Dr. Blank used hands-on activities to teach the teachers about the following topics: microbial physiology, phylogenetics, mats and biofilms, microhabitats, metabolic processes, and her current research. The teachers learned these concepts by making observations of the source pool and outflow areas of the hot springs using temperature, pH, conductivity probes, mat corers, field microscopes, and rulers and then generating hypotheses to explain their observations. Their microbial ecology hand-out also included a series of questions for the teachers to consider to facilitate observations and hypothesis generation. By mimicking the activities of the researchers; this approach served to train the teachers for the subsequent backcountry trip to Shoshone Geyser Basin. Shoshone Geyser Basin contains one of the highest concentration of geysers in the world, more than 80 in an area of 500 x 250 meters. Here, the teachers were utilized in a concerted effort to characterize a group of hot springs in Shoshone Geyser Basin. The teachers became integral members of the research teams using the approaches used at both Octopus Springs and Queens Laundry Springs. The Missouri Space Grant supports educational outreach programs in support of its fundamental goal of recruiting and training students in the areas of science, math and engineering. ~ Carrine blank, Washington university