Ecosystem Explorations for K-12 students

Field Trips > Schoolyard Programs > Afterschool Programs

Cary Institute educators would like to engage your students in the world of ecology! Participate in one of our field ecology programs located at our 2,000 acre ecological research site or have one of our educators bring our programs to your classroom or schoolyard. All of our programs promote outdoor, scientifically valid, educational experiences for K-12 students, scout troops and other groups. Each program was developed to support New York State Learning Standards (click here for a detailed description) and can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Pre- and post-visit lessons for each program are available.

Program Descriptions

Field Trips:

Pre- and post visits by a Cary Educator are available for all field programs. Each pre- and post- visit is 40 minutes long. $50 for the first class; $25 each additional class on the same day. Schools further than 20 miles from the Cary Institute will be charged .55 a mile to help cover travel costs.

Ecosystem Discovery Walk

Grades K-2
1.5 hours

Younger students are challenged to use all of their senses to discover their local landscape through a guided walk on our trails. Students will also participate in mini-investigations that use their natural curiosity to explore basic ecosystem concepts such as food and interaction webs and the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.

Up to 30 students: $75
30 – 60 students: 100
There is a maximum of 60 students per visit.

Water Life – The Ecology of Aquatic Ecosystems

Grades 3-12
2.5 hours

Learn about the web of life in our local creeks and rivers by observing and identifying some of the smallest of critters – macroinvertebrates! These small aquatic invertebrates are used as indicators of water quality and play an important role in the stream food web. Students will participate in ecological research as they collect, identify, and then compare these organisms from two sections of Wappinger Creek.

Up to 30 students: $100
30 – 60 students: $200
There is a maximum of 60 students per visit.

Water on the Move: Exploring the Local Water Cycle

Grades 3-12
2.5 hours

The local water cycle comes to life on our trails as students participate in mini-investigations that include stops along our creeks, wetlands, and forests. Our educators use watershed models and groundwater wells to illustrate the sources of our drinking water and the impacts that humans have on this valuable resource.

Up to 30 students: $100
30 – 60 students: $200
There is a maximum of 60 students per visit.

Schoolyard Programs:

1 class – 45 minute program: $100; $50 each additional class on the same day
1 class – 90 minute program : $150; $75 each additional class on the same day

Visits further then 20 miles from the Cary Institute will be charged .55 a mile to help cover travel costs
Pre and post program material can be provided to the teacher upon request.

Schoolyard Ecosystem Explorations

Grades K-12

At the Cary Institute we believe every place is an ecosystem. This program allows students to explore and investigate an ecosystem that means a lot to them – their schoolyard! Cary educators visit your classroom to introduce and set up an inquiry based project that compliments your curriculum, individual schoolyard, and time constraints. Popular topics include schoolyard ecosystem discovery walks for younger students and investigations of food webs, biodiversity, phenology and microbes for older students.

Investigating Your Schoolyard Water Cycle

Grades 3-12

When we think about the water cycle, most of us think of a diagram with arrows moving from alpine peaks into the big, blue ocean. Unless we live in such a place, this idealized diagram does not teach us where our water comes from, or what happens to rain that falls on our neighborhoods. In this program, the local water cycle goes beyond evaporation and condensation to become local and significant as students participate in mini water investigations in their schoolyard that illustrate the many pathways of water in your local neighborhood.

High School Eco-Talks

Grades 9-12

Make science more accessible by inviting a Cary educator to discuss real-life challenges that are currently being addressed in the field of Ecology. Our educators will speak on current research conducted by Cary Institute scientists in the local region. Choose from one of the following Eco-talk topics: Invasives in the Hudson, The Ecology of Lyme Disease, and Climate Change and the Hudson Valley. Depending on the topic chosen, students may have the opportunity to Skype with a Cary researcher for a short question and answer session at the end of the program.

Afterschool Programs:

Investigating your Local Water Cycle and Water Life

Grades 4-12

Cary Educators are available to lead smaller groups of students in after school ecology enrichment programs. Afterschool programs allow students to take receive a more in depth understanding of topics covered in our schoolyard and field trip programs. These visits expand on our Water Life and Investigating your Schoolyard Water Cycle programs. These programs can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Please contact us for more information.

Fees for Afterschool Programs:
4 week session - $200
6 week session - $300

Each session meets once a week for 1.5 hours. A minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 12 students must participate in each session.

Questions about our Fees and Registration?
Please contact Jen Rubbo at rubboj@caryinstitute.org or call 845-677-7600 x 303

Cancellations
Most of our programs are held rain or shine, but if weather is particularly bad, we will make an effort to reschedule. We reserve the right to cancel or continue programs in inclement weather. Please call (845) 677-7600 ext. 303 to verify our decision.

Buses and Parking
All field trips to the Cary Institute meet in the parking lot at the Gifford House, on Route 44 in Millbrook, NY – click here to view campus map. Please note that this location is a short drive northwest of our main campus.

Directions >>

To Register
These programs are led by Cary Institute Educators Jennifer Rubbo and Celia Cuomo. To register for programs or for more information about program content, please contact Jen at (845) 677-7600 ext. 303 or via e-mail.

* All of the Cary Institute Education Programs are part of our Ecological Literacy Program. We are currently conducting educational research in student learning. All programs may be subject to pre and post assessments that will be used in our research efforts.