Teacher Institute
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Bring environmental education into any classroom.
The Wolf Ridge Teacher Institute is a seven-month program customized to fit the needs of educators with busy schedules.
Teachers work in small groups as part of an exclusive cohort designed to build science education, teaching outdoors, and experiential learning into any school curriculum.
About Wolf Ridge
Established in 1971, Wolf Ridge was the first residential environmental learning center in the nation to be accredited as a K-12 school. Today, we welcome 13,000 visitors annually to our 2,000-acre campus for year-round programming. Over the last 50 years, our immersive graduate naturalist program has trained over 1,000 naturalists. Many have gone on to work around the world as educators in K-12 schools, state and national parks, nature centers, and universities.
Training Includes
- Zoom sessions with cohort led by Wolf Ridge staff
- Dedicated school site visits
- Individual online interactive training
- Capstone week at Wolf Ridge
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- Certification of completion
Partners & Resources
- St. Scholastica
- Antioch University
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- Forest Service and Department of Natural Resources
- Grand Portage National Monument
- And more
Program Pricing
The total price to the school district per participant for the full 2022 program, including the price of lodging and meals for a week at Wolf Ridge, is $2,950. Tuition is to be paid for by the school district where the educator teaches. A 25% deposit is due after registration closes.
Prices for graduate credits are paid separately by the individual teacher.
Participants are welcome to bring additional family members to the capstone week at Wolf Ridge. The price is $350/per additional person. This includes lodging and meals and is paid for separately by the teacher.
Graduate Credits
Wolf Ridge has experience working with individual students in graduate programs along with their advisors. We can modify our syllabus to include unique reflective assignments or develop experiences to meet the needs of their institution and the graduate credits they hope to earn. Independent study courses are easy.
We can also arrange for graduate credits with institutions in your area or Antioch University New England, the academic partners for our immersive 10-month graduate naturalist training program.
The total price for 2022 is $2,950. This includes lodging and meals for a week at Wolf Ridge. Tuition is paid by your school district.
We offer seasonally choice-driven dishes served cafeteria-style, including whenever possible, food freshly harvested at the Wolf Ridge Organic Farm. Daily options include choices that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat or meatless, along with a salad and veggie bar. Fresh fruit, veggies, coffee, and tea are available to everyone all day.
The Wolf Ridge kitchen and dining halls are peanut and tree nut-free. If you have a special dietary need, please let your program contact know.
Lodging will be in the award-winning Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Lodge on the Wolf Ridge campus.
Rooms for individuals include private sleeping spaces with a bath/shower area shared by one other person. Families will have private rooms and private bathrooms. The MAC Lodge includes five gathering spaces for groups furnished with comfortable seating areas, workspaces, and kitchenettes.
Participants will provide their own transportation to Wolf Ridge for the capstone week. Carpooling is encouraged.
Yes, virtual or in-person outdoor teaching observations and coaching can be arranged outside of the Teacher Institute. Contact us and let us know more about what you’re hoping to learn.
“Wolf Ridge is on the cutting edge of environmental issues.”
— K-12 Teacher, Saint Patrick School
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