Bethpage State Park Ecology

With the start of a brand new school year, Bethpage State Park decided to do something extra special for Central Boulevard Elementary... that is, host a STEM day field trip! For those that might not know the abbreviation, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering  and Mathematics . This refers  to a c urriculum  that focuses on these four disciplines collectively, instead of separately-- and what b etter way to explore real world examples of STEM than by visiting a living, breathing golf course habitat ?   Luckily for us, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) provides multiple STEM lesson plans and resources as part of their First Green program ( http://www.thefirstgreen.org/ ). GCSAA's site makes it super easy for golf course superintendents and staff to pick and  chose the kind of activities that work best for their course.  Through this First Green program, we were able to turn our Green Course into a creative...

Last month, Mrs. Wright, a local elementary school teacher, contacted me asking if Bethpage State Park was a suitable location for Painted Lady butterflies. Without hesitation, I replied "IT SURE IS!" One area I made sure to mention was our massive, public pollinator garden. Extending along the entire length of our picnic area, this habitat was created by staff and volunteers with the sole purpose of providing forage and shelter for pollinators! Of these species we aim to protect, is of course, the native Painted Lady butterfly.  I guess this had been the answer Mrs. Wright was hoping for because just like that, we began organizing a field trip for eighty students (with a specific mission in mind). Up until now, students had been rearing Painted Lady Butterflies in their classrooms. Having just witnessed  the emergence from the pupal stage, these new butterflies needed to be set free in a natural environment. What better location than at Bethpage State Park? ...