Education
About our Educational Programs
Seatuck’s education programs seek to expose people to the diversity, beauty, and wonder of Long Island’s natural world. Such authentic outdoor experiences are the foundation upon which people develop their connection to the environment and concern for its conservation. Our programs foster a greater appreciation and understanding of Long Island wildlife and ecological systems in support of long-term conservation of the environment.
We offer a variety of public programs for pre-school children, students, adults, and families. We also offer training for teachers and other professionals (including the Greentree Foundation Teachers’ Ecology Workshop), and a range of private programs for schools, early childcare providers, scouts, businesses and more.
“IN THE END, WE WILL CONSERVE ONLY WHAT WE LOVE;
WE WILL LOVE ONLY WHAT WE UNDERSTAND;
AND WE UNDERSTAND ONLY WHAT WE ARE TAUGHT.”
Baba Dioum, Senagalese Conservationist, 1968
Biaba Dioum’s famous saying, made during a speech before the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), is often used to explain the importance of environmental education. At Seatuck, we have a slightly different take on Dioum’s wise words: We think a love of nature and the development of a conservation ethic begins, most fundamentally, with a connection to the natural world. And these connections start with experiences in the outdoors.
In an era when mobile phones, televisions and other factors increasingly conspire to keep people (especially children) from having such experiences, our education programs seek to get people outside for authentic experiences in nature. From that simple starting point, we can teach about the natural world, expand understanding and – as our education team likes to say – grow future conservationists!
Public Programs
Pre-School
It's never too early to get your preschooler outside, connecting to nature and learning the many lessons the natural world has to offer!
Summer Explorers
Week-long summer programs give students a fun chance to get their feet wet, their hands dirty and grow their connection to nature!
After School
Programs
Our after school offerings foster students' innate interest in the natural world and develop their skills as budding naturalists.
General Public Programs
Join our naturalists as we explore Long Island's beautiful places and fascinating natural history!
Teachers & Schools
School Programs & Field Trips
Our experienced educators provide customized programs for the classroom, the schoolyard or parks and preserves across Long Island.
Native Schoolyard Garden Program
Schoolyard gardens provide hands-on activities for students, as well as endless lessons in natural history.
Quail in the Classroom
Raising native Bobwhite Quail provides school children with lessons in the life-cycle and wildlife conservation.
Day in the Life
Classes of all ages can help us take an annual one day snapshot of the ecological health of several rivers and streams on the South Shore.
Professional Teacher Development
Seatuck provides teacher training through the Greentree Foundation Teachers' Ecology Workshop and other custom programs.
Related Information
School Programs & Field Trips
Seatuck offers a range of programming for school districts. We provide in-class presentations and outdoor programs, which can be held on school grounds, at parks and preserves near the school or at other exciting locations across Long Island. We also offer field trips to one of three educational facilities: The Suffolk County Environmental Center in Islip, the South Shore Nature Center in East Islip, and the Sherwood Jayne Farm in East Setauket.
Professional Teacher Development
Seatuck has been providing professional development opportunities for teachers for over a decade. This work focuses on helping teachers develop a deeper understanding of Long Island’s natural history and learning techniques for using the outdoors as an extension of the classroom and incorporating the natural world into daily lessons. Seatuck’s work with teachers includes both the annual year-long Greentree Foundation Teachers’ Ecology Workshop and custom, shorter trainings for teacher groups, grade levels, administrators, schools or districts.
Suffolk County Environmental Center
The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) is a small, secretive, semi-aquatic species that is found in a wide variety of shallow wetland habitats and their adjacent upland areas. It was once considered the most common turtle in New York State and the New York City region.