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The Challenge:

For many years I have set out over the summer to gain new experiences in science learning and teaching.  My ultimate favorite experience was through a program called Research Experience for Teachers (RET), through the National Science Foundation.  What an experience!  I worked with a team of university professors through Oklahoma Central University.  We conducted honeybee research in Greece and Turkey for four weeks.  I received a stipend, got a free trip and was given money to purchase equipment for my school.  RET’s are available to teachers, through universities located all over the USA.  There are also other opportunities in many other countries.

At this time of year or even a bit earlier you should begin earnestly to plan for your summer and to get your students thinking about summer learning. I construct a lesson where I ask my students what they plan to do for the summer.  Many are not aware of the hundreds of opportunities that are available to them.  For both educators and students summer vacation is the time to recharge, relax, spend time with family, catch up on reading and do things you never get to do during the school year.  The summer is also a time for new experiential learning opportunities.  The challenge is finding the perfect program that fits schedules, geography, costs, transportation and interests. 

 A Solution:

I have always been able to find summer learning experiences.  My criteria are always to work in a laboratory or in the field to conduct research, to write and publish a scientific article and get paid.  I do extensive online searches and am usually able to find a match fitting my criteria.  I find that many scientific societies, and university institutions sponsor teacher fellowships, for example: Columbia Climate School, American Association of Immunologists.  The key words I use for my Internet search are, “summer science opportunities for High school teachers in your country/state or province.   I also talk to my students and communicate with their parents about possible summer science opportunities.  There are a huge variety of possibilities that can fit into the specific needs of students and their families.  Many of my former students express that their summer experiences in science had the greatest impact on their career choices.  Below are some sample links to possibilities.  You can contact me if you need help.

Resources:

Students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQasQv_wc7s – Video, How I Easily Landed Two Summer Internships in High School, Practical Advice

https://lamont.columbia.edu/education-outreach/student-summer-opportunities-SSFRP - Summer Opportunities: Secondary School Field Research Program, Columbia University Climate School

https://tinyurl.com/summerHSres - - 24 Summer Research Programs for High School Students in 2023

https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/hs-sip - Summer Internships in Biomedical Research for High School Students, National Science Foundation

https://ssec.si.edu/smithsonian-science-education-center-internship-program - Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship Program

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2021/07/science-internships-for-high-school-students/ - Science Internships for High School Students

https://www.crimsoneducation.org/ca/blog/extracurriculars/internships-for-high-school-students/ - Ten Summer Internship Opportunities for Canadian High School Students

https://crimsonecl.com/ - Search for Hundreds of Extracurricular Opportunities

https://intern.nasa.gov/ - NASA’s Internship Programs

https://www.ualberta.ca/women-in-scholarship-engineering-science-technology/media-library/documents/programs-for-high-school-students-3.0.pdf - STEM Programs for High School Students, Canada

Teachers

https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-professional-development-for-teachers/ - 22+ Amazing Summer Professional Development Adventures for Teachers

https://tinyurl.com/RETnsf  - Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering and Computer Science

https://tinyurl.com/RETNSFdetails - Pathwaystoscience NSF RETs

https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/list-institutes-centers - List of institutions and centers of the National Institute of Health, contact places individually.

https://www.aai.org/Education/Summer-Teachers - American Association of Immunologists Summer Research Program for Teachers

https://michaelrwing.com/teachers/summer-opportunities-for-teachers/ - Summer Opportunities for Teachers

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/careers/internships/ - Internships at the Nation Geographic Society