We are the place where students become scientists.

Constitution Marsh works with school groups of all ages, from kindergarten to graduate school. We offer popular on-site programs at the marsh or will happily come to visit your school for multi-session lessons. A typical on-site class conducts examinations of the Hudson River Estuary ecosystem, focusing on breeding and migratory birds, and other wildlife of the Hudson Valley. Our programs are designed for groups of 15-25 students, but we are happy to make accommodations for slightly smaller or larger groups. If an on-site field trip isn't an option, we’ll bring the marsh into your classroom! All of our classes use experiential and inquiry-based methods that allow students to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world around them. To maximize your students learning experience, invite us to your classroom for a pre/post-trip lesson. All of our programs are flexible and can easily be adapted to fit specific needs.

Examples of our programs include:

• Canoe Trip - Our most popular spring, summer, and fall program! Students experience tidal marsh ecology first-hand by canoeing into Constitution Marsh and our incredible wildlife sanctuary. Availability is limited. Visit times are tide-dependent and run from May through October.

• Aquatic Study – Wearing rubber boots and wielding dipnets, students venture into a thriving freshwater stream to collect and identify organisms they’ve managed to catch themselves. This is a hands-on, inquiry-based lesson that allows students and chaperones experience a hands-on and up-close learning exploration of life in a Hudson River tributary. 

• Bird I.D. and Hike (off-site available) - This program offers students an introduction to our native wild birds with basic bird identification skills through the recognition of shape, sound, size, and color. Afterward, students will be able to use this newly gained knowledge to observe birds and their behavior binoculars during a hike through our wooded trails to the marsh boardwalk.

• Eagles over the Hudson (off-site available) - See Bald Eagles in the wild, and learn about how they returned from the brink of extinction to once again soar in our skies.

• For The Birds! (off-site program) - An in-depth, multi-visit bird study program, utilizing both classroom lessons and outdoor experiences.

• Boardwalk Hike - Students explore the forest and marsh, using all of their senses. We will see and listen to our local birds, and learn and explore the wonders of nature firsthand.

• Nature Scavenger Hunt (K through 2nd) - Younger students hike down the trail in search of the camouflaged paper bunnies hidden within the forest. Once out at the boardwalk, a fun scavenger hunt is used to explore the sights, sounds, and feel of being surrounded by nature.

• What Fish is That?- Students learn fish anatomy and adaptations and use scientific "keys" to identify native fish that spend their lives under the Hudson River’s amazing waters.

Other programs are available upon request. For more information about program topics or fees, or to make a reservation, please call our Education Manager at (845) 265-2601, extension 10.

Please visit the Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant Program website for information on funding opportunities for your school visit to Constitution Marsh Audubon Center & Sanctuary!