Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week
August 10 – August 15, 2025
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This is not your average professional development program! During this action-packed week you will learn approaches, methods, and activities for engaging both children and adults with nature. In our world, so many young people are isolated from nature in their daily lives. As educators, we have the power to rekindle this connection to nature for our students. Central to our work this week will be discussions around improving equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in outdoor spaces. Our goal is for you to leave empowered to improve access to the outdoors in your own community!
Throughout the week, you will explore an abundance of habitats on Hog Island like the tide pools, spruce-fir forest, marshes, bogs and streams. You will embark on a full day adventure to Eastern Egg Rock to see the restored puffin and tern colony. In a beautiful outdoor setting, these experiences provide a wonderful opportunity to learn new methods of teaching to bring home to your students. Some workshops may include incorporating art, journaling and social-emotional skills into your science lessons and techniques for teaching outside in any environment. Most importantly, you will join a community of fellow educators from a diversity of backgrounds. This will be a communal learning experience that is guaranteed to fill up your cup as you head into the new school year.
Educator’s Week has been running since the camp opened in 1936. We hope you will come be a part of the long legacy of learning and laughter at Educator’s Week this year.
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are available through the University of Southern Maine for completing the course. After the program, you will be given a link and instructions for how to access the credits.
Pricing: $1625
The base registration fee includes meals, housing, instruction, and all field trips. This price is based on a standard shared room (with 2 twin beds) a shared bathroom. A limited number of upgraded accommodations are available for an additional cost. Two upgrade options are a single room for solo travelers or a room with a private bath for two people traveling together. There are no single rooms with private bathrooms available. Please see our lodging page for more information.
Participants must arrange their own transportation to and from the Audubon dock in Bremen at the start and end of the session. Please see our transportation page for more information.
In-State Tuition - $800
Educators working at institutions within the state of Maine are eligible for a reduced, in-state tuition rate. To confirm your eligibility, contact hogisland@audubon.org through your work email. In your email tell us your name, title, and employer. Please use the subject line “Educator’s Week In-State Tuition."
There are several different scholarship opportunities available to help participants attend Hog Island sessions! Please see our scholarships page for more information about Hog Island Scholarships. You should also check with your local Audubon chapter or bird club for additional opportunities.
Requirements: This program is open to all educators! No prior experience required.
Maine educators may be eligible for a scholarship opportunity through Merrymeeting Audubon. Visit their website to learn more.
Director
Khavin Debbs was born in Sacramento, California. After teaching preschool and elementary school for homeless children he relocated to Washington in 2013. There he finished his bachelors degree in Environmental Education from the Evergreen State College. He then later received his Urban Environmental Education Masters from Antioch University, where his thesis focused on decolonizing the outdoors for families of color. He is currently working as an Education Professor at North Seattle College. In his spare time Khavin enjoys watching and playing soccer, mycology, rock climbing, cooking, and art. Khavin goes by the pronouns He, Him, His.
Instructors: Brianna Klein
Sarah Collins, MS, MA, LMT, dreams of long days outside, deepening their relationship with the natural world. In her work life, Sarah serves in a fellowship position with the U.S. Forest Service. Her Fellowship focuses on guiding the transition towards sustainable operations in wildland fire emergency management and across the agency through education and outreach. To balance work, Sarah spends her days backyard homesteading with her family in Ann Arbor, MI, connecting folks to nature-based mindfulness practices, birding, and engaging in sustainability education research. At Hog Island, Sarah strives to bring her background in sustainability, research, nature therapy, and education to provide participants tools for integrating sustainability in any setting. Sarah uses she/they pronouns.
Nicole Jackson is an environmental educator, urban birder, and park advocate from Cleveland, Ohio. A 2011 graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education, she has spent over 15 years working with nonprofits, universities, and conservation groups. Her passion for nature began in childhood and grew through roles like Toyota TogetherGreen's Youth Fellowship. National Parks Conservation Association’s Next Generation Advisory Board and national co-organizer of Black Birders Week.
Marisa Saelzler is a lifelong learner! One of her many interests includes exploring the intersection of literacy, technology, coding and nature. You will find her in the elementary school classroom joyfully learning alongside students or in class at the Ohio State University working on her PhD.
She loves to go on family adventures with her husband, Mark, and their two daughters, Maizy and Marcella! As the Teacher in Residence at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, she had the honor of learning alongside experts and educators from all over the world. She was recently awarded the Excellence in STEM Teaching Award for the State of Ohio. She cannot wait to meet you and welcome you to Hog Island!
Lindsay Strout is a Maine high school science educator who is very passionate about the outdoors and all it has to offer! She studied at the University of Prince Edward Island majoring in Biology and minoring in Environmental Studies. She then left North America and headed to South Korea to teach English for a few years, then traveled for an additional year to 9 other countries, living out of a backpack, exploring the various cultures, food and languages. Upon returning to Maine, she was introduced to nature journaling and currently teaches wildlife biology at Sanford High School. Last year, Lindsay finished her year-long course to become a Maine Master Naturalist as well! She grew up in a very outdoorsy family, from hiking and bicycling to canoe camping. She can’t wait to share her passion for the outdoors and nature journaling with you this summer!
NOTE: Audubon reserves the right to alter itineraries, instructors and particular arrangements, or to substitute similar itineraries or arrangements, at no penalty. If Audubon cancels a session, it will issue full refunds of all deposits or payments to the paid participants.
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