PFI History:

In May of 1998, the idea for the Pisgah Forest Institute was first formed. Because new state and national standards for environmental education were being developed and implemented, a need arose for a method to provide educational experiences for teachers who were being affected by these changes. Many educators already in the system were being asked to provide courses on environmental science without receiving proper training in that area.  The office of Congressman Charles Taylor and members of Brevard College, the USDA Forest Service and Cradle of Forestry in Amercia Interpretive Association worked together to develop the mission and funding for a program to enhance earth and environmental science knowledge and skills for educators of K-12 students.

In 1999 Brevard College retained the services of a consulting firm to identify a market for the Pisgah Forest Institute (PFI) and a strategy to achieve success in reaching and serving the targeted market.  They recommended a program that used hands-on instruction with an emphasis on laboratory and outdoor activities for high school teachers.  They also emphasized that the program be tied to national and state course standards and competencies, and that participants should be given lesson plans and materials that they could use in their classrooms.

During the summer of 2000, the first PFI workshop was offered.  It was a five-day workshop with 21 high school teachers in attendance.  Funds were secured by Congressman Taylor as part of the USDA Forest Service budget.

Since 2001, the program has expanded to offer additional workshops to a larger group of K-12 instructors.  PFI now serves the traditional K-12 classroom teacher as well as non-traditional educators.   Up to seven workshops are offered each summer, and a weekend workshop is usually offered each academic semester.  A distance learning course was initiated during the spring semester of 2006.  This course utilizes the topics and organization of the workshop titled “Earth and Environmental Science for Middle and High School Teachers,” and consequently is geared toward middle and high school educators who are unable to attend the summer workshop. Workshops that are offered for the upcoming season are listed on the registration page.