AFNR ROCs Teacher Professional Development
Monday, Aug. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Register for one or both sessions
Calling all Minnesota high school educators! Bring research from the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) into your classroom through the Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resource Research and Outreach Centers (AFNR ROCs) program.
The AFNR ROCs (pronounced "rocks") program connects high school educators with current Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resource research through immersive professional development experiences at University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Centers, part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).
Join us for a one-day, paid professional development experience where you'll:
- Explore current AFNR research
- Gain classroom-ready activities
- Connect with researchers and local partners
- Earn up to $300 in stipends
2026 Sessions:
From Field to Classroom: August 17, 2026 - Southwest Research & Outreach Center, Lamberton, MN
Experience agricultural research from professional field-scale to classroom-scale at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center (SWROC) in Lamberton, MN. You'll learn about current projects in soil health, long-term field experiments, crop production systems, weather monitoring, perennial grains, and green manure crops through tours and demonstrations. Then, you'll try classroom-ready versions of the same research techniques, including soil, seed and plant tissue investigations and experimental design activities, that help students explore authentic agricultural science while building inquiry, data analysis, and career-ready skills.
Ways of Knowing in the Forest: October 15, 2026 - Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet, MN
A forest can tell many stories depending on the questions we ask. Throughout this immersive experience at the Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC), you'll return to the same forest site multiple times, exploring it through various perspectives and ways of knowing. Along the way, you'll learn about ongoing research and land stewardship in forest ecology that blends Indigenous and western practices in fire regime restoration while experiencing classroom-ready activities that use outdoor learning to spark curiosity, encourage careful observation, and help students to investigate forests and the natural world through multiple perspectives.
Note: Lodging is available at the CFC for participants arriving the night before for $50 (limited to participants only).
