Professional Development & Consulting
Place-Based Symposium
Where Place-based ideas come to life
Teton Science Schools’ annual Place-Based Symposium was originally designed to celebrate the place-based work happening across the organization, bringing together our faculty, staff, AmeriCorps, students, and regional community members to share and discuss best practices in local learning and global citizenship.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Place-Based Symposium has evolved into an annual event through which educators and thought leaders from around the world exchange place-based inspired ideas, learnings, and aspirations.
2026 Place-Based Education Symposium
The International Online Place-Based Education Symposium will be on Saturday, 21st March from 8:30 am – 12 pm (Bhutan Standard Time) / Friday, 20th March from 8:30 pm – 12 am in Wyoming MDT. The theme in 2026 will be Educating for Gross National Happiness. The Request for Proposals will be published in mid-December, and registration will open in early 2026.
Teton Science Schools’ Place-Based Education Symposium will be on Friday, April 24th, 2026, from 4:00-8:00 pm at the Jackson Campus. The theme for 2026 will be “Learning With and From Community”. The Request for Proposals will be published in mid-December, and registration will open in early 2026.
The 10th Annual Place-Based Education Symposium was on April 25th, 2025.
The theme, “Your Local Science & Global Impact,” invited us to explore how localized learning experiences can resonate globally.
Attendees were thrilled with the presentations, keynote speaker Dr. Bryan Shuman, and our local students who shared their projects during the Student Family Showcase. Here are some fan favorite projects:
Nature Journaling in Place: Middle schoolers wrote from the same “sit spot” every week throughout the year. They asked questions that connected their own backyards to larger ecosystems in the world.
H is for Hiss, P is for Purr: An 8-year-old’s passion for cats led her to self-publish a book with proceeds that benefit animal shelters.
Self-directed Science Projects: Third graders explored weather patterns and events, including avalanches, droughts, wildfires, and floods. Then they designed creative solutions to combat extreme weather events.
Plans are underway for our 2026 Place-Based Education Symposia. Be on the lookout for more information in the fall 2025. You can expect:
- An International Online Place-Based Education Symposium in March 2026
- The 11th annual Place-Based Education Symposium at Teton Science Schools on April 24th, 2026.
Missed the Symposium?
International Online Place-Based Education Symposium will be on Saturday, 21st March from 8:30 am – 12 pm (Bhutan Standard Time)/ Friday, 20th March from 8:30 pm – 12 am in Wyoming MDT. The theme in 2026 will be Educating for Gross National Happiness. The Request for Proposals will be published in mid-December, and registration will open in early 2026.
Teton Science Schools’ Place-Based Education Symposium will be on Friday, April 24th, 2026, from 4:00-8:00 pm at the Jackson Campus. The theme for 2026 will be “Learning With and From Community”. The Request for Proposals will be published in mid-December, and registration will open in early 2026.
