Students explore wetland ecosystem. Columbia Land Conservancy staff work with parents, teachers, and other educators to help design and implement age-appropriate lesson plans that encourage students to explore, understand and appreciate the natural world.    These programs are offered free of charge to preschools, elementary, middle and high schools, day-care centers, and after school groups located throughout the county.  The programs take place in classrooms, on school grounds and in public conservation areas. The goals of these programs are to encourage curiosity and hands-on investigation of natural systems and to apply lessons learned in the field to real life.  The programs cover a wide variety of disciplines, including art, social studies and math, and can be tailored to help classes meet New York State curriculum goals. For example, participants can learn math skills by calculating the circumference and height of trees; how gravity affects water bodies by planning canoe trips based on Hudson River tide charts; engineering concepts and the physics of water flow by constructing beaver dams.  They can also learn about animal behavior, food webs and life cycles through plant identification and animal tracking. In addition to teaching students about natural systems and habitats, the Conservancy is also committed to educating youth about the importance of our local farming community.  The Conservancy believes that the combination of structured lesson plans and free time for discovery will help instill a long lasting appreciation and understanding of natural communities, ecosystems, and their associated landscapes with long-term benefits for future conservation efforts in Columbia County.  If you are interested in learning more about our programs with schools, contact Jenny Brinker at 518.392.5252, ext. 210 or by email at Jenny@clctrust.org.

Columbia Land Conservancy · P.O. Box 299 · 49 Main Street · Chatham, NY 12037 · (518) 392-5252