Education
DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment.
Educational Camps, Centers and Programs:
- DEC Environmental Education Camps for kids ages 12 to 17
- Four Environmental Education Centers open year-round with trails, exhibits and events
- The Nature Recreation Program offers fun and educational programs at DEC's Catskill and Adirondack campgrounds
- The Naturalist Intern program - A 10-12 week paid internship at one of DEC's environmental education camps.
Resources and Training for Teachers:
- Summer and winter week-long teacher institutes on different topics at the Five Rivers and Rogers EECs
- Workshops for educators (Project WILD, Project WET, and Project Learning Tree) and youth leaders
- Guided lessons and special programs from environmental educators at DEC's environmental education centers
Year-round outdoor activities at DEC's
four Environmental Education Centers are
fun and teach people about nature. - Teaching children about air pollution
- Conservationist for Kids - Distributed to all fourth grade classes in public schools. Information and activities to help kids connect to nature.
Also available online - DEC Outdoor Discovery - A biweekly family newsletter that encourages nature exploration and education
- Hudson River lesson plans - Interdisciplinary plans for grades 3 to 5 focusing on the Hudson River
- Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program - Students K-12 learn all about a species of waterfowl and then paint it
Resources for Schools:
- Green Schools - DEC can help your school recycle more, reduce waste, prevent pollution and save energy
Extensive lesson plans, outdoor events,
workshops and special programs help
educators teach about New York's
environment. - EAGLES School Program - Presentations by DEC environmental conservation officers on local and global environmental issues >
- Annual poster contests New York students can show-offtheir environmentally-conscious art in one of DEC's annual poster
contests.- New York Recycles, Pollution Prevention, Arbor Day and more - Find a nature center near you
Resources for Students:
- Links to environmental information on DEC's website and on other sites
- For the best places to go to see New York State's wildlife, see Watchable Wildlife
Programs for Adults:
-
New York students can show-off
their environmentally-conscious
art in one of DEC's annual poster
contests. - Becoming an Outdoors-Woman - Three day workshops for women 18 years old and up to learn outdoor skills
- Wildfire Academy - Training for firefighters and emergency response personnel
More about Education:
- Conservationist for Kids - Conservationist for Kids is the nature and environment magazine for kids in New York State
- Teacher Information - DEC offers training for educators, and can provide printed materials to help guide lessons on environmental issues
- Student Information - These resources will help students learn about their environment and make informed environmental decisions.
- Environmental Education Centers and Programs - NYSDEC's four Environmental Education Centers (EECs) and two education programs offer workshops, school programs, interpretive trails, exhibits, and family events.
- Environmental Education Camps - Residential summer camp program in environmental education for young New Yorkers, includes information on program descriptions and tentative schedules, and applications for employment at the camps and applications to send a child to camp.
- Nature Centers - Nature Centers sponsored by organizations other than DEC, listed by DEC region
- Green Schools - Schools across New York are recycling, reducing waste, saving energy, conserving resources, preventing runoff pollution and working to eliminate toxic materials. In addition to the long-range benefits of good environmental stewardship, green policies help schools provide healthier surroundings for their students and staff.
- Campground Education - Nature-based programs have been a part of the camping experience at several of DEC's Forest Preserve campgrounds.
- Becoming an Outdoors-Woman - This nationwide program provides women with information, encouragement and hands-on instruction in outdoor skills, such as fishing, rifle, shotgun, archery, deer and turkey hunting, outdoor photography, basic map and compass, camping, canoeing and kayaking, fish and game cooking, survival and identifying edible wild plants.
- Wildfire Academy - New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy
