Outdoor and Environmental Education

Outdoor & Environmental Education Center at Caumsett State Historic Park

Nassau BOCES has utilized Caumsett State Historic Park for its Outdoor and Environmental Education Program since 1976. The 1600 acres encompass a unique combination of diverse natural habitats: fields, forests, pond, salt marsh and seashore.

Once the estate of Marshall Field, III, Caumsett retains many of its historic buildings. The former "summer cottage" is now the site of the BOCES Environmental Center and also acts as dormitory housing for overnight groups.

Because of the many habitats found at Caumsett, environmentally based programs are a natural "fit", however adventure education activities are available as well. The list below represents current offerings but teachers and administrators should be aware that we can design a program to meet the district's curricular needs.

Programs

Ecology
Adventure Education
Other Programs and Seasonal Activities
Overnight Resident Programs
 

See how these programs meet the New York State Learning Standards.

Ecology:

Our ecology programs stress the interrelatedness and delicate balance that exist among the living and non-living components unique to each community. Suggestions for concept emphasis include plant and animal adaptations, seasonal changes, the impact of humans on the environment, measurement skills and microclimates.

• Salt Marsh Ecology
• Forest Ecology
• Seashore Ecology
• Pond Ecology
• Field Succession

Insects:

This study will emphasize the many structural adaptations of insects that enable them to survive in the natural world. The program stresses observation and experimentation without harm to the insects or their habitat.

Geology:

The geological composition of Long Island's North Shore beach is explored, with emphasis on the masses of clay, sand, gravel, rock and boulders left by glacial movement.

Weather & Environmental Conditions:

Through simple measurement and experimentation, students are be given the basic tools to interpret the atmosphere and its effect upon local weather.

Transect Studies:

Students learn about the micro-habitats right under their feet! This activity can be adapted to the communities of the seashore, salt marsh, field or forest.

Field Science Labs:

Students follow the scientific method to explore the varied habitats of Caumsett. In these curriculum-based field studies, students utilize scientific equipment and follow specific procedures in order to reach their conclusions.

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Adventure Education Activities

Orienteering I and II:

Students are taught to use a compass and to calculate distances through pacing. Employing these skills, they maneuver through one of Caumsett's orienteering courses. In the advanced course, students are introduced to the application of a compass to a topographic map and challenged to find their way throughout the park. GPS units may also be introduced as a part of the advanced course.

GPS, Geocaching and Earthcaching

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites used to locate any position on Earth using a "GPS" receiver. Originally developed for the military, it has applications in navigation, surveying, exploring, biologic and geologic monitoring, mining, building and of course...education! The program provides your students with the necessary skills and experience with hand-held units to navigate their way on a course.

Geocaching: Players use GPS receivers to track down a container, or cache. Caches may contain any number of small items, or they may only contain a logbook for players to sign to mark their find. This can be an exciting extension to your student program!

Earthcaching: Take your students on a geology treasure hunt! Earthcaching takes “geocaching” to a higher educational level. The “Caches” are geologic formations that must be documented by answering questions unique to that feature.

Survival:

Group cooperation and resourcefulness are key elements in developing the basic skills in this activity, including: shelter construction, signaling and rescue techniques, basic first-aid, weather and environmental conditions and the acquisition of food and water.

All-Day Survival:

This program combines Orienteering II (cross-country orienteering using a topographical map and compass) with developing basic survival skills such as shelter building, wild edible identification, wilderness first aid and solar still construction.

Food and Fire:

Students  practice the skills Early Americans used to prepare, build and start fires for outdoor cooking. They also participate in cooking simple Early American food over an open fire. This can include bread, teas and/or other wild edibles.

Canoe Program (Spring and Fall only):

This activity introduces students to the protected waterway of Lloyd Harbor. Basic canoeing techniques, along with marine and estuarine ecology are a part of this experience.
 

Low Challenge Course- New Games, Initiatives
and Low Elements:

Groups move through a series of hands-on activities designed to
develop communication, cooperation, trust, and problem-solving skills in an atmosphere of safety, respect, and fun. Participants are guided in making connections between these activities and "real-life" situations. Teachers report a positive impact on classroom climate, student performance, and interpersonal dynamics when these activities are reinforced in the
classroom.  

See our Links pages for a collection of resources related to challenge activities

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Other Programs and Special Seasonal Activities

Creative Interpreters:

The outdoors has been the inspiration for many of our great writers, artists and musicians. This program enables students to tap into their own creative energies and to learn to express them in an artistic form.

Exploring Caumsett's Past:

Students explore Caumsett State Park in search of evidence of man's past life-styles and land uses. A visit to the remains of a homestead foundation can be included in the program.

Archaeology:

Archaeological field methods are used to explore the ruins of an old house on Caumsett's grounds. Found objects are tagged and added to Caumsett's growing display.

Winter Programs:

During the winter months, the 1,600 acres of field, forest and shores reveal that they are a place for all seasons. The following programs have been designed to support classroom curriculum and familiarize the student with the many wonders of the winter world.

• Winter Explorers: The class forms a winter search party to find out where the plants and animals go during the winter months and to examine how the animals and plants adapt to the cold weather environment.
   
• Tracks and Traces: By observing the tracks and traces of winter wildlife, students sharpen their observation and identification skills.
   
• Winter Communities: This program is designed to give students an opportunity to participate in an in-depth study of the ecological communities found at Caumsett. Communities include those found in field, forest, pond and seashore.
   
• Winter Survival: By examining the many facets of cold weather survival, students compare and contrast human's needs to the needs of other animals in a cold weather environment. This hands-on, problem-solving experience includes analysis of environmental conditions, adaptations for winter and winter survival techniques.
   
• Maple Sugaring: Students learn how to identify maple trees and have a hands-on experience in making a spile, tapping the tree, boiling down the accumulated sap and sampling "homemade" maple syrup.

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Contact:

Carolann James, Supervisor
cjames@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (516) 396-2264
Fax: (516) 333-6432

Bill Monahan, Program Specialist and site director
bmonahan@mail.nasboces.org
Phone: (631) 549-0071