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2026 Educator Institute

Place-Based Geology & Earth Science

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Find and interpret the stories and processes of what lies underfoot.

teachers at delta beach looking at rocks a handful of glacial delta dirt instructor pointing at rocks

Place-Based Geology & Earth Science

At North Branch Nature Center

  • July 8 – 10, 2026
  • $850 ($1,150 with 2 graduate credits). Financial Support Available
  • 12 – 20 students
  • For Middle and High School educators
  • Instructors: Sean Beckett & Naomi Heindel

four adults studying a bedrock escarpment

The rocks and sediment beneath our feet are part of a billion-year story that shapes much of what we see around us, from the contours of our mountains to the biodiversity of our forests to the locations and industries of our towns. Even the character of our communities are partly determined by what’s underfoot. Yet for as fundamental as geology is to our lives and landscape, it is among the most difficult sciences to learn and to teach. In this three-day dive into the bedrock and surficial geology of Vermont, we will marry science and exploration to discover and interpret the patterns and processes that characterize our landscape.

This course explores the full rock cycle on display in the wilds of Central Vermont. We’ll start by visiting modern streams and deltas to examine how sediment erosion and deposition happens in real time. We’ll then visit hills and terraces formed by these same processes operating at larger scales during the ice ages. We’ll turn our attention from sediment to stone, and see how plate tectonics and time operate over millions of years to turn sediments into the mountains and landforms we find today. Finally, we’ll scour our built environment to see how Vermont’s geology is infused directly into our architecture and settlement history. Along the way, we’ll discuss strategies for communicating earth science with students in ways that are scaffolded, interdisciplinary, standards-aligned, and deeply rooted in place.

Register Here

Course Details

Course Goals

  • Tell a coherent story of Vermont’s geologic history, from the formation of its bedrock to the effects of recent glaciation.
  • Understand how Vermont’s geologic story influences the state’s topography, hydrology, ecology, botany, and human settlement patterns.
  • Build relationships between educators and conservation professionals to enrich student engagement in place-based nature curriculum.
  • Explore alignment of course activities and earth science curriculum with Next Generation Science Standards, Proficiency-Based Learning, and Common Core requirements.

Course Objectives

  • Use standards-aligned lessons and activities in the field and classroom to study place-based earth science and geology.
  • Visit field sites across Central Vermont that showcase pieces, patterns, and processes in glacial and bedrock geology.
  • Teach fundamental concepts in surficial and bedrock geology, such as plate tectonics, sediment sorting, glaciation, erosion, and the rock cycle.
  • Combine guided observation with content-based instruction to cultivate a student-centered, exploratory approach to understanding and interpreting geology.
  • Discuss strategies for creating classroom extensions of field-based activities that incorporate written and digital tools, mapping, and data analysis.

About the Instructors

Sean Beckett is the Program Director with North Branch Nature Center, where he has been teaching educator institutes incorporating geology and earth science for the last eight years, including the Biodiversity Educators Institute, Natural History Fundamentals for Educators, and Vermont Master Naturalist for Educators. He holds a M.S. in Natural Resources from UVM’s Field Naturalist Program, and a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies. Prior to his work at NBNC, Sean was a wildlife researcher and safari guide at wild destinations around North America.

Naomi Heindel is the Executive Director with North Branch Nature Center, and comes to NBNC after a decade teaching and administrating place-based field science in Grand Teton and Yosemite National Parks. Naomi earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Dartmouth College, and earned her Master’s from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

North Branch Nature Center is a nationally recognized leader in nature-based education for children and adults. Our place-based and inquiry-based philosophy recognizes nature as our most dynamic, enriching, rigorous, and inclusive classroom. Healthy, inspired learning and development depends on immersive, curiosity-driven nature exploration, cultivated by expert teaching and mentorship. From our acclaimed Forest Preschool and ECO flagship programs, to our summer camps, community workshops, and professional institutes, NBNC offers a lifetime of learning and growth through deepened connections with the environment.

Recommended Readings

  • Wetlands, Woodlands, & Wildlands. Thompson et al. 2022. 2nd edition.
  • Written in Stone. Raymo & Raymo. 2001.
  • A Guide to New England’s Landscape. Neil Jorgensen, 1977. Globe Pequot Press.
  • Deep Future: The Next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth. Curt Stager, 2011. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press.
  • Nature of Vermont. Charles Johnson, 1998. University Press of New England.
  • The White Planet. Jouzel et al, 2013. Princeton University Press.

Course Timing & Logistics

This course convenes Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at North Branch Nature Center. Exact timing will be communicated as course approaches, and much of the course will take place at field destinations (accessed via carpooling) within 30 minutes of NBNC. Participants should bring their own water, lunch, and snacks. Onsite camping at NBNC is available upon request.

Academic Credit & Professional Development

This course qualifies for 2 graduate-level education credits through Vermont State University for an additional $300 course fee. For students transferring credit to another institution, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that their home institution will accept the credit. Participants pursuing academic credit will be required to complete a final project and additional assignments focused on curriculum development. The final day of the course will include time for beginning this project.

All participants qualify for 24 hours of professional development hours and Continuing Education Units. Certificates of completion are provided at the conclusion of the course upon request.

Payment & School Purchase Orders

It is the participant’s responsibility to submit a purchase order request to their school immediately upon registration, and to provide a purchase order number and invoicing contact information to NBNC in a timely manner. Participants must have either provided NBNC a purchase order number, or made arrangements to do so, within 14 days of registration. Course tuition will be billed approximately 1 month before the start of the course. If you are paying for this course directly, we can create a billing schedule based on your needs.

Cancellation Policy

While we realize that unexpected circumstances arise that are out of our control, North Branch Nature Center cannot guarantee refunds for registrations cancelled within 30 days of the course. If a cancellation occurs within this window, NBNC will, if possible, attempt to fill the space from our wait list and provide a full refund.

Financial Support

Vermont residents are encouraged to apply for a VSAC Advancement Grant. NBNC also has financial support available for those without access to professional development funds. Please visit our Financial Support Page to inquire about financial support.

Events Support