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Field Trip Ideas |
 Catskill Mountain Region |
 New York City Region |
See also Environmental Education Centers and Parks
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Field Trip Ideas |
Catskill Mountain Region |
New York City Region |
Catskill Mountain Region
Ashokan Center
is a non-profit outdoor education and cultural center. It offers a wide variety of programs that range from one to five days and allow students to explore topics ranging from pond ecology to pioneer history. The Center is located in Ulster County adjacent to the Ashokan Reservoir. www.ashokancenter.org; 845.657.8333; or office@ashokancenter.org.
Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum
The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to preserving America's fly-fishing heritage, teaching future generations of flyfishers, and protecting the fly-fishing environment. www.cffcm.org; 845.439.4810; or flyfish@catskill.net. The museum is located near Livingston Manor in Sullivan County.
Delaware County Historical Association
The DCHA purpose presents and preserves Delaware County history through their library and archives. Their 60-acre site is home to the 1797 Gideon Frisbee House and timber-frame barn, 19th century gunsmith shop, blacksmith shop, school house, toll gatehouse, nature trail, and cemetery. It is located along Route 10 in Delhi. www.dcha-ny.org; 607.746.3849; or dcha@catskill.net.
Frost Valley YMCA Environmental Education & Conference Center
The Woodruff J. English Environmental Education Center at Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, Ulster County, offers watershed-related science and ecology courses, historical and cultural programs, and hikes and team-building programs. Day trips, and 2 to 5-day residential experiences are available for K-12 groups. www.frostvalley.org; Kris Henker, Director of Education Programs at 845.985.2291 ext. 219; or enved@frostvalley.org.
The Gilboa Museum and Fossils, a project of the Gilboa Historical Society
Stryker Road, off Route 990V, Gilboa
Much of the evidence for what is known about terrestrial life during the Devonian period in North America has come from some extraordinary fossils discovered in Gilboa, Schoharie County over the last 150 years. The Gilboa Museum, one-half mile from NYS Route 30, has some of the world’s oldest fossilized trees on display, along with a mural depicting Devonian Dawn, and photos and artifacts from the original village of Gilboa before it was condemned to construct the Schoharie Reservoir, completed in 1925. The museum is open weekends in summer and fall. Group tours are available mid-week, or during winter by appointment. Suggested donation $1 per person. An outdoor fossil exhibit is on display along NYC Road 990V not far from the museum. The display has nine large fossilized tree stumps with an information kiosk. A book and video on the Gilboa Fossils are available for sale. To arrange a tour, contact Kristen Wyckoff, 607-588 9413;kwyckoff@dmcom.net. Tours not available February-early April.
John A. Lennox Memorial Forest
This model forest demonstrates a variety of forest management techniques and water quality best management practices. It is operated by the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC), and NYCDEP, and is part of 4-H Camp Shankitunk near Delhi, Delaware County. www.cce.cornell.edu/delaware/LennoxF.html; 607.865.7790; or forestry@nycwatershed.org.
Life at Lake Wawaka/Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride, a program of the Catskill Revitalization Corp. www.durr.org
A 14-mile round trip excursion aboard the Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride from Arkville to Halcottsville takes groups to the shores of Lake Wawaka (Halcottsville Pond). There they visit a learning station to explore the intersection of natural and human history in this little hamlet on the East Branch of the Delaware River. Pre- and post-visit classroom materials and teacher guide available. Cost is $5 per student, program is available from late May through late October. Contact Dave Riordan, 607-652-2821; fun@durr.org.
The Mountain Top Arboretum
The Mountain Top Arboretum is in Tannersville, Greene County. This 21-acre parcel contains native and exotic trees and shrubs in woodland, open meadow, and wetland settings. Guided tours available. www.mtarbor.org; Joan Kutcher at 518.589.3903; or mtarbor@mhonline.net.
New York Power Authority Visitors' Center
The NYS Power Authority operates a hydroelectric power facility in Blenheim, Schoharie County. Visitors' center offers hands-on exhibits that allow students to learn about scientific principles related to electricity generation and supply. Lansing Manor is also located on the site, offering a glimpse of 19th-century life. www.nypa.gov; Steve Ramsay at 518.827.6121; or steve.ramsay@nypa.gov.
New York State Fish Hatchery
NYSDEC hatcheries produce fish for stocking more than 1,200 public waters throughout New York. The Catskill Hatchery is located in DeBruce, Sullivan County. Its visiting hours are 8:30 am - 4 pm on weekdays and 8:30 - noon on weekends. www.dec.state.ny.us; 845.439.4328.
Reservoir Kiosks, a project of the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) www.cwconline.org/special/comm_pro.html
In an effort to recognize the sacrifices made by the Watershed communities on behalf of New York City water, the CWC spearheaded a project to erect outdoor exhibits (kiosks) and road signs at the City’s six West of Hudson reservoirs. The kiosks contain text and photographs explaining the history of the 25 communites which were removed or relocated to make way for the Ashokan, Schoharie, Neversink, Rondout, Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs built between 1907 and 1965. The exhibits also chart the NYC Water System, one of the world’s engineering marvels, and explain what is being done to protect this critical resource. For kiosk locations, go to website above. For other information on Watershed history, contact Diane Galusha, 845-586-1400. ext. 29; galusha@cwconline.org.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours
Give your students some real world exposure to water quality protection efforts with a visit to a local WWTP.
WWTP Tours(21 Kb)
Zadock Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum is dedicated to the life of Zadock Pratt, who owned the largest tannery in the world, in Prattsville, Greene County, in the early 1800s. Tanning was one of the earliest industries in the Catskill region where the bark of hemlock trees was used to tan leather. www.prattmuseum.com; 518.299.3395; or prattmuseum@hotmail.com.
New York City Region
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Alley Pond Environmental Center
Alley Pond conducts nature programs on more than 635 acres of woodlands, meadows, and fresh and salt water marshes. Alley Pond Park is in Northeast Queens and is a National Environmental Study Area. www.fieldtrip.com/ny/82294000.htm; 718.229.4000.
American Museum of Natural History
Permanent and changing exhibitions on biodiversity and nature including the world's water resources. Located at Central Park West @ 79th Street, Manhattan. www.amnh.org
Blue Heron Park
Located in Annadale, Staten Island and administered by the Urban Park Rangers, Blue Heron Nature Center offers environmental enrichment education by community based part-time educators who bring students to the ponds and wet woodlands at Blue Heron, relating the natural world to specialized classroom lessons. www.preserve2.org/blueheron; 718.317.1732 or 718.948.2662.
Bronx Zoo
The center for the Wildlife Conservation Society, the zoo offers professional development opportunities for teachers and educational programs and materials for students. www.bronxzoo.com
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden offers a children's garden, summer science adventures, school programs, Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) Summer Camp, student internships, and projects to do at home. They now offer a special "Water in Nature and Our Lives" workshop. www.bbg.org; 718.623.7200; or schoolprograms@bbg.org.
Cranberry Lake Preserve - (Westchester County)
Museum and History trail in a former quarry detailing the building of the Kensico Reservoir. North White Plains. 914-428-1005
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge / Floyd Bennett Field
These units of Gateway National Recreation Area are run by the National Park Service. Ponds, trails, visitors centers, and environmental education programs are available to school groups. www.nps.gov/gate/homepage/jb-bp.htm; Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 718.318.4340; Floyd Bennett Field 718.338.3799.
Lower East Side Ecology Center
Living lessons in recycling and composting abound at this facility on East 7th Street, between Avenues B & C. 212-477-4022
Museum of the City of New York
Among the exhibits at the museum, located at 1220 Fifth Ave. @ 103rd Street, is "Protect," about the impact of fire on the city, and the role of the New York City water system to combat it. 212-534-1672
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden offers over 250 acres of plants from around the world. Garden adventures, workshops, and teacher seminars are available. www.nybg.org/chil_edu/index.html.
New York Hall of Science
This Queens facility boasts 400 hands-on science and technology exhibits. www.nyhallsci.org; 718-699-0005
Prospect Park Audubon Center
School Groups are welcome to explore the world of birds and pond and forest life at this learning center at the Prospect Park Boathouse in the heart of Brooklyn. www.prospectparkaudubon.org
Serpentine Art & Nature Commons
The Serpentine Art & Nature Commons is a not-for-profit community based organization devoted to the preservation of 35 acres of wooded land on Grymes Hill in Stapleton Station, Staten Island. www.preserve.org/serpentine/serpentine.htm; npisane@aol.com.
South Street Seaport Museum
Welcomes student groups for on-shore and on-ship lessons in the water resources of New York City, including water quality issues. www.southstseaport.org; 212-748-8590.
Teatown Lake Reservation
Located in northern Westchester County, Teatown has grown to 730 acres including a 33-acre lake, streams, scenic gorge, hardwood swamps, mixed forests, meadows, hemlock and laurel groves. www.teatown.org; 914.762.2912 ext 10; or teatown@bestweb.net.
Wave Hill
A non-profit cultural institution located on 28 acres in the northwest Bronx, Wave Hill offers programs in environmental education for city children and teachers. www.wavehill.org; 718.549.3200; or info@wavehill.org.
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The Catskill Watershed Corporation's Home Page www.cwconline.org
Comments or suggestions on this site, please contact the webmaster at galusha@cwconline.org
The Catskill Watershed Corporation · PO Box 569 · Main Street · Margaretville, NY 12455