2026 Summer Educator Retreat

From Monday, July 13 to Thursday, July16, 2026, at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York.

Thanks to generous donors this retreat is being offered for free or minimal costs. Travel and lodging stipends will be provided to those selected to participate.

The Retreat

Join us at the the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for a 4-day immersive and transformative retreat. This year’s retreat will provide hands-on learning, collaboration with fellow educators, and opportunities to move the dial forward in environmental education and action. You will:

• Receive resources and hands-on training in using participatory science
• Explore interdisciplinary learning through the lens of conservation, action, and real-world science
• Get behind-the-scenes tours of Macaulay Library, the Museum of Vertebrates, and Visitor Center
• Enjoy walks to help you practice bird identification and learn about ecology
• Meet researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Earn up to 3 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) from Cornell University

Who Should Attend

Are you a K–12 educator passionate about connecting youth with nature and taking meaningful environmental action? Then you should attend! The retreat is open to all K–12 educators, regardless of subject area or educational setting (teachers, librarians, coordinators, naturalists, coaches, and administrators can all apply). But space is limited, and only 32 educators will be selected to participate.

Transportation and Lodging

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is located at 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd in Ithaca, New York, in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. Free parking is available on site. The closest airport is Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) and it is a 5-minute drive to the Lab. There are other airport options nearby that will require a rental car, but usually have better schedules and prices: Syracuse (SYR), Rochester (ROC), Binghamton (BGM), and Elmira (ELM).

Upon acceptance, we will communicate additional details with you about transportation and lodging.

Meals

We attempt to account for dietary restrictions and provide alternate meal options when possible to support the health and wellbeing of all participants. If we are unable to meet your needs, we will inform you in advance. The included meals are:

Accessibility

The Cornell Lab K-12 team is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and discrimination-free experience at this retreat. We aim for professional development and educational exchange in the spirit of free discussion and expression in an environment in which diverse attendees may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues. We are committed to providing an open and welcoming environment for all participants, including but not limited to race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ability, socioeconomic status, age, religion, and veteran or military service status.

• There is wi-fi available on site.
• While this is an active retreat and we will spend time outside, including on wood chipped trails, we anticipate being able to meet most accommodation requests. In the application process you will have the opportunity to let us know of any accommodations you need.

Requirements

• Open to all K–12 educators, regardless of subject area or school/organization type (teachers, librarians, coordinators, naturalists, coaches, and administrators can all apply)
• Be able to take an online eBird course before the retreat begins
• Be able to attend the retreat for the entirety of its duration (Monday – Thursday, July 13th-July 16th, 2026)

Applications

The retreat is being offered for free or minimal costs thanks to generous donors.

Please apply by Sunday, February 8, 2026, 11:59 pm ET.