Field trips are as much a part of the series as its talks. It exposes them to various outside areas of expertise in a way that they understand. The number of teacher participants has increased over the 30 years-the program initially was open to secondary educators only but has been extended to include elementary teachers as well. Nancollas can't remember a time when the forum wasn't well-received. Forum secretary Barbara Raff, who sends out between 200 and 300 letters each year publicizing the forum, is indispensable to its success, Nancollas says.
Teachers help plan the forum in the summer months.