The Division of Natural Sciences has partnered with the School of Education at Campbellsville University to conduct summer workshops for teachers at Clay Hill Memorial Forest since June 2002.  More than 250 teachers have received training in hands-on environmental science encompassing a wide variety of topics in physical and biological sciences.  In 2002, we hosted 17 teachers from four counties; in 2006, we hosted 85 teachers from 17 counties.  The costs of the program have been underwritten by grants from government agencies and private foundations. 

     Purpose:  The OCI Program primarily serves teachers in central Kentucky,  an area with few opportunities continued education.  It is our goal to enhance science teaching in this region by increasing science content knowledge,   improving environmental awareness, enhancing teacher awareness of the non-professional educators and agencies that can assist them in teaching,  enhancing teacher awareness of and familiarity with Clay Hill Memorial Forest and the services it can provide, and assisting in the development of networking so that teachers may share ideas.