covered.
coral
Day 4: The day will focus on creating lesson plans for your field experiences and incorporating Cultural experiences into field studies. Teachers will visit a local community on Andros while reflecting on the impact that travel has on students and their increasing tolerance and acceptance of differences. This day will also focus on how to manage group dynamics while traveling with students.
Day 5: The day will focus on utilizing field gear. Teachers will practice photography in the field as well as practice using binoculars effectively. Trip planning logistics, including how to gain support from your district/administration, answering parent questions, and how to recruit students for your trip will also be covered.
Day 6: Return home.
Program Cost: Free
What’s included: Lodging, 3 meals* a day, all field trips and excursions, training guidebook, instruction, and trip facilitators/environmental educators.
*We can accommodate some dietary restrictions such as dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.
What’s not included: Flight to Nassau, BS, roundtrip flights from Nassau to Andros, ground transportation to/from the field station, snorkel mask/snorkel/fins, incidentals, health insurance (required), and travel insurance (strongly recommended, not required).
A packing list will be provided so you will know what personal gear you'll need to bring.
Alison Laughbaum
Lindsey Christ
About the Instructors
Alison Laughbaum has been an outdoor naturalist and educator for over 20 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Education from Ohio State University. From 1998 to 2020 she has led 10 field studies trips to locations such as The Bahamas, Belize, and Alaska. She loves seeing students learning “in spite of themselves” in natural surroundings.
Lindsey Christ will co-lead the teacher training and is the former Executive Director of International Field Studies and created the teacher training with Ali in 2022. Lindsey has been working in the field of Environmental Education and nonprofit management since 1997. She has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from UNC-Asheville and a Masters in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the application process or about the program in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the IFS Program Coordinator, at office@intlfieldstudies.org.