NEED works with our state and local partners to provide over 600 energy education workshops and inservices to teachers and students throughout the school year. NEED workshops are designed to help educators implement energy programs in their classrooms while developing student knowledge and leadership skills. Workshops are provided for educators teaching Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. Participants are often encouraged to bring a team of students to be the lead NEED Team in the school. Workshops are presented by local NEED staff, or by a trained NEED Facilitator. NEED also provides professional development workshops to school districts, energy companies, and other training organizations upon request.

NEED provides workshops for specific areas of interest for schools including:

• General Energy workshops provide teachers with background in the science of energy, energy sources, electricity generation, transportation and conservation.
• Science of Energy and Energy Resources workshops teach the forms of energy, energy transformations, renewables and nonrenewables.
• Electricity workshops teach about electrical energy and the generation and the transmission of electricity. 
• Petroleum and Natural Gas workshops include instruction about forms of energy with specific components about chemical energy and the exploration, development, production and uses of petroleum and natural gas.
• Schools Going Solar workshops developed as part of the BP Solar Connection partnership and the Pacific    Gas and Electric Company's Solar Schools Program teach about the basics of radiant energy and the uses of solar energy for electricity and heating. These workshops are great for districts with solar installations or those considering solar installations. 
• H2 Educate workshops as part of the U.S. Department of Energy and State Energy Office partnerships with the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy for example teach about forms of energy, hydrogen development, fuel cells and transportation technologies.
• Energy Management for Schools workshops, conferences, and training programs for teachers and for school facilities personnel, school business officials, and school energy managers in partnership with the state energy offices, local utilities, and federal agencies provide instruction and standards-based activities about energy management. 
• Nuclear Energy workshops are often hosted at nuclear power stations and allow for teachers to tour stations or visitor centers with the opportunity to expand their knowledge of energy transformations and nuclear energy while learning about the use of uranium to generate electricity.  Teachers also learn about current used fuel storage practices and the Yucca Mountain debate. 
• Conservation and Efficiency workshops provide teachers the opportunity to learn about energy efficiency technologies and measures, conservation behaviors and residential energy conservation in an effort to reach students and their families.  These workshops are provided in NEED's Demand Side Management programs sponsored by many utilities - Duke Energy, National Grid and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) for example.  Families receive home energy efficiency kits to install at home to reduce electricity and gas consumption.
• Wind workshops utilize the curriculum materials sponsored by the American Wind Energy Association and developed by NEED.  These workshops are great for school districts interested in installing wind.
• Energy on Public Lands workshops sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management provide training about energy resources and the development of energy on public lands. 
• Transportation Fuels Workshops (including biodiesel, gasoline, ethanol) for teachers or school decision makers teach about the many fuels available to transport people and goods from place to place. 
• In 2008, new workshop series will include climate change and hydropower. 

If you have interest in these special workshops, please contact us. 

Check out the Calendar page for a workshop near you or contact NEED to discuss scheduling a workshop for your region.

The NEED National Energy Conference for Educators is hosted each July to train teachers to incorporate energy programs into their classroom and extracurricular activities. In 2009, over 100 educators participated thanks to the sponsorship of many local, state, and national sponsors. This five-day program covers all aspects of energy education and offers three graduate credits to participating educators.

Registration for the conference is $1,100 and includes double occupancy lodging, all meals, transportation from airport to conference hotel, conference materials, and classroom materials.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Solar Schools Program