Before school let out for the summer, hundreds of Port Washington third graders participated in a special field trip to Baxter Pond, thanks to a partnership between Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington (Residents), the Port Washington School District and Astoria Bank.
Classes made the trip to the nearby pond to learn about its complex ecosystem and enjoy hands-on demonstrations by instructors from the Alley Pond Environmental Center.
For the fourth year in a row, Astoria Bank funded this hands-on program on pond life, which integrates third grade classroom curriculum concepts. Students used all five senses and became active “environmentalists,” studying the natural habitat, native species and gaining a deeper understanding of how pollution affects pond life.
“The Pond Study Program fits perfectly with our own Education First initiative to promote lifelong learning in the communities that we serve,” said Eileen Connors, Port Washington branch manager for Astoria. “For Astoria, it’s all about investing in the community in a variety of ways—everything from helping our local small businesses grow, to working with the youth that will shape the area’s future.”
Dr. Kathleen Mooney, superintendent of the Port Washington School District, spoke highly of the partnership that was developed.
“In these trying economic times, while many districts are forced to cut enrichment programs, the Port Washington School District is proud to partner with Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington and Astoria Bank to provide this valuable hands-on program,” she said. “Together, we can teach children about the natural environment and nurture them to be good stewards of the world around them.”
For over 20 years, Residents has been committed to bringing environmental education into Port Washington’s schools to deepen student understanding of the environment and the role they can play in protecting it.
Residents’ mission is to organize a curriculum that starts in first grade and builds in depth and complexity as students move from grade to grade. Residents identifies and funds top environmental educators and institutions around Long Island to run these programs that explore key topics such as recycling, natural habitats, sustainability and environmental health. Because these programs are funded through grants and private donors through Residents, this enrichment is provided at no cost to the school district.
For more information about these programs along with Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington’s “Environmental Passport Program,” an environmental leadership extension funded with a grant from the Port Washington-based Jaggar Foundation, visit pwresidents.org/education.
