Environmental Education Centers and Programs
Free transportation grants are available for schools, afterschool programs, youth bureaus, and some non-profits working with youth to visit DEC's environmental education centers and fish hatcheries. For all details and qualifications of programs, visit NY's Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant program (leaves DEC website)
ECO K9 Demo at Reinstein Woods EE Center Fall Festival
DEC operates two fully staffed Environmental Education (EE) Centers and two EE Centers operated by Friends groups 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. Visit our Workshops for Educators page to learn about what programs we offer to educators. Public programs include evening and weekend walks and talks on natural history topics, as well as larger festivals.
Dr. Victor Reinstein Woods Preserve & Environmental Education Center (outside of Buffalo, NY) and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (outside of Albany, NY) are the two centers operated by DEC staff. Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne (Chenango County) is operated by the Friends of Rogers (leaves DEC website), and Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls (Dutchess County) is run by the Stony Kill Foundation (leaves DEC website). Both friends groups rely on memberships, donations, and grants to fund their programs, staff, and daily operations.
There are also three 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 Long Island (Region 1); New York City (Region 2); Western Adirondacks & Central NY (Regions 6, 7, & 8).
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 Centers and 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
- Western ADKs, Central NY, & Finger Lakes Environmental Education Program - Opportunities for educator professional development; environmental, conservation, and outdoor education for underserved populations; and working with teachers to create hands-on, nature-based programing for schools in the Lake Ontario, Western Adirondacks, Central New York, and Finger Lakes areas.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Environmental Education Intern Program - DEC's environmental education centers offer internships for people interested in environmental education, natural history, science education or other related fields.
