Coming soon to a classroom near you!

Exciting news – Nematode Hunters is expanding! For Fall 2025, we will be expanding our program beyond Pennsylvania and recruiting participating 4th grade classes from anywhere in the continental U.S.

Read on to find out how to apply!

Who can participate?

For our Fall 2025 program, we are recruiting 4th grade classrooms located anywhere in the continental U.S. However, in the future we hope to expand to other grade levels as well! To be the first to hear about new opportunities to participate, you can join our mailing list.

How will the classroom program work?

If your classroom is selected to participate, the Nematode Hunters team will reach out to you and work together with you to schedule the classroom module. The module will take place over 2 weeks with a later follow-up classroom visit.

May: Applications for the Fall 2025 program open.

June: Selected applicants will be notified. Teachers will be provided with lesson planning resources, and the Nematode Hunters team will work together with teachers to schedule the module.

September-October: Nematode hunters module will be run during the scheduled time.

  • Week 0:
    • Teachers will be shipped a Nematode Hunting kit, containing all supplies needed for the isolation of wild nematodes.
  • Week 1:
    • Teachers will introduce concepts using provided lesson planning resources.
    • Nematode Hunters team will conduct a Zoom classroom visit to introduce the project.
    • Teachers will instruct students in collection procedures with the help of Nematode Hunters tutorials.
    • Students will collect potential nematode-containing plant substrates from their local environment including school, home, parks, etc.
  • Week 2:
    • In class, teachers will instruct students in plating substrates using Nematode Hunters tutorials and kit supplies
    • Students will observe plates using provided digital microscopes and identify plates containing nematodes
    • Students will make observations of nematodes
    • Plates containing nematodes will be returned to WCU using provided shipping box & label

November-December: Nematode Hunters team will conduct a follow-up classroom Zoom visit to share the results of the infection testing of your submitted nematodes

How can I apply?

You can join our mailing list using the link below if you are interested in being notified when applications for the Fall 2025 program open!

Join our mailing list to be notified when applications open!

For all other inquiries, contact using the form below:

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