Education

School Programs

The Conservancy’s education program serves over 10,000 students a year. We use the Park as a living laboratory for hands-on investigation, incorporating inquiry-based learning into lessons that meet NYC and NYS learning standards.

Explore

Enroll in an educational field trip!

All programs must be booked online
Enrollment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis once the registration season has opened.
The fee for each session is $132.50. Fee waivers are available to qualifying schools.

Learn more in the tabs below.

REGISTRATION DATES FOR EACH SEASON:
Fall (Sept, Oct, Nov): Opens late Summer
Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb): Opens in the Fall
Spring (March, April, May, June): Opens late Winter

Sign up for our newsletter here to receive notifications when registration opens, select the “Educators” group!

ABOUT SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Each class is 85 minutes long and can accommodate a maximum of 35 students. The cost for each class is $125 plus a $7.50 booking fee. A limited number of fee waivers are available to Title 1 schools. To apply for a fee waiver, please fill out this application. For more details about program registration and expectations, visit our FAQ section.

The calendar below allows you to book our school programs, or register for a waitlist for one of our booked programs. If our calendar does not have a program on a date that works for you, feel free to reach out to education@brooklynbridgepark.org, as we may be able to accommodate program requests.

PLEASE READ THE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS LISTED BELOW THE CALENDAR BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING!

E3: EXPLORATION, ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (GRADES K-6)

Investigate the rich ecology of Brooklyn Bridge Park during a trip to the Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center. Students will visit four stations that focus on habitats and inhabitants of the park and the neighboring estuary. They will have an opportunity to interact with animals, make in-depth observations about featured organisms and explore our Discovery Station: an interactive display that highlights the Park’s ecology, history and sustainable features.

Location: Environmental Education Center

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson, Post-Lesson

THE AWESOME OYSTER (Grades 2-8)

Examine the history of New York Harbor’s keystone species: the eastern oyster. Through hands-on investigation, students use the oyster gardens at Brooklyn Bridge Park to investigate East River habitat. Students will encounter the various species that reside in an oyster garden, take scientific measurements, and discover the oyster’s historical and ecological importance to the New York Harbor.

Location: Pier 5, Fully Outdoors

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

GREAT BROOKLYN BRIDGE (GRADES 2-8)

Immerse yourself in the dramatic history and innovative design of the bridge that changed the Brooklyn landscape. Students explore basic bridge engineering concepts and walk to the first tower of the bridge, weather permitting, for an activity.

Location: Begins inside Environmental Education Center, ends with walk on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

READING ROCKS (GRADES 2-3)

Dig into the dynamic rock cycle, learn how rocks are formed, and discover the many types of rocks found in the park.

Location: Environmental Education Center, with brief outdoor experience.

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

ROVE THE COVE (GRADES K-4)

Explore the East River estuary and tidal strait. Students investigate and assess the health of the East River by observing, gathering samples, and performing simple water tests. While analyzing specimens, students discuss habitat, characteristics, and environmental adaptations of local organisms.

Location: Time is split between the Environmental Education Center and nearby Pebble Beach.

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

PLANKTON AND POLLUTION (GRADES 4-12)

What’s in the East River water? Is it a healthy place for marine life? Educators will collect water samples and examine the water quality by conducting a series of water chemistry tests, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Students will also have the opportunity to see water samples under a microscope and search for plankton, as well as pollution.

Location for December- March: Environmental Education Center, with brief outdoor experience
Location for for April-November: Pier 5, Fully Outdoors

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan

SEINING THE RIVER WILD (ALL AGES)

Discover the underwater world of the East River. Instructors drag a 20-foot seine net along the bottom of the river bed to catch, identify, and release fish and invertebrates. With prior permission and signed waivers, students over the age of 14 receive instruction and an opportunity to work the nets.

Location: Pier 4 Beach, Fully Outdoors

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan (K-3), Post-Lesson Plan (K-3), Pre-Lesson Plan (4-8), Post-Lesson Plan (4-8)

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES (GRADES 5-12)

Examine the sustainable and green design of the park including water conservation, ecological initiatives, and material reuse. A guided tour is embedded with activities and challenges for students that promote a deeper understanding of these innovative concepts.

Location: Environmental Education Center, with an outdoor component.

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

Noise Mitigation Case Study: Brooklyn Bridge Park: Learn how the sound attenuation berms at BBP help reduce noise pollution by simple in-park data collection or using the data from an ArcGIS StoryMap! This lesson is one component of the Sound and Noise Education Module created by NYC DEP.

TREES OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK (GRADES K-1)

Learn basic tree anatomy and use age-appropriate field guides to explore and identify the diverse tree species in the park. Students use observation and scientific tools to estimate tree age, diameter, and circumference.

Location for December- March: Environmental Education Center, with brief outdoor experience
Location for for April-November: Pier 1, Fully Outdoors
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Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

WEATHER ON THE WATER (GRADES K-1)

Use the park’s waterfront location to explore attributes of weather. Students use simple weather tools, scavenger hunts, and interactive activities to help understand weather patterns and the water cycle. The class is tailored to address weather conditions of the day.

Location: Environmental Education Center, with an outdoor component.

Teacher Resources: Learning standards, Pre-Lesson Plan, Post-Lesson Plan

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

To receive updates on our programs and registration launches, sign up for the Conservancy’s newsletter here and select “Kids & Family” or “Educator” interests as applicable. You may reach out to education@brooklynbridgepark.org with any questions.