By the Shore or in the Classroom

Looking for field trip destinations, in-class speakers, or programs that focus on long island sound?

Whether you want to bring your students out on a boat to cruise the Sound, into the field to explore our shores, or are looking for a guest speaker to come into your classroom, there are many organizations in Connecticut and New York that offer programs that will fit the bill.

Connecticut

Long Island Sound Beach Cleanups

Throughout– There are many opportunities to participate in beach cleanups around LIS. To organize or participate in a beach cleanup near you, contact Save the Sound at 203-787-0646 or visit http://ctenvironment.org/beach-cleanups.cfm.

Maritime Aquarium

Norwalk– Interactions with our live animals and our engaging science programs can help you inspire your students to become eager learners and young conservationists. We offer an array of standards-based learning opportunities that make science a positive adventure for your students as they’re introduced to scientific concepts, processes and the importance of science in our lives today. Enjoy it all at the Aquarium, in the field, or have a Traveling Teacher bring the fun and learning right into your classroom. Learn more –>

Mentor Teacher Program

Throughout– The LIS Mentor Teacher Program engages certified educators to share their successful strategies for implementing Long Island Sound into existing curricula with their peers in professional development workshops. All workshop lessons and activities designed for use in the classroom or field are aligned to the content standards of the Connecticut/New York Science Frameworks and/or the National Science Education Standards, in a format that can be easily implemented into existing curricula.  Learn more –>

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic– Visit our living classroom or let us bring the Aquarium to you! With a diverse range of age-specific educational programs and engaging tours, we welcome students of all ages to discover and learn about the wonders of our ocean planet.Learn more –>

Project Oceanology

Groton– Project Oceanology offers customized science programs for school groups (fifth grade and up, including the university level) during the school year. These field study excursions feature hands-on, minds-on marine science that supplements classroom curriculum. Project Oceanology laboratory programs model the science lab portion of Connecticut standardized testing, specifically the CAPT and CMT. Learn more –>

Schooner, Inc.

New Haven– In 2010, Schooner Inc created CT Coastal Classrooms – the division of Schooner Inc focused on providing Environmental Education programs.  For more information about our offerings, click on the buttons above. Learn more –>

The Sound School Regional Vocational Aquaculture Center

New Haven— The Sound School offers Adult Education programs, Interdistrict Marine Education Program Instructional Shellfish Hatchery project, a Sound Summer Exploring Aquaculture summer program, as well as other programs and independent study opportunities. Learn more –>

SoundWaters

Stamford– SoundWaters offers hands-on, inquiry based educational opportunities for students from pre-kindergarten to college designed to support and amplify CT/NY state-mandated education standards. Programs are offered aboard the schooner SoundWaters, at the SoundWaters Community Center for Environmental Education and at classrooms and field sites throughout the area. Learn more –>

World Water Monitoring Day

Throughout– World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Celebrate with us in September, or host your World Water Monitoring Day anytime from March until December. Let us know if you are planning to participate! We’d love to have LIS teachers share data with one another! Learn More

New york

Alley Pond Environmental Center

Douglaston– The Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), a nonprofit environmental education organization, is dedicated to educating children and adults in the New York metropolitan. They offer student programs for all ages, internships, and teacher workshops. Learn more –>

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

Cold Spring Harbor— This hatchery and aquarium offers group programs year-round Monday through Friday during regular operating hours and can tailor their programs to suit your needs. Elementary, secondary, enrichment, and scouts programs are available and some are suitable for in-school presentation. Learn more –>

Department of Environmental Protection, Town of Brookhaven

Stony Brook– this Town Park is a local environmental treasure and the perfect outdoor classroom. With a mile stretch of LI Sound beach and acres of salt marsh, it is home to a diverse array of invertebrate, fish, and bird species, and is a protective sanctuary where horseshoe crabs, diamondback terrapins, and NYS endangered piping plovers breed. Learn more –>

I FISH NY

Throughout– The I FISH NY Program is a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) initiative that introduces urban residents to the sport of fishing in New York State. I FISH NY offers in- and out-of-classroom programs, such as public fishing clinics and festivals, and professional development workshops. Programs are available to schools and community groups in all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Suffolk and Nassau Counties on Long Island. Learn more –>

Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services

Nassau County– The Nassau BOCES Outdoor Environmental Education department offers a wide variety of programs designed to education, inform and engage students of all ages. From the extensive challenge course offered at Brookville to the Caumsett Environmental Center offering 1,600 acres of unique, diverse natural habitats, to two- and three-day residential experiences at Upstate Resident Programs’ nine upstate and out-of-state locations are available for three- or five-day experiences, there are programs for every interest. Learn more –>

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Throughout– DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment including educational camps, centers and programs, resources and training for teachers, resources for schools and students, and programs for adults. Learn more –>

Rocking the Boat

Bronx– Rocking the Boat uses boats to help young people challenged by severe economic, educational, and social disadvantage develop into empowered and responsible adults. Participating during the school-day, after-school, and summer in hands-on wooden boatbuilding and on-water education programs, young people in the South Bronx develop the self-confidence to set ambitious goals and the skills needed to achieve them. Learn more –>

Sound Stewards Program

Throughout– Long Island Sound Study staff will work educators to develop a research project that not only gives students a meaningful experience but also collects valuable data for local researchers and agencies. Whether funding only allows for one trip or multiple trips, we can design a project that works for you! Currently, this program is only available to NY educators. Learn more–>

Suffolk County Stormwater Management Program

Suffolk County– Suffolk County and Cornell Cooperative Extension are offering FREE school programs for students on stormwater pollution in Suffolk County. Students will learn about stormwater pollution and what they can do to prevent pollutants from entering local harbors and tidal creeks. Learn more –>

The Water Front Center

Oyster Bay– The Water Front Center offers hands-on programs, with a focus on inquiry and discovery, were created by a New York State certified teacher to reinforce New York State Standards and the concepts needed for the State Assessment tests. Teachers can use these programs as a unique addition to a science unit, to make connections across different subject areas, or as a culminating experience to reinforce prior knowledge and curriculum.Learn more –>

Western Suffolk Marine Education Program

Huntington— The group programs offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Education Staff are designed to interest students in grades K-12 in the many diverse and exciting marine topics. These programs are offered by the Western Suffolk Marine Education Program at Coindre Hall in Huntington, NY and are available to schools, libraries, camps, and scout groups.  Learn more –>

World Water Monitoring Day

Throughout– World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Celebrate with us in September, or host your World Water Monitoring Day anytime from March until December. Let us know if you are planning to participate! We’d love to have LIS teachers share data with one another! Learn More –>

Your Connection to Nature, Inc.

Smithtown– YC2K offers in-School Student Programs, field-trip leaders, teacher in-service workshops/professional development workshops, teacher conferences, eco-tours for educators. Learn more –>