Program Overview
Our programs are designed to support student learning of scientific concepts, skills, and practices. Students will get experience asking questions, making predictions, collecting observations and data, and drawing conclusions based on the data and their experience - all key ingredients for cultivating a curious, critical, and creative mind. Whether you are an educator interested in field trips directly connected to New York State Science Standards, or if you’re looking for more of an experiential outdoor experience, we have a program for you! Art & Science: Upon request, for most programs there are options to enrich student understanding with creative observational practices like sketching, watercolor, and/or reflective writing.
Interested in scheduling a trip? After reviewing the program offerings below, please complete this Cary Field Trip Interest Form. We will do our best to accommodate your request for the Spring 2025 season, though dates fill up quickly. Since we are based in Millbrook, New York, we prioritize serving the local school systems of Dutchess County. Please submit your requests by March 1, 2025.
If you’re interested in having Cary Educators visit your school, we also offer Schoolyard Ecology Programs. Schoolyard Ecology Programs are primarily scheduled for the fall with limited availability in the spring.
Early Elementary (Grades K-2)
These programs are designed to be 1.5-2 hours long, and the focus is on making observations, asking and exploring questions, and building confidence and comfort in the outdoors.
Eco-Discovery Walk Younger students are challenged to use all of their senses to discover their local environment through a guided walk on our trails. Students can also participate in mini investigations that use their natural curiosity to explore basic ecosystem concepts.
Life in the Meadow Explore the rich biodiversity of the meadow ecosystem. Students practice skills in observation, categorizing physical features, and noticing amazing adaptations of the rich array of insects and plants.
A Bird's Eye View Investigate what birds and other animals need to survive - food, water, shelter, space...and just the right mix of all these things in meadow, forest, and stream ecosystems.
Lift a Log Learn about a hidden, complex world we often do not see. Under logs of the forest, fascinating life exists, waiting to be discovered.
Upper Elementary (Grades 3-5)
These programs are designed to be 2.5-3 hours long.
Soil Sleuths Soil is the perfect way to learn about how abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components interact and shape the literal foundation of life beneath our feet. Hands-on lessons on weather and climate, biodiversity, and decomposition illuminate the important role soil plays in our lives.
Stream Life Cycles Learn about the life cycles of macroinvertebrates that hatch in streams and emerge on land as adults. Activities can include searching for larvae in the Wappinger Creek, taking a closer look with microscopes in the lab, and walking the trails to investigate the habitat requirements for both larval and adult insects.
The Life of a Leaf Students will be detectives, investigating the stories that leaves tell us about one of the many roles plants play in the ecosystem: as food! Explore how leaves provide energy and nutrients, from the tops of the trees to the depths of the forest floor, and how they transform through time.
Water on the Move In this program, the local water cycle goes beyond evaporation and condensation to become local and significant as students participate in mini water investigations that illustrate the many pathways of water in the environment.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
These programs are designed to be 3 hours long.
Soil Studies How does soil provide nutrients and water to the plants around us? How does plant and animal decay enrich the soil? Students will explore soil layers and how they change over time, as well as the vast network of microorganisms and fungi that are essential to soil function.
Water Life Students wear chest waders and collect macroinvertebrates, examining their unique physical features, behaviors, and adaptations for aquatic life. Based on teacher interest, this program can include a preliminary investigation of water quality.
Water Quality Embark on a holistic investigation of water quality, including searching for macroinvertebrates in the creek, performing water chemical tests in the lab, and going on a walk through diverse ecosystems to explore how water and pollution move across a landscape.
High School (Grades 9-12)
These programs are designed to be 3 hours long.
Advanced Soil Study Students perform a hands-on investigation of soil in multiple locations on the Cary property. Possible topics and connections can include nutrient cycling, chemical and physical properties, gas exchange, and the role of soil in the face of a changing climate and real-world environmental issues.
Salt Pollution Road salt is one of the most pervasive and abundant pollutants in local streams. Students will learn about the effect of salt on aquatic ecosystems, test water quality in the Wappinger Creek, and learn about the pathways of salt from roads and water softeners to the groundwater and streams. Students get a glimpse of 25 years of research at Cary Institute into this important environmental impact of human activity anywhere there are roads and snow!
Program Fees
Typical program lengths and fees for groups of ≤30 students are:
- Early Elementary (grades K-2):
- 1.5 hours: $100
- 2 hours: $125
- Upper Elementary (grades 3-5):
- 2.5 hours: $150
- 3 hours: $175
- Middle & High School (grades 6-12):
- 3-hours: $175
Groups sometimes choose to build in an extra 30 or so minutes to eat lunch at our outdoor picnic tables. This can be accommodated for no extra cost. We can accommodate larger groups depending on staff availability for an additional 50% fee (maximum 45 students). Chaperones and teachers are not charged for attending. A minimum adult to student ratio of 1:15 is required.
Most programs are scheduled within the 9am-1pm time frame, due to bussing time requirements. Spring programs run from mid-April through mid-June. There is limited availability for fall field trips due to seasonal staffing; however, Schoolyard Ecology Programs are a good alternative for this season.
Please reach out to Education Program Leader, Ashley Alred, at alreda@caryinstitute.org, to learn more about program rates. If our costs and/or maximum participant number are prohibitive for your school, please contact us to explore options:
- Dutchess County Public Schools: See if your school is part of the Dutchess BOCES Exploratory Enrichment (438) CoSER, which supports field trips.
- Poughkeepsie City Elementary Schools: There is private funding available through the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to cover field trip and schoolyard program fees.
- Northeast Dutchess school districts (Pine Plains, Webutuck,& Dover): You can apply for various Education Enrichment Funds available on an annual basis through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. We can partner on the application process.
FAQ
What do I need to bring?
Not much! We provide all science supplies and writing materials, but students should remember to wear appropriate clothing for outdoor field investigations. This usually includes sneakers/hiking boots, a spare change of clothes, and a jacket. Long socks are encouraged. There is always a chance that students can get wet and/or muddy! Field trip organizers will receive a letter outlining trip logistics well in advance of their visit. Many groups bring picnic lunches to enjoy during or after their program.
Should we bring chaperones and other guests?
We welcome teachers and chaperones and require that classes come with at least 1 adult per 15 students. We request that chaperones go out in the field with the class - it’s wonderful (and encouraged) for chaperones and teachers to be actively engaged with the students!
Our group is coming on a bus. Can we drive on the Taconic Parkway?
No! The Taconic Parkway does not permit commercial vehicles or buses unless authorized under an agreement with the NYS Department of Transportation. The Taconic Parkway is closely patrolled by NYS troopers, and buses traveling on the Parkway are likely to be ticketed.
Education Programs at Cary
All of our programs promote outdoor, scientifically valid, educational experiences for K-12 students, scout troops, and other groups. Each program was developed to support New York State Learning Standards. Pre- and post-visit lessons for each program are available.
All of the Cary Institute Education Programs are part of our Ecological Literacy Program. We are currently conducting educational research in student learning. All programs may be subject to pre- and post-assessments that will be used in our research efforts.