New York City Environmental Education Program
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DEC's environmental education staff offers a number of environmental programs throughout New York City. The three over-arching programs are the School and Community Programs, Professional Development Opportunities, and Public Outreach Programs. Our goal is to engage NYC families, students, and teachers with local natural resources through programs that raise ecological awareness, promote outdoor recreation, and inspire environmental stewardship.
Do not forget that DEC has a curated list of Remote & Virtual Learning resources, including pages on Special Needs Learning Resources & English Language Learners, educator resources & professional development opportunities, and activities & lesson plans from around the world. You can access them through the Caregiver, Parent, Grandparent, & Educator Resources While at Home page.
School and Community Programs
Are you looking for an educator to take your group around a local park, or bring an engaging hands-on activity to the classroom? DEC educators are equipped to lead your group in a program that can cover a wide variety of environmental science topics, from bird walks to coastal ecology programs. These programs are free for any group or class that is interested. Below are some of the available topics but feel free to contact us if you have an idea or subject area, we might be able to help with.
Scheduling programs is easy, and we are often available nights and weekends.
School and Community Program Topics Can Include (Not Limited To!)
- Birding Walks: Learn about migratory paths and come birding in one of the best places to bird in the world! NYC is home to thousands of different migratory and year-round bird residents. DEC can provide binoculars for the duration of the program.
- Guided Naturalist Walks: Join a DEC educator on a walk where you will learn how to identify plants, animals, habitat, and general ecology of an area.
- Urban Forests: Learn all about trees, our urban forests and how they support the environmental health of your neighborhood.
- Urban Mammals: Learn who else calls NYC their home. Many mammals from Racoons and squirrels to seals and coyote live here in NYC alongside humans. Learn all about how we share this city as our home!
- Coastal Ecology: Explore NYC's coast by taking a trip to your local beach with a DEC educator. Learn about marine habitat, animals, plant life and discover the wonders hidden on our coastline.
- Reflection Walks: Take your class on a walk designed to facilitate a deeper appreciation for the socio-emotional benefits associated from spending time in nature. Participants will spend time observing, journaling, and meditating while passively learning about our natural environment.
To Schedule a School and Community Program, Email: [email protected] Please include "School and Community Program" in the subject line.
After School Conservation Club: Community Partner Curriculum
The After School Conservation Club targets 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders attending after-school programs run by local neighborhood organizations. During the school year, DEC Educators travel to each after-school program and provide one or two groups of youth with an hour-long lesson each week. On average, ten lessons are delivered during the fall session, which runs from late September to mid-December, and about fourteen are delivered during the winter/spring session, which runs from early February to mid-June.
The place-based content of the lessons focuses on the wildlife of NYC and the recreational and stewardship opportunities available within the five boroughs. Lessons typically bring youth out of their seats for a slow-moving activity or an active tag game that reinforces the lesson's content. Hands-on artifacts, equipment, and arts and crafts supplies are also used. Wildlife-focused lessons cover topics such as food chains, cooperation, competition, and adaptations. Introductory lessons to casting a fishing pole, camping skills, and bird watching allow youth to develop outdoor recreation skills. Content on recycling, composting, urban gardening, and others provide youth with opportunities to choose actions that help wildlife and people.
Summer Outdoor Explorers: Community Partner Curriculum
The Summer Outdoor Explorers program targets 3rd to 8th graders attending summer day camp programs run by local neighborhood organizations. Through this partnership, DEC Educators meet one or two groups of youth at a local park near their camp for an hour-long lesson each week. Over the course of five or six lessons, youth will strengthen their observation skills as they explore the park, raise their ecological awareness through educational games and activities, and receive guided instruction that develops their outdoor recreation skills. At the summer's end, youth will appreciate NYC as a habitat for a diverse set of wildlife and have the tools to continue exploring the "wild" side of the city.
For more information on becoming a partner site, email: [email protected] and include "After School Conservation Club" or "Summer Outdoor Explorers" in the subject line.
Professional Development
Education staff offer professional development workshops in environmental education. These workshops provide staff working with youth hands-on, environmental activities using the international programs of Project Learning Tree, Project WILD (Basic, Aquatic, Flying), and Project WET. The workshops range from four to six hours, are offered all over the five Boroughs and can be arranged at a specific location if you have at least twelve guaranteed participants. To learn more about scheduling workshops and about the projects, visit our Workshops for Educators page.
Staff is also available to help educators work environmental topics into their curriculum, through providing background information, resources, or working with educators to create lesson plans on specific environmental topics.
Public Outreach Programs
Are you having an environmental fair? Celebrating Earth Day or Arbor Day or International Migratory Bird Day or Water Quality Month? Are you hosting a career fair and are looking for different careers to feature? Are you looking for a speaker to talk with your church, civic, or youth group on a particular environmental topic? Or looking for hands-on activities to engage youth about their local environment?
Education staff can come and host an interactive table at a fair or festival your school or group is hosting. They can come and talk about environmental careers, and occasionally, they can bring other DEC staff such as Environmental Conservation Police Officers to talk with youth about their environmental careers. Contact the Regional Environmental Educator at least two weeks in advance (the earlier the better as staff and time is limited).
For more information, contact the Regional Environmental Educator:
NYSDEC - R2
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
P: 718-482-6404
Email: [email protected] Please include "Public Programs" in the subject line.
DCEE, Bureau of Environmental Education, Region 2
1 Hunter's Point Plaza 47-40 21st St
Long Island City, NY 11101
