LTER recognizes the value of sustained interactions between students, teachers, and scientists, and has launched an effort to integrate LTER science with K-12 education. Most LTER Sites conduct individual programs at the local level, and the Network supports centralized approaches to educational initiatives. Goals include: Utilizing LTER resources to enhance hands-on science learning for students Developing long-term research sites on or near school yards Facilitating communication between LTER scientists, formal and informal science educators, and school teachers. Help ecology education make best use of long-term studies. Foster understanding of the earth's ecosystems, including local ones. Promote outdoor, inquiry-based learning. Stimulate interdisciplinary, collaborative science learning. Integrate long-term and multi-factorial studies into education reform. Promote broad understanding of long-term ecological processes and the earth's ecosystems.