Give your students more than a lesson — give them your experience on the landscape.
Join Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for a free, hands-on Educator Field School at the Niobrara Valley Preserve, where wetlands, prairie and river systems become your classroom. Explore alongside biologists, kayak the Niobrara River and return home with practical tools, resources and confidence to bring Nebraska’s aquatic ecosystems to life for your students.
The application period for Educator Field School is now closed. Applications will open next year in February for 2027 Wetland Educator Field Schools.
Join other formal educators teaching grades 6-12 at the Niobrara Valley Preserve near Johnstown for this two-day field experience set for 4 p.m. June 16 to 2 p.m. June 18, 2026. You’ll explore Nebraska’s wetland ecosystems while gaining practical tools for your classroom.
Participants also will receive:
The Niobrara Valley Preserve sits along the Niobrara River and features prairie landscapes where bison roam and hundreds of bird and plant species thrive. Participants will explore riverine wetlands and prairie-water connections through hands-on science experiences that include:
Educators will have a chance to kayak the Niobrara National Scenic River during the Educator Field School. Justin Haag/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
An aerial photo shows portions of The Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve on the Niobrara River. Eric Fowler, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Teachers from across Nebraska learn about macroinvertebrates during an educator workshop. Julie Geiser, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
An ovenbird is one of dozens of species peoples can view on the Niobrara Valley Preserve. Jon Farrar, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
A bison herd lives on portions of the Niobrara Valley Preserve. While not part of the wetlands educator workshop, teachers may have opportunities to see this iconic Nebraska species. Jon Farrar, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. March 22, 2026.
This workshop is designed for current, formal educators teaching 6th-12th grades in schools across Nebraska. Selected participants will need to take part in pre-workshop, self-paced virtual learning about Nebraska’s wetlands; this will include a mandatory pre-field school virtual meeting the evening of June 2.
All applicants will be notified by April 10 if they’ve been accepted, wait listed or rejected. Applicants will have one week after being informed to accept or decline the offer.
Each participant will receive a wealth of knowledge to use when incorporating local ecology into their curriculum. During the workshop, participants will participate in hands-on natural resource activities, such as wetland walks, water quality assessments, inquiry activities, kayaking, and community science. Participants also will receive numerous educational resources including field guides, and activities based on the aquatic ecosystems found in Nebraska.
We are looking for detailed answers that show your enthusiasm for learning more about wetland education that you can implement into your classroom.
If you are going to be a first-year teacher, we encourage you to include experiences from your student teaching and your plans for your future classroom to answer these questions.
This two-day immersive workshop is free and includes all meals and lodging. Each participant also will receive a $250 stipend to compensate for travel and participation.
Have questions about our wetland educator field school? Send us an email.
