The Ward Melville Heritage Organization

Each year thousands of children experience our hands-on educational programs in historic Stony Brook . The Ward Melville Heritage Organization offers field trips featuring a range of learning workshops in history and ecology.

All of our educational programs are taught by qualified instructors, meet National and New York State Learning Standards and are BOCES Arts-In-Education and Outdoor Education approved.

All of our educational programs qualify for reimbursement through Nassau and Suffolk BOCES Arts-In-Education Program.

All of our educational programs can be tailored to appropriate age/grade levels.

Select a field trip to request more information and request a field trip date:

	Living Off the Land: A Day in the Life of a Native American Family This program provides the activities of daily Native-American life. Students identify and explore the natural resources available in the salt marsh environment and discover how they were utilized to improve every day life of the Native American's. Sign Up Now!!
	A Day in the Life of a colonial Child and the George Washington Spy Ring at the Brewster House, c. 1660 Decorated in period furniture and transformed over the centuries from a one-room cottage to the present salt box structure, the Brewster House was home to six generations of Brewsters. Reverend Nathaniel Brewster, the homestead's first owner was the Setauket settlement's first ordained minister. Another family member, Caleb Brewster, was a member of George Washington's Spy Ring during the Revolutionary War. Sign Up Now!!
	Coastal Ecology Program at the Marine Conservation Center Located in the heart of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization's Wetlands Preserve, the Marine Conservation Center is an ideal location for students to learn about the environment. The Coastal Ecology program is offered in cooperation with the University at Stony Brook's Marine Sciences Research Center.Sign Up Now!!
	The "Dusty" Program at the Stony Brook Grist Mill, c. 1751 Long Islands most completely equipped working grist mill, the Stony Brook Grist Mill, c. 1751, is run by a miller as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries. The water powered, overshot mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a rare example of Dutch framing. Sign Up Now!! Energy...THEN & NOW The Art and Science of Hydraulics Learn about harnessing energy using water-power and how it relates to the Grist Mill's grinding process. This is an interactive tour of the Stony Brook Grist Mill, c. 1751. Students will have the oppurtunity to experience the intricate building mechanisms, such as pulleys, belts and the overshot water wheel. What a great oppurtunity to learn science through this hands-on experience.
	Wetlands Cruise aboard the "Discovery" The "Discovery" Cruise provides a unique field trip in environmental ecology taught by a qualified naturalist from the University at Stony Brook's Marine Sciences Research Center. Students board the 32-foot pontoon boat for a cruise from Stony Brook Harbor into the surrounding wetlands. Sign Up Now!!
	Fresh Water Pond Ecology at the Stony Brook Mill Pond This program provides students with the diversified spectrum of the fresh water pond ecology system. Students observe and explore the pond food web and its link to energy. Characteristics of aquatic plant life, pond creatures that live in fresh water, water quality, surface animals and other insects will be investigated. Sign Up Now!!

The Grist Mill and Brewster House programs were developed in consultation with the Three Village Central School District and the Smithtown Central School District. The Marine Conservation Center and "Discovery" programs are offered in cooperation with the University at Stony Brook's School of Marine and atmospheric Science.