Camp Clean Water: Teacher Academy
In partnership with Teaching Cleveland | June 9-13, 2025
Enroll in the first-ever Camp Clean Water: Teacher Academy—30 hours of experiential programming, tours, and special activities designed for educators—focused on regional history, water quality, water resource management and governance, infrastructure, and much more.
- Learn about our region’s history, deep connection with our water resources, and the comeback of our Burning River.
- Take behind the scenes tours with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District experts in wastewater treatment, water quality, freshwater ecology, watershed management, stream restoration, environmental law, engineering and construction, public administration and more!
- Receive free lesson-planning guidance and resources from experienced Teaching Cleveland facilitators
- Learn how to incorporate content into State of Ohio Learning Standards for grades 7-12.
- Receive CEUs and up to two Graduate Credit hours through Ashland University
- $300+ of programming at no cost to you!
Academy teachers also receive priority consideration for NEORSD outreach resources throughout the school year, such as sponsorships, tours, and guest speakers.
Space is Limited! Apply before May 1!
APPLY! Camp Clean Water: Teacher Academy
Teacher Academy schedule
Each day will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Content and Tours will end by 3:00 p.m. each day. The following schedule is subject to change.
- Monday, June 9: Classroom Day | Introduction to the Sewer District, Curriculum connections
- Tuesday, June 10: Tour | Wastewater Treatment Plant and Analytical Services
- Wednesday, June 11: Tour | The Doan Brook Watershed
- Thursday, June 12: Tour | Lake Erie Beaches and Water Quality
- Friday, June 13: Classroom Day | Wrap Up, Curriculum Planning, Further Resources
Evaluating your application
We are open to all educators, with a special focus on 7-12th grades. While topics are largely STEM focused, there will be plenty of local history, government, public affairs, economics, and public health content shared as well. We are open to all teachers who see the opportunity to take local issues as proximate learning opportunities for concepts across all disciplines.
We are specifically seeking teachers from Schools and School Districts within the NEORSD Service area who are interested in connecting concepts from Ohio Learning Standards to real world applications and careers here in Cleveland, and who are committed to applying lessons learned at the Academy to their classrooms.
A successful application will not only include a demonstrated interest in the content offered, but also intend to bring the concepts and experiences back to the classroom and your students. Teachers who complete the Academy will serve as ambassadors to their school community to help spread the Sewer District’s Clean Water Mission while also enhancing local connections between classroom learning and Northeast Ohio.
APPLY! Camp Clean Water: Teacher Academy
Expectations
Due to the nature of and tours, this course is only offered in person and space is limited.
The course is conducted over five days, from 9:00-3:00 each day. We expect that teachers will commit to the full five days of programming, particularly those seeking to receive CEU and graduate credits. There will be no make-up sessions, although weather may require flexibility in tour offerings. To reduce barriers to participation, all program costs and materials will be covered by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and lunch will be provided each day by Teaching Cleveland.
Please note: The intent of the course is to provide special access to our facilities and watersheds for our region’s educators. Tours will be of working wastewater treatment plants, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, collections systems, streams, and beaches. There will be moderate walks, light trail hikes, stairs, (and the occasional unpleasant smell). All tours will require sturdy closed-toed shoes and long pants. Additional Personal Protective Equipment will be provided by NEORSD as needed.
If you have questions about this program or future educational programming, please contact Strategic Partnership Lead Danny Neelon, PhD.