Environmental Education Programs
DEC operates four fully staffed Environmental Education Centers offering classes and programs on environmental awareness around New York State. Each center has interpretive trails, exhibit areas, and meeting rooms and offers family events all year round. Classes for students include guided field trips through diverse habitats. Workshops for teachers provide opportunities for professional growth, and internships are available for people interested in pursuing careers in natural history or related fields. Public programs include evening and weekend walks and talks on natural history topics, as well as large festivals.
DEC has four environmental education centers
it operates throughout New York State
Dr. Victor Reinstein Woods Preserve (outside of Buffalo, NY), Rogers Environmental Education Center (Sherburne, NY), Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (outside of Albany, NY), and Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Wappingers Falls, NY) are the four centers operated by DEC staff.
There are also two regional environmental education programs that offer professional development for educators, in-class and after-school programs on the environment, and public environmental education programs at fairs and festivals. The regional programs are located in DEC Region 1 - Long Island and DEC Region 2 - New York City.
The Hudson River Estuary Program also has an education and interpretation unit that focuses on Hudson River lessons and exploring the Hudson River Estuary. Their programs can be viewed on the Hudson River Estuary Program Education and Interpretation page.
More about Environmental Education Programs:
- Environmental Education on Long Island - Environmental education programs offered in NYSDEC's Region 1: Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
- New York City Environmental Education Program - Environmental Education opportunities in the New York City area
- Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center - This center operates as a working farm, offers hands-on classes for students to learn about their surroundings, and offers self-guided opportunities throughout its 1000+ acres.
- Five Rivers Environmental Education Center - This center offers hands-on classes for students to learn about their surroundings as well as self-guided opportunities throughout its 400+ acres.
- Rogers Environmental Education Center - This center's 600 acres offer a variety of habitats for the walker, bird watcher, photographer, snowshoer, or cross-country skier.
- Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center - Located in Western New York, this nature preserve features self-guided trails, a variety of exciting educational programs for all ages, and a brand new environmental education center "green" building.
- Environmental Education Centers' Newsletters - Archived and current issues of the 5 Rivers Tributary, the Rogers Center Journal, the Stony Kill Almanac, and Reinstein Woods Lily Pad.
- Naturalist Intern Program - Three Environmental Education Centers offer 12-week internships for people interested in natural history, science education or other related fields.
- AmeriCorps Members in DEC - AmeriCorps positions within DEC: SCA Hudson Valley Program, SCA Adirondacks Program, Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps, and West Seneca Service Action Corps.
