On Friday the state opened registration for a series of summer teaching institutes focused on science, technology, engineering and math.

The “i-STEM in Your Back Yard” institutes will be held in June at five locations throughout the state, and are open to teachers, counselors and administrators.

Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants will receive free tuition for a continuing education credit and STEM materials to use in their classrooms.

The three- and four-day programs are scheduled to begin June 17 in Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene, June 24 in Twin Falls and June 25 in Caldwell.

Last year, the programs proved so popular that there was a waiting list to participate and the number of teachers registering crashed the system, said Kortny Rolston-Duce, a spokeswoman for Center for Advanced Energy Studies/ Idaho National Laboratory.

For information, or to register, visit the Idaho State Department of Education’s i-STEM online workshop page.