Education
DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment.
Caregiver Resources are available to parents, foster parents, grandparents, and other caregivers who now find themselves navigating remote learning from home. Educators can grab online lessons, online professional development opportunities, or just fun content to push out.
Educational Camps, Centers and Programs
- DEC Environmental Education Camps for kids ages 11 to 17
- Four environmental education centers with trails open year-round and three regional programs in Long Island, New York City and Central New York
- The Hunter Education Program offers a variety of classes on hunting, bowhunting, trapping, and waterfowl identification
- The Naturalist Intern program - A 10-12 week paid internship at one of DEC's environmental education centers
Resources and Training for Teachers
- Summer and winter week-long teacher institutes on different topics at the Five Rivers and Reinstein 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. - Educator Lesson Plans - DEC environmental educators have put together a fantastic collection of lesson plans to bring students out into nature and nature into classrooms. The lesson plans are grouped by age/grade and then topics, including: animals, recycling, and water.
- Nature Activities - collection of activities by DEC environmental educators for kids to print out and do while out exploring nature. They include scavengers hunts, nature journaling, outdoor bingo, animal activities, stewardship activities, and crafts.
- Conservationist for Kids - Distributed to all fourth grade classes in public schools. Information and activities to help kids connect to nature. Also available online
- 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 - National Archery in the Schools Program - provides quality instruction, information, and support for implementation of archery in physical education curriculums for grades 4-12.
- Annual poster contests New York students can show-off their environmentally-conscious art in one of DEC's annual poster contests - New York Recycles, Pollution Prevention, Arbor Day and more
Resources for Students
- Kids G.O. (Get Outside) - is a page where kids can learn about places they can visit to explore nature, learn about the Nature Activities, and find information about a variety of environmental topics and wildlife.
- Nature Activities - collection of activities by DEC environmental educators for kids to print out and do while out exploring nature. They include scavengers hunts, nature journaling, outdoor bingo, animal activities, stewardship activities, and crafts.
- For the best places to go to see New York State's wildlife, see Watchable Wildlife
New York students can show-off
their environmentally-conscious
art in one of DEC's annual poster
contests.
Programs for Adults
- Becoming an Outdoors-Woman - Three day workshops for women 18 years old and up to learn outdoor skills
Training and Certifications for Businesses
- Licensed Guide Program
- Pesticide Applicator/Technician Guidance
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation
More about Education:
- Conservationist for Kids - Conservationist for Kids is the nature and environment magazine for kids in New York State
- Caregiver, Parent, & Educator Resources While at Home - Resources Caregivers can use while youth are at home using distance learning.
- Teacher Information - DEC offers training for educators, and can provide printed materials to help guide lessons on environmental issues
- Kids GO (Get Outside) - Learn about and explore the environment, engage youth with the outside world, and explore nature with families, caregivers, and youth.
- 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.
- Summer Camps - Residential summer camp program in environmental education for 11-17 year olds, includes information on program descriptions and tentative schedules, and applications for employment at the camps and applications to send a child to camp.
- 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.
