Explore artifacts of another era at a historical home.
Field trips are often a highlight of the school year at any grade level. Whether the purpose is to augment classroom curriculum, try something new, explore local assets or even just to have fun, kids love getting away from school once in a while to experience a different kind of learning. The best options for field trips in Long Island include a wide range of museums, historical homes, nature preserves and beaches.
Museums
Museums are an old favorite for class field trips, and for good reason: museums are specifically designed to educate and engage curious minds, and most midsized or large museums have specialized programs for various age groups and curricular units. Long Island has a huge variety of well-established museums, such as the African American Museum in Hempstead, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor, the Goudreau Museum of Mathematics in Art & Science in New Hyde Park, and the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville.
Historic Homes and Buildings
Explore the past by visiting a historic home. Learn about life in the 18th Century at the Henry Lloyd Manor House, a 3,000-acre estate that includes an antique saltbox home and attached lean-tos to educate students about life in early colonial times. Visit the Sands-Willets House in Port Washington, a home built in 1735 and now maintained as a museum with 11 fully furnished rooms, a Colonial-style kitchen and a Greek Revival addition. Or visit the Stony Brook Grist Mill, a restored structure in Stony Brook that now functions as a working grist mill, much as it did when it was constructed in the 1700s.
Nature and Wildlife
Nature centers offer you a chance to expand your science curriculum with some hands-on learning. Clark Botanic Garden has over 1,000 trees, shrubs and garden plants to learn about. Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium has "the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fish and amphibians," according to its website. Feed fish and view marine creatures up close at the eight outdoor ponds, or try some fishing on the grounds. The Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown is a 54-acre preserve with natural science exhibits designed especially for schoolchildren, and live animals endemic to the region on display.
The Great Outdoors
For a less structured field trip, consider an excursion to one of Long Island's parks or public beaches. One of the best places for outdoor learning in Long Island is Fire Island National Seashore, with its crashing surf, tidal pools, beach grasses, seashells and marine life. Another great place for exploring the flora and fauna is Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island.
Tags: Long Island, Cold Spring, Cold Spring Harbor, Spring Harbor, about life, field trips, Stony Brook
