Learn

COASTAL CLASSROOM

Our program invites middle school students to become actively involved in our marine ecosystem with hands-on learning in parks along the New York City waterfront. Participants will learn about everything from water ecology to quality, urban waterfront restoration to preservation, sparking excitement and passion for conserving our coasts and waterways.

Coastal Classroom Summer Groups Program

5th – 8th Grade Student Groups
July – August
Hallet’s Cove Socrates / Socrates Sculpture Park
Long Island City
Low Cost

Our four-week Coastal Classroom Summer Groups program brings groups of up to 25 youth from local summer camp programs to the New York City shoreline at Hallet’s Cove in Long Island City and connects them to the life found in and around our local waterways. Science-based activities coupled with recreational opportunities such as rowing and fishing allow students to experience our waterways as their own backyards and to learn how to protect them.

For more information, contact Chrissy Word, Director of Education; cword@cityparksfoundation.org.

Coastal Classroom After School

For 5th to 8th grade students at select schools across New York City
Begins the week of March 4, 2024
Free

Locations:

  • Conference House Park – IS3, 528 Academy Ave, Staten Island, NY 103074 
    • Start Date: March 4th
  • Inwood Hill Park – PS52, 650 Academy St, New York, NY 10034
    • Start Date: March 5th
  • Kaiser Park – PS288, 2950 W 25th St, Brooklyn, NY 11224
    • Start Date: March 6th
  • Bushwick Inlet Park – PS84, 250 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
    • Start Date: March 7th

*Please note: only students who attend these schools are eligible for the program. 

The Coastal Classroom After School Program is designed to support middle school students to create meaningful relationships with their waterfront parks. Using site-specific, inquiry-based lessons and authentic learning experiences in their own communities, students will participate in fun hands-on exploratory activities such as data collection on shoreline creatures, fishing, and rowing/canoeing. They will build their curiosity for the natural environment and develop knowledge and skills in science with a focus on coastal ecology, water quality, urban waterfront restoration, and preservation.

For more information, contact Luis Gonzalez, Associate Director of Environmental Education; lgonzalez@cityparksfoundation.org.

Coastal Classroom Summer Institute

5th – 8th Graders
July – August, Monday through Thursday from 9AM – 3PM (Begins July 8)
Kaiser Park, 2529 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Free

Our five-week program offers lessons to middle school students during the summer in our city’s waterways. Science-based activities coupled with recreational opportunities such as rowing, fishing, seining and bird watching allow students to experience our waterways as their own backyards and to learn how to protect them.

For more information, contact Safiya Sabir at ssabir@cityparksfoundation.org.

APPLY NOW

Intern with Coastal Classroom!

Calling high school and college students! Every year, we seek out enthusiastic students looking to gain hands-on experience working with youth and explore environmental science education.

Learn more / Apply now

Generous private support for CityParks Coastal Classroom is provided by The Pinkerton Foundation, The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, the Guru Krupa Foundation, Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, The Linda B. and Howard S. Stern Family Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust. Public support is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, with special thanks to Council Member Joseph Borelli and Council Member Ari Kagan.

In partnership with NYC Parks.

NYC Parks logo

Don’t miss out on registration for our free environmental education programs in your local park

Don’t miss out on registration for our free environmental education programs in your local park

SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL

SUPPORT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation, our mission is to encourage New Yorkers to use their neighborhood parks by offering free environmental education, arts, sports, and community-building programs that bring people into their local green spaces. Please give now if you can—we know that city parks will continue to thrive when all New Yorkers get involved.

Skip to content