Environmental Justice Newsletter

Community Spotlight: Kingston YMCA Farm Project

DEC's Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants have funded community gardens, urban farming, and educational programs throughout the years.

One of the organizations DEC awarded a grant to this year, the Kingston YMCA Farm Project’s Youth Farm Crew, welcomed eight teens ages 14-17 from the Kingston City School Districts to get a hands-on lesson in farming.

As a part of the six-week program, participants developed their agricultural skills by seeding on the farm and transplanting and maintaining farm beds for crops. The teens also completed a four-part project with Hudson Valley Bee Habitat where they learned the importance of pollinators and assisted in creating new habitats.

Due to the successes of the initial Farm Crew, Kingston YMCA ran a second Youth Farm Crew. The second group, consisting of four teens, assisted with direct seed transplant on the farm, sold seedlings at farm stands, and learned more about agricultural careers. Their Summer Youth Farm Crews also consisted of community teens placed through the Ulster County Summer Youth Employment Program.

Learn more about the Kingston YMCA Farm Project and the great work they do!

Learn more about DEC's Office of Environmental Justice grant programs.

Community Groups Engaging in Environmental Education

Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s Blue Schools project is using DEC's Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant funds to develop an environmental education curriculum. This curriculum will be free and available on their website for use by any teacher in the NYC area and beyond. This curriculum has already been implemented in three schools, with students learning to map and measure permeable and impermeable space, calculating stormwater run-off, and researching and developing green infrastructure designs.

Bronx River Alliance has hosted several environmental education events, including five at the Muskrat Cove boom and one at the Concrete Plant Marsh. They continue to train staff and volunteers in the proper methodology for Project Waste, which will help the organization locate pollution sources along the upper Bronx river.

Supporting education and encouraging stewardship among New Yorkers is critical in protecting our environment. DEC continues to strive towards a sustainable future by investing in environmental education and our communities.

Environmental Education Centers

Environmental Education Centers (Centers) provide quality environmental education for the public, including outdoor experiences, exhibits and programs. DEC operates two fully staffed Centers: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve and Environmental Education Center and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.

DEC’s Centers offer:

• Classes for students, including guided field trips through diverse habitats
• Programs on environmental awareness around New York State
• Interpretive trails
• Exhibit areas
• Meeting rooms
• Year-round family events 
• Workshops for teachers that provide opportunities for professional growth, and internships for people interested in pursuing careers in natural history or related fields

In addition to DEC’s staffed Centers, there are three regional environmental education programs that offer professional development for educators, in-class and after-school programs on the environment, and public environmental education programs at fairs and festivals. The regional programs are located in DEC Region 1 - Long Island; DEC Region 2 - New York City; DEC Regions 6, 7, & 8- Western Adirondacks & Central NY.

If your focus is the Hudson River, the Hudson River Estuary Program has an education and interpretation unit that focuses on Hudson River lessons and exploring the Hudson River Estuary. This program works with river education providers to train the next generation of environmental stewards by providing a series of community-based and classroom education programs.

Visit one of our Environmental Education Centers 

On the Front Lines: Gina Jack and Five Rivers

Gina Jack is the new director at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Gina’s interest in conservation education and environmental education extends from her youth, where, as a teenager she worked as a camp counselor. A Recreation major at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, Gina initially considered becoming a camp director. However, through her studies, which included a summer as an intern interpreter in Yosemite National Park, she became interested in the idea of hands-on learning. Gina believes hands-on outdoor experiences are important for all ages, and provides an excellent complement to classroom studies for school-aged children. “There is more than just what you do in the classroom,” she says.

In 2007, Gina was hired as the first editor for DEC’s Conservationist for Kids magazine, where she shared her enthusiasm for the outdoors with young readers. In 2013, she moved to the Five Rivers Center, where she continued to share her enthusiasm with visitors to the new facility. “I would absolutely do this again and I will keep doing it for as long as I can.” In 2018, Gina was promoted to director of Five Rivers.

Check out Fiver Rivers Environmental Education Center 

For this and other DEC staff profiles, visit On the Front Lines. 

Lesson Plans and Kids Activities

DEC’s Environmental Education Center staff have compiled an amazing collection of educator lesson plans to bring students out into nature and nature into the classroom. The lesson plans are grouped by age/grade and then by topics, including: animals, recycling and water. Additionally, there are activities for kids to do while exploring outside, crafts to create, and tips on how to make a nature journal.

Kids can always visit the Kids GO (Get Outside), page for information on wildlife in New York and fun outdoor activities, and to learn more about the symbols of New York State.

Visit our website for information on teacher trainings, or if you just want to discover fun activities for kids. 

Collaboration and Consultation

DEC’s Commissioner Policy 42 requires that DEC staff consult with Indian Nation representatives on a government-to-government basis regarding issues that affect Indian Nation interests. All of DEC programs and/or policies, from air resources to water, either directly or indirectly affect the traditional practices, cultural resources, and environmental concerns of indigenous peoples. Cooperation and understanding is crucial to the resolution of potential issues, specifically when discussing and determining land-use policies and land-based practices.

Annabel Roberts-McMichael, a graduate assistant with DEC's Office of Environmental Justice, is currently working on a graduate thesis to determine how DEC might use these shared interests in land use management to create a better working relationship with indigenous nations within New York’s borders. Specifically, Annabel’s project explores ways of integrating indigenous concerns and traditional ecological knowledge within DEC’s unit management planning (UMP) process. Annabel’s internship is part of a larger collaboration with the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and DEC.

Land management collaborative efforts are especially important when crafting Unit Management Plans. UMPs identify opportunities for consistent public use within specific land classifications. Planners assess the natural and physical characteristics and resources within a land unit, and determine appropriate uses based on the ecosystems and resource availability. Working closely with Indian Nations in crafting UMPs ensures that important cultural practices are respected and valuable resources are protected. Annabel’s research is a great stepping stone for land management collaboration and sharing of knowledge between DEC and Indian Nations.

Learn more about DEC’s UMP process. 

Learn more about SUNY ESF and the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.  

Naturalist Internship Program

DEC offers a year-round internship program available at our four environmental education centers (Five Rivers, Reinstein Woods, Rogers and Stony Kill). The
Naturalist Internship Program is a 10-16-week training opportunity available to individuals with two years of college level study (or equivalent experience) looking for professional experience in environmental education. Interns will assume the role
of environmental education staff in carrying out the responsibilities necessary
to meet the center’s objectives. Opportunities for training and development of specific skills will be available depending on each intern’s interests and the center’s needs.

Eligible candidates must be able to work in the United States. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong natural history background, experience with teaching or youth leadership, and a demonstrated interest in environmental education.

Apply For Funding

Are you a community-based organization looking to fund a project? DEC's Office of Environmental Justice offers grants to not-for-profit organizations to address environmental harms in low income and environmental justice communities. 

We Can’t Do It Without You

Do you have concerns about the environment where you live? Do you want to make your voice heard?

Do you want to stay informed about the different environmental issues affecting the state of New York?

Join Our Environmental Justice Listserv. Sign up to receive regular updates from the Office of Environmental Justice. Stay current on the issues that are important to you. As always, you can contact the Office of Environmental Justice with any concerns by sending an e-mail to: www.justice@dec.ny.gov.

Please include:

• Your location/address
  • City, town, village or borough

• The environmental concerns you wish to address
• List the potential source if you know
• How or whether you wish to be contacted

Visit DEC's website to view the full version of this newsletter.