Program Overview
Our programs are designed to support student learning of scientific concepts, skills, and practices. Students will gain 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 to nurture a closer connection with nature, 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 field trip? 2026 spring field trips run April 13-May 29 and tend to be scheduled within the 9am-1pm time frame due to bussing needs. After reviewing the program offerings below, please complete the Cary Education Program Interest Form. We prioritize serving our longstanding partner schools along with the Northeast Dutchess public school districts (Dover, Millbrook, Pine Plains, and Webutuck) and Poughkeepsie City Schools.
There is limited availability for field trips during the fall season due to seasonal staffing changes, but we can sometimes accommodate smaller groups (<20 students). However, Schoolyard Ecology Programs, where Cary Educators visit your school, are a great alternative for the fall season.
We will do our best to accommodate your request for the Spring 2026 season, though dates fill up quickly. To be considered, please submit your requests through the Cary Education Program Interest Form by January 30, 2026.
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. In early elementary programs, we typically keep smaller classes together as one group for the duration of the program (<20 students), or split into 2-3 stations for larger groups (20-42 students).
Eco-Discovery Walk Use all senses to discover the local environment through a guided walk on our trails. Students participate in mini investigations that use their natural curiosity to explore basic ecosystem concepts.
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.
Life in the Meadow (2nd grade only) 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.
Upper Elementary (Grades 3-5)
These programs are designed to be 2.5-3 hours long and typically involve 3 rotating stations, one of which is a self-led nature walk along our trails.
Soil Sleuths Soil is the perfect way to learn about how biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem 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 aquatic macroinvertebrates (water bugs) that hatch in streams and emerge on land as adults. Activities can include wearing chest waders to search for larvae in the Wappinger Creek, taking a closer look with microscopes in the lab to learn about adaptations for life in the water, 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. This lesson can be shaped to support energy cycling, decomposition, and/or life cycle learning goals.
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. Investigations can include a groundwater infiltration experiment, exploring leaf stomata and transpiration, sampling a groundwater well, and observing where water naturally flows and collects on the landscape along a walk through meadows, the forest, and concluding at the Wappinger Creek.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
These programs are designed to be 3 hours long and typically involve 3 rotating stations, one of which is a self-led nature walk along our trails.
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 formation and composition, how soil changes over time, and 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 and typically involve 3 rotating stations, one of which is a self-led nature walk along our trails. These lessons can be shaped to support chemistry, earth science, and/or living environment learning goals.
Soil Field Study Students perform a hands-on investigation of soil on the Cary property. Possible topics and connections include chemical and physical properties, soil formation, nutrient cycling, gas exchange, and the role of soil in the face of a changing climate and real-world environmental issues.
Water Field Study Road Students will learn about the pathways of various pollutants to the groundwater and streams, and the environmental impact these pollutants (like road salt, water softeners, and agricultural and municipal waste) have on local freshwater ecology and human health. Possible investigations include a physical stream habitat assessment, chemical analyses of water from the Wappinger Creek, and a biotic index of the macroinvertebrates present in the creek.
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
We can accommodate larger groups depending on staff availability for an additional 50% fee (maximum 42 students). Chaperones and teachers are not charged for attending. A minimum adult to student ratio of 1:15 is required. 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.
If our fees are prohibitive for your school, please review possible funding options below or contact Ashley Alred at alreda@caryinstitute.org to discuss:
- Dutchess County Public Schools: See if your district is part of the Dutchess BOCES Arts in Education CoSER or the Exploratory Enrichment (438) CoSER, which support field trips.
From the Dutchess County BOCES website: "Contracts need to be received by Maria DeWald, BOCES AIE Coordinator, at least one month prior (8 weeks prior for prepayments for registrations, tickets, etc.) to the activity date. It is possible that contracts received after the program occurs may not be accepted. They can be as much as a year in advance but no later than April 15."
- 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.
- 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.
FAQ
What do I need to bring?
- Encourage students to wear appropriate clothing for outdoor activities, like close-toed shoes, long pants, and long socks (for increased tick safety). Dress for the weather - layers are great, raincoat if it's rainy, long sleeves if it's cold, etc.
- There is always the chance that students can get wet or muddy, so students are welcome to bring an extra set of clothes and dry socks, if they wish! We have a limited supply of extra socks and other clothing. Thanks to the generous support of the M&T Charitable Foundation, students can now borrow a pair of rainboots and a raincoat for when we walk on the trails during wet weather.
- Many groups bring picnic lunches to enjoy during or after their program.
- Field trip organizers will receive a letter outlining trip logistics well in advance of their visit.
Should we bring chaperones and other guests?
We're glad to have teachers and chaperones join us! Each group must bring at least one adult for every 15 students, and adults should stay with their students throughout the program. We ask that teachers and chaperones participate fully and join the class out in the field - your engagement makes a big difference!
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 most programs 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.