Outdoor Environmental Education Program Goes Virtual

To assist districts with bringing engaging science instruction to their students, the Western Suffolk BOCES Outdoor Environmental Education Program (OEEP) is offering many of its programs through virtual platforms. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the strict healthy and safety protocols in place, field trips that were once an integral part of instruction may not […]

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Marine Biology Focus of Weeklong Camp

During July 2020, the Outdoor Environmental Education Program successfully operated a weeklong day camp for high school students from across Long Island.  The camp was made possible by a generous grant from Avalon Nature Preserve based in Stony Brook. Through the program, students in grades 10-12 were exposed to the dynamic field of marine biology.  […]

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Middle Schoolers Build Submersible Vehicles

Middle school students from Central Islip and Islip spent part of their spring break designing and building fully functional and remotely operated submersible vehicles as they took part in the Outdoor Environmental Education Program’s Spring Break ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) After School and Spring Recess Science Institute. The vehicles were equipped with high-resolution color cameras that […]

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New Science Standards are Coming!

The NYS Board of Regents voted in January 2015 to adopt new K-12 science learning standards to replace the existing, 20-year-old standards. OEEP staff has been working with the NYS Education Department as part of the Science Education Consortium and now the Science Education Steering Committee to help create and implement these new standards. NYS […]

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Crazy Chemistry Included in New Summer Program

This year, Western Suffolk BOCES and SCOPE Educational Services created a new summer science enrichment program for more than 45 students in grades 2-5 at the Caleb Smith Outdoor Learning Lab (OLL). The sessions featured new, innovative lessons in forensic science, crazy chemistry, nature detectives, nature art and more! Students could attend an early morning […]

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Summer Science Camp Examines Marine Environs

In July, 17 high school students from Brentwood, North Babylon, Center Moriches, Bayport-Blue Point, Lindenhurst, and South Huntington school districts participated in a 5-day, 4-night intensive summer science camp, the Marine Science Enrichment Program (MSEP). Through fieldwork and hands-on lab investigations, students examined the abiotic and biotic factors of both north and south shore environments. […]

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The Skies Come Alive as Planetariums Re-Open

Planetariums in Middle Country and Longwood school districts have been brought back to full use thanks to a partnership with OEEP. Both districts can now provide exciting and relevant planetarium programs for their elementary classes and high school Earth Science courses. By maintaining the hardware and software and upgrading the planetariums’ capabilities, OEEP was able […]

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Mariculture Program Adds 200,000 Clams to Local Bays

Connetquot High School students scatter immature clams into Stony Brook Harbor. The students built rafts where the clams grew free from predators over the summer. Once in the local estuaries, the clams will continue to grow so residents and fishermen can enjoy them next summer and they can help filter the bay waters. Two groups […]

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