Students Take Field Trip to Alley Pond Environmental Center

by Sara Rosenthal, SSLI '27 

Yesterday, the freshmen Biology class and the junior Environmental Science class went on a field trip to Alley Pond Environmental Center. They heard a presentation about climate change, got to meet some animals, went on a nature walk, and participated in an activity about biodiversity.

Their tour guide gave a slideshow presentation about climate change, different types of species, and how the Earth needs biodiversity, which is a vast variety of life forms, to be healthy. Freshman Penina Charry shared, “I learned about different types of climate change and more than just [that] cars let out emissions that damage the atmosphere. I learned what it actually does and what different things can come from it.”

Students enjoyed learning about the environment. (N. Gordon)

After the presentation, the tour guide brought out a pre-metamorphosis Eastern Hercules Beetle, which is native to New York, and then a chinchilla. Students were allowed to touch both animals, and some even held the beetle. Freshman Madison Hoffman explained, “My favorite [part] was when [the instructor] brought out the chinchilla because it was so soft and cute, and I love chinchillas.”

The students then went outside and walked through the forest and over mud plains. Junior Natalie Gordon shared, “The nature walk was [fun] because it was a chance for us to be outside and look at our surroundings while also learning.”

Students had the opportunity to touch different wildlife creatures. (Schechter Instagram)

Once they got back near the building, students assembled squares of plants, laid them on the ground, and used the iNaturalist app to identify the plants within. They then counted how many of each plant were in their square and calculated the biodiversity of the square using an equation taught in the presentation. Charry said that this activity gave her “a little peek into what…biologists do.”

Before boarding the bus back to school, students ate lunch at picnic tables and enjoyed the beautiful plants and the warm weather.

Charry concluded, “I think if I went again, when I take AP Bio[logy], I would find it even more interesting because they were talking all about different chemistry plants and how carbon dioxide and water affect the environment…but I didn't fully understand it because I didn't take chemistry yet. So, I think if I had that background knowledge, I would have gotten even more out of it.”

Sara Rosenthal is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since January 2024. Sara is currently a freshman at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: srosenthal27@schechterli.org.