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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has added a link to a translation service developed by Microsoft Inc., entitled Bing Translator, as a convenience to visitors to the DEC website who speak languages other than English.

Additional information can be found at DEC's Language Assistance Page.

Education

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DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment.

Educational Camps, Centers and Programs:

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
    Adults and children holding bug nets in a meadow
    Year-round outdoor activities at DEC's
    four Environmental Education Centers are
    fun and teach people about nature.
  • Teaching children about air pollution
  • 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
  • DEC Outdoor Discovery - monthly electronic newsletter, where you will find valuable information to help you explore the outdoors and the recreational opportunities available in all areas of New York State.
  • 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
    School children gather around a young girl holding a crab
    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
  • 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
  • Find a nature center near you

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.
  • College Student Internships for Pollution Prevention - top engineering and science students introduced to New York businesses
  • 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
New York Recycles poster contest winner
New York students can show-off
their environmentally-conscious
art in one of DEC's annual poster
contests.

Programs for Adults:


More about Education:

  • Teacher Information - DEC offers training for educators, and can provide printed materials to help guide lessons on environmental issues
  • Kids GO (Get Outside) - 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.
  • 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.