New York City Environmental Education Program

DEC Region Two's professional environmental education staff offers a number of environmental programs throughout New York City. The four big programs are the After School Conservation Club (ASCC) program, the NYC Campership Diversity Program, a number of public outreach and school programs on environmental topics, and strong professional development programs for educators. Our goal is to increase environmental awareness to foster more informed decision-making and get youth out studying and enjoying their local environment.

After School Conservation Club

The After School Conservation (ASCC) is a partnership with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) and The After School Corporation (TASC) with the DEC. The mission of the ASCC program is to bring environmental education to and foster a sense of stewardship in inner-city elementary-aged children involved in after-school programs.

ASCC is set up as a two-part program: hands-on curriculum and a stewardship project. For the Fall 10-week session, students learn general environmental concepts such as what is conservation, what is a watershed, recycling, and using resources wisely. During this time, they also learn about and do a stewardship project focused on recycling and composting. During the Spring 10-week session, students focus on water and fish ecology, focusing on what is in their specific watershed, the anatomy of local fishes, and how humans impact the water ecosystems around New York City. The Spring stewardship project usually focuses on creating habitat for local pollinators, including creating a butterfly garden at their site.

For more information, contact the ASCC Coordinator:

Melani Baker
NYSDEC
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
P: 718-482-7386
Email: r2ed@gw.dec.state.ny.us Please include "ASCC" in the subject line.

NYC Camps Diversity Program

The Camps Diversity Program sponsors urban youth for a free week at one of DEC's summer camps (usually Camp DeBruce for 12-14 year olds and Pack Forest for 12 - 17 year olds depending on the week). Activities include fishing, canoeing, swimming, archery, bog exploration, and overnight camping trips. Participants are split into two groups: 12-14 years old and 15-17 years old. The program also incorporates pre-camp and post-camp activities to engage the youth in their environment, prepare them to attend the camp, and keep them enjoying nature after the week at camp has ended. Transportation is provided to and from the camps from a central location in New York City (usually around Central Park).

Some of the pre-camp activities included overnight campouts at New York City Parks (Orchard Beach, Salt Marsh Nature Center, and Alley Pond Park) and a Harbor Herons tour through the East River on a NYC Water Taxi. These events helped parents better understand what their children would be doing while at camp, allowed potential campers to meet each other so they would not feel so alone at camp, and gave the potential campers a glimpse of some of the activities they might do while at camp.

For more information, contact the New York City Camps Diversity Coordinator:

Jessica Perez
NYSDEC
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
P: 718-482-7387
Email: Camprshp@gw.dec.state.ny.us Please include "NYC Program" in the subject line.

Professional Development for Educators and Youth Leaders

Education staff offers 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 Science & Civics), and Project WET. These workshops range from three to six hours and usually have a nominal fee for refreshments. Each workshop showcases some of the activities in the activity guide, and, if time allows, participants will lead the rest in activity so they get a hands-on view of how the guide works. Workshops are offered all over the five Boroughs and can be arranged at a specific location if you have at least six guaranteed participants. To view a list of the upcoming workshops across New York State, please visit the Upcoming Workshops page.

For more information, contact the Regional Environmental Educator:

Betsy Ukeritis
NYSDEC
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
P: 718-482-6404
Email: r2ed@gw.dec.state.ny.us Please include "Professional Development" in the subject line.

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?

Education staff can come and host an inter-active 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 time is limited).

For more information, contact the Regional Environmental Educator:

Betsy Ukeritis
NYSDEC
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
P: 718-482-6404
Email: r2ed@gw.dec.state.ny.us Please include "Public Programs" in the subject line.