ITE Keystone Educators are teachers and educators, in schools and organizations throughout southern AZ, whose work and dedication to youth help hold the arc of our community together. In nature, keystone species are vital to supporting a resilient and biodiverse ecosystem.

ITE Keystone Educators are the first to hear about Field Studies for Schools opportunities for their classrooms, internship applications and EcoProgram registrations for their students, and paid educator professional development opportunities.

Field Studies for Schools (FSS) connects educators and their students to the Sonoran Desert. From Biology to Art to Creative Writing classes, ITE staff lead students through experiential learning as concepts from the classroom unfold in the natural world. Programs span the range of 40-minute virtual experiences to multi-day camping trips.

FSS programs are designed for youth in 7th through 12th grade. Any educator or school professional can sign their class up for an FSS program!

Based on your desired outcomes, ITE’s skilled staff apply their knowledge of the Sky Islands region to weave place-based lessons into the field experience.

Community W.A.T.E.R. seeks to increase teacher and student engagement with their community through green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and watershed education by providing educational, experiential learning opportunities for students at Pima County Stormwater Park sites located throughout the city of Tucson.  Class field trips to GSI sites provide powerful opportunities for hands-on, place-based learning. They are vibrant examples of how infrastructure can serve both people and nature, offering accessible, outdoor learning spaces in the heart of Tucson and even prepare youth for potential internships and workforce pathways in environmental careers!

Bridging Schools & Parks is a one-day program where you can learn directly from Saguaro National Park Staff & the ITE Team on how to bring nature & community science to your classroom! By participating you will receive a free field trip to Saguaro National Park.

Community WATER Advocate program is a partnership between Pima County Regional Flood Control District and Ironwood Tree Experience. This educator workshop is designed to open up the urban landscape as a dynamic area for learning. Pima County’s Stormwater Parks are located across the City. Through engineering that mimics natural systems these parks reduce flooding potential by holding water and supporting an urban oasis of native plants and animals. Educators will get an up close and personal connection with 2 of these parks as potential sites for school programs ranging from the Sciences to Arts and History.

Down to Earth is a 2-day professional development workshop that takes teachers through explorations of the Wild and Urban landscape in a way that is unique and inspiring.

Day One: Travel into the Santa Rita sky island mountains for a connection with nature through an ecological lens of diverse interactions with rocks, plants and animals that lead back to the classroom and your students.

Day Two: Explore urban alleyways and arroyos to investigate, identify and intermingle with the natural, cultural and historical elements on the landscape. Then create a lesson plan that gets you and your students into the field!

Story Trails allows you to explore the history of the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail that begins in the San Rafael Valley and travels along the Santa Cruz River while learning the stories of the land and the communities living with it.

Day one: Departing from Tucson, teachers will experience the ecological and cultural stories along the Anza Trail from the upper Santa Cruz River beginning in the San Rafael Valley headwaters to the Mission and Presidio at Tumacacori and Tubac.

Day two: Departing from Tucson, teachers will experience the ecological and cultural stories along the Anza Trail from the middle Santa Cruz River beginning at the Historic Canoa Ranch, to restored riparian forests and the birthplace of Tucson.