At the Huyck Preserve, research-based environmental education is an integral part of our mission, and, as one of the nation's original biological research stations, we are uniquely specialized for such hands-on scientific teaching. Typical programs use our lands and waters as outdoor laboratories for science and exploration lessons aligned to current New York State Science Standards. Through immersion in nature and the scientific process, we bring classroom lessons to life.
Our most popular lessons focus on aquatic and terrestrial ecology, forest health, food webs, and invasive species biology. All of our programs can be tailored to your class' age group, learning level, and curricular objectives. We will also work with you to design a new program to meet your needs. Typical field trips include an inside lesson on the topic of the day, outdoor field work or exploration, data interpretation when applicable, time for lunch, and a guided hike.
For interested groups traveling longer distances, On-site housing is available for overnight visits, and we also offer classrooms and meeting spaces to accommodate your own programs. We welcome student groups of all ages - elementary, high school, and college - to come spend a day or night immersed in nature at our field station.
Most programs cost $7 per student or a minimum of $150 unless otherwise noted.
Our most popular lessons focus on aquatic and terrestrial ecology, forest health, food webs, and invasive species biology. All of our programs can be tailored to your class' age group, learning level, and curricular objectives. We will also work with you to design a new program to meet your needs. Typical field trips include an inside lesson on the topic of the day, outdoor field work or exploration, data interpretation when applicable, time for lunch, and a guided hike.
For interested groups traveling longer distances, On-site housing is available for overnight visits, and we also offer classrooms and meeting spaces to accommodate your own programs. We welcome student groups of all ages - elementary, high school, and college - to come spend a day or night immersed in nature at our field station.
Most programs cost $7 per student or a minimum of $150 unless otherwise noted.
If you are interested in scheduling a program, please download the Program Request form using the button below, complete it, and send it to [email protected]. Have questions about programming options or don't know where to start? Let us know!
Most field lessons run 2-3 hours. Add a no-cost hike and stay for a picnic lunch to round out the day. A full-day visit typically runs from 9:30 am-1:30 pm.
Most field lessons run 2-3 hours. Add a no-cost hike and stay for a picnic lunch to round out the day. A full-day visit typically runs from 9:30 am-1:30 pm.

Science Through Nature Exploration
These lessons, geared to our youngest classes, have students learning about the environment through fun, hands-on interactions with nature. Students learn about what plants and animals need to survive, how their survival requirements determine where they live, how they interact with their environment and each other, and how humans impact living and nonliving components of the ecosystem. The focus of these lessons can be terrestrial with forest exploration and/or aquatic with pond or stream exploration depending on interest and season. Examples of focus areas:
Pond's edge and forest scavenger hunt - What creatures are lurking within arm's reach of the pond edge? Students are always amazed to find amphibians, fish, insects and other invertebrates that they didn't know existed under the water's surface. Ready to stay dry? Head into the woods to test students' observation skills along the trail while talking about all the amazing plant and animal life we see!
We Love Trees! - Get to know trees and their leaves. An introduction to tree identification that includes a hike and an indoor component. Activities can include a game of leaf bingo, leaf collection and matching with easy-to-use identification cards, and leaf rubbings to create a momento to remember the day.
Decomposer scavenger hunt - Who is hiding under the leaves and logs? Find out in a nature lover's version of hide and seek! Why are they there, and why are they so important to the ecosystem?
LS1.C, LS2.A, LS4.D, ESS3.A
Programs geared to grades K-2
Offered in fall or spring
These lessons, geared to our youngest classes, have students learning about the environment through fun, hands-on interactions with nature. Students learn about what plants and animals need to survive, how their survival requirements determine where they live, how they interact with their environment and each other, and how humans impact living and nonliving components of the ecosystem. The focus of these lessons can be terrestrial with forest exploration and/or aquatic with pond or stream exploration depending on interest and season. Examples of focus areas:
Pond's edge and forest scavenger hunt - What creatures are lurking within arm's reach of the pond edge? Students are always amazed to find amphibians, fish, insects and other invertebrates that they didn't know existed under the water's surface. Ready to stay dry? Head into the woods to test students' observation skills along the trail while talking about all the amazing plant and animal life we see!
We Love Trees! - Get to know trees and their leaves. An introduction to tree identification that includes a hike and an indoor component. Activities can include a game of leaf bingo, leaf collection and matching with easy-to-use identification cards, and leaf rubbings to create a momento to remember the day.
Decomposer scavenger hunt - Who is hiding under the leaves and logs? Find out in a nature lover's version of hide and seek! Why are they there, and why are they so important to the ecosystem?
LS1.C, LS2.A, LS4.D, ESS3.A
Programs geared to grades K-2
Offered in fall or spring
Field Research Methods in Aquatic Ecology

Aquatic ecology and invasive biology
Classes survey streams in the Lake Myosotis watershed to examine population changes in the invasive rusty crayfish and the impact this species is having on native species. Students learn how to identify crayfish species and proper collection techniques. They become experts in the concept of habitats and begin to understand invasive species as a form of environmental change affecting other organisms. This program introduces concepts of aquatic ecology, invasive biology, habitats, and organism structure and function. Data collected by students will be used to assist Preserve scientists as they determine where to focus their conservation efforts of native species.
LS2.C, LS4.C, LS4.D, LS1.A
Program geared towards grades 3-4
Offered in May-June
Classes survey streams in the Lake Myosotis watershed to examine population changes in the invasive rusty crayfish and the impact this species is having on native species. Students learn how to identify crayfish species and proper collection techniques. They become experts in the concept of habitats and begin to understand invasive species as a form of environmental change affecting other organisms. This program introduces concepts of aquatic ecology, invasive biology, habitats, and organism structure and function. Data collected by students will be used to assist Preserve scientists as they determine where to focus their conservation efforts of native species.
LS2.C, LS4.C, LS4.D, LS1.A
Program geared towards grades 3-4
Offered in May-June

Macroinvertebrates and water quality
Students learn how to identify macroinvertebrates in the ponds and streams around the Preserve, and to understand how some species can be indicators of water quality. This program introduces concepts of aquatic ecology, food webs, species identification, insect ecology and metamorphosis, and water quality while students learn to dip net in streams or ponds. This program is an introduction to aquatic habitats and the role of humans.
LS2.A
Program geared towards grade 5
Offered May - June
Aquatic ecosystem health
This lesson is a more intense look at the factors contributing to aquatic ecosystem health. It includes an introduction to the concept of a watershed and has students assessing stream quality through measurement of biotic (aquatic macroinvertebrate) and physical parameters. Students use basic math to calculate biotic indices to understand what their sampling means to water quality.
LS2.C, LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared to high school Living Environment
Offered May - June
Students learn how to identify macroinvertebrates in the ponds and streams around the Preserve, and to understand how some species can be indicators of water quality. This program introduces concepts of aquatic ecology, food webs, species identification, insect ecology and metamorphosis, and water quality while students learn to dip net in streams or ponds. This program is an introduction to aquatic habitats and the role of humans.
LS2.A
Program geared towards grade 5
Offered May - June
Aquatic ecosystem health
This lesson is a more intense look at the factors contributing to aquatic ecosystem health. It includes an introduction to the concept of a watershed and has students assessing stream quality through measurement of biotic (aquatic macroinvertebrate) and physical parameters. Students use basic math to calculate biotic indices to understand what their sampling means to water quality.
LS2.C, LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared to high school Living Environment
Offered May - June
Field Research Methods in Terrestrial Ecology

Decomposers - Nature's Clean-up Crew
Ideal for fifth grade, this program introduces the concept of food chains and food webs and focuses on the unsung heroes of ecosystem ecology, the decomposers. After a brief introduction, the day is focused on identifying decomposers on and around fallen logs, as well as under leaves, using simple but authentic field methods. After lunch, a review of the data leads to a discussion of the important role that dead plant material plays in the forest and the enormous contribution of decomposers to food webs. We continue to look for decomposers and other food web components as we end the day with a hike.
LS2.A
Program geared towards grades 3-7
Offered fall and spring
Ideal for fifth grade, this program introduces the concept of food chains and food webs and focuses on the unsung heroes of ecosystem ecology, the decomposers. After a brief introduction, the day is focused on identifying decomposers on and around fallen logs, as well as under leaves, using simple but authentic field methods. After lunch, a review of the data leads to a discussion of the important role that dead plant material plays in the forest and the enormous contribution of decomposers to food webs. We continue to look for decomposers and other food web components as we end the day with a hike.
LS2.A
Program geared towards grades 3-7
Offered fall and spring
Forest Health
Focused on community or ecosystem ecology and adaptable to seventh grade and high school-level classes, this program teaches the valuable roles that forests play. Students measure different variables to begin to understand how to determine forest health. They get a refresher on coniferous and deciduous trees, learn how to assess a tree's health, inventory understory and canopy trees, learn about the value of dead wood in a forest ecosystem, and more! Students play an active role in their data analysis and interpretation. The day ends with a hike to a different area of the Preserve to reinforce forest health concepts and see some of the forest health issues in our forests up-close.
LS2.C, LS4.D
Program geared towards grade 7 and high school
Offered fall, winter, and spring
Focused on community or ecosystem ecology and adaptable to seventh grade and high school-level classes, this program teaches the valuable roles that forests play. Students measure different variables to begin to understand how to determine forest health. They get a refresher on coniferous and deciduous trees, learn how to assess a tree's health, inventory understory and canopy trees, learn about the value of dead wood in a forest ecosystem, and more! Students play an active role in their data analysis and interpretation. The day ends with a hike to a different area of the Preserve to reinforce forest health concepts and see some of the forest health issues in our forests up-close.
LS2.C, LS4.D
Program geared towards grade 7 and high school
Offered fall, winter, and spring
Humans on the Land - Landuse and Ecological Succession
A variation of our forest health lesson focused on the role of human landuse (farming and forest planting) on the forests we see today. Students inventory two forest types and hike through a range of habitat types to see forest succession up-close.
LS2.C, LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared toward high school Living Environment
Offered spring
A variation of our forest health lesson focused on the role of human landuse (farming and forest planting) on the forests we see today. Students inventory two forest types and hike through a range of habitat types to see forest succession up-close.
LS2.C, LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared toward high school Living Environment
Offered spring
What's Bugging the Trees?
Students learn about the forest insect pests threatening New York's trees and forest ecosystems. Includes an introduction of the tree and insect species and a field lesson on how to monitor for these species and assess damage.
LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared towards advanced science students - upper-level high school or undergraduate
Offered fall, winter, and spring
Students learn about the forest insect pests threatening New York's trees and forest ecosystems. Includes an introduction of the tree and insect species and a field lesson on how to monitor for these species and assess damage.
LS4.D, ESS3.C
Program geared towards advanced science students - upper-level high school or undergraduate
Offered fall, winter, and spring

Comparative Structure and Function
A lesson introduced in spring 2019, this trip looks at the plants and animals of the Huyck Preserve (and beyond) in a fresh, new way! Students visit a variety of stations at the Eldridge Research Center to learn about adaptations and to understand how structures give species advantages in survival, growth, and reproduction. Includes a close-up exploration of the Preserve's skull and bone collection, a scavenger hunt around the research center lawn to look for special structures in plants, a fun activity to understand the role of camouflage in survival, and time for students to transform into feeding birds to explore different beak shapes. This trip includes a visit with wildlife rehabilitator, Kelly Martin, and her animals for an additional fee.
LS1.A
Program specially created for grade 4
Offered fall or spring
A lesson introduced in spring 2019, this trip looks at the plants and animals of the Huyck Preserve (and beyond) in a fresh, new way! Students visit a variety of stations at the Eldridge Research Center to learn about adaptations and to understand how structures give species advantages in survival, growth, and reproduction. Includes a close-up exploration of the Preserve's skull and bone collection, a scavenger hunt around the research center lawn to look for special structures in plants, a fun activity to understand the role of camouflage in survival, and time for students to transform into feeding birds to explore different beak shapes. This trip includes a visit with wildlife rehabilitator, Kelly Martin, and her animals for an additional fee.
LS1.A
Program specially created for grade 4
Offered fall or spring
Native Wildlife Demonstrations Led by Local Wildlife Rehabilitator
Kelly Martin, President of the New York Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators gives students a close-up look at New York's native species. Students will have the opportunity to learn to identify some of New York's common and rare wildlife, ask questions about their lives in the wild, and learn about animal rehabilitation. Kelly's animals are non-releasable education animals which provide a unique opportunity to see wildlife up close.
Cost: $150 flat fee for a 1-2 hour program. Schools visiting on multiple days may be eligible for a discounted animal program cost. If done in conjunction with another Huyck Preserve lesson, this wildlife lesson fee is in addition to the $7 per student field trip fee. Please inquire about the total cost for your group. |
Guided Hikes on Huyck Preserve Trails (Year-round)

Hike the Huyck and learn about the natural history of our area. An excellent addition to an aquatic or terrestrial ecology program, students will have the opportunity to traverse through a multitude of habitat types from early successional forest to old growth hemlock stands and beaver constructed wetlands.
Hikes are tailored by age group for content and physical ability, and can be booked alone or as an addition to another program.
Cost: Starting at $7/student for 1-2 hour hike
Minimum cost as stand-alone event: $100
Hikes are tailored by age group for content and physical ability, and can be booked alone or as an addition to another program.
Cost: Starting at $7/student for 1-2 hour hike
Minimum cost as stand-alone event: $100
Transportation Funding
When possible, we facilitate vists by economically disadvantaged rural and urban public schools in the greater Capital District region through our transportation reimbursement program. To apply for funding, please download the form below and email the completed form to [email protected]. Requests must be made prior to the field trip. Please note that, depending on available funds, requests may be funded in-part or in-full. A final invoice from your transportation department reflecting actual trip expenses is required before reimbursement can occur.
Support for our 2024 education program comes from the following: