The City of Lexington is now accepting applicants for the Teachers’ Environmental Academy. In its fourth year, participating educators take part in a week-long workshop focused on environmental challenges in Lexington.

The workshop series, June 12 – 16 for elementary teachers and July 10 – 14 for middle/high teachers, is open to kindergarten through 12th-grade educators who work in public or private schools in Fayette County. Workshops will focus on multi-modal transportation, waste management and water quality.

“Thanks to what I learned from the Teachers’ Environmental Academy, I was able to develop a project where students researched issues faced by our wastewater treatment process,” says Veronica Boller, STEM Educator and Sustainability Coordinator at Coventry Oak Elementary. “They learned about things they could do to make a positive impact on our sewer systems while also getting exposed to potential engineering jobs for their futures. I highly recommend this program to other teachers!”

Educators will receive training in curricula aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards: Don’t Waste It, Project WET, Project WILD and Population Education. Teachers who complete the Academy by participating in all five days will receive a $500 stipend or have costs for a substitute reimbursed. Participants will tour the Lexington Recycle Center, the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant and other facilities. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.

Applications are open through Monday, May 15.