For many children, summertime is free time. For parents, summer often means searching for structured learning opportunities for their children. For teachers, summer can mean heading back to school for professional development. The elementary science institute for teachers that the authors conduct includes a summer science camp for children. Last summer, while investigating human impact on the environment, students investigated the health of soil by exploring the problem "Is your soil sick?" The students had a great time and learned about ecosystems, soil, and plants, but the purpose was twofold; this elementary science institute was an opportunity for teachers to learn about problem-based learning and try out a new pedagogy with children in a risk-free environment. The teachers learned the value of situating a learning experience for children around a real science problem as they observed the excitement it generated in students. After the institute ended, the teachers had the skills to go back to their classrooms and implement this type of experience. This article describes the soil testing activity and how teachers used the knowledge they acquired teaching during this summer institute to enrich their classrooms. The investigations could be done as part of a summer camp, as a home project, or during the school year. (Contains 2 figures and 4 online resources.)