The program offers four-week residential summer workshops known as Core Institutes (e.g., the Biology Program for High Teachers), one-week workshops in urban and rural areas known as TORCH (Teacher OutReaCH) institutes, and professional development activities for middle and secondary school science and mathematics teachers, and Core Institute graduates. Since 1982, more than 90,000 teachers have participated in one or more of NLPT's activities.

Core Institute participants are trained to use computers and graphing calculators, as well as telecommunications equipment to communicate after the institute concludes. They then are expected to lead outreach programs in their districts. TORCH participants engage in computer interfacing and simulation exercises, use and review computer software, and build inexpensive make-and-take projects. During the academic year, they attend at least one Saturday workshop to share their classroom successes, learn about new classroom activities, and brush up on skills introduced at the institute. Additional activities vary according to site.

Professional development activities provide teachers with updated content information and staff-developed projects that they can use to create individualized classroom activities. NLPT strives to continually evolve and address current issues (e.g., systemic reform and the teacher's role in leading school-wide and disrict-wide change). Topics for 1996-97 include environmental science and the use of technology in the classroom.