Nature Study

Nature study is an educational activity that can be enjoyed wherever you find yourself amongst natural treasures.  What better a place to study nature than in the diverse and unique environment of the Pine Barrens.  Here are some valuable and educational natural areas for nature study within the Pine Barrens.

Quogue Wildlife Refuge  is located on 300 acres of varied natural and managed habitats surrounding the headwaters of Quantuck Creek on eastern Long Island.  The Refuge is home to a wildlife rehabilitation complex and also sponsors field ecology classes each summer for children in grades 2 through 12 as well as guided hikes for adults throughout the year.  The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is the primary venue for educational outreach on Long Island for the DEC.  More than 20 environmental groups regularly use the facility for meetings and seminars.

Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation has the primary mission to preserve and protect the natural marine environment through education, animal rehabilitation, and research.  They are the only organization in New York State authorized to rescue, rehabilitate, and release marine mammals or sea turtles that become stranded on NY beaches.  They also engage in a variety of educational programs, seal cruises, ecology walks, lectures, beach clean-ups, and provide tours of their facility. 

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge The Refuge encompasses over 2,550 acres stretching along Long Island's south shore and is bisected by the Carmans River.  The Refuge contains fields, oak-pine woodlands, ponds, streams and marshes that support a wide variety of wildlife from box turtles to white-tailed deer to songbirds and waterfowl.  Located on Smith Road in Shirley. 

Although not located in the Pine Barrens, there are a number of other important and valuable places to study nature.

Garvies Point Museum & Preserve exhibits dioramas illustrating Long Island's distant natural past and the evolution of its landscape during the past 20,000 years.  Indian archaeology is also featured.  Educational programs are offered that are appropriate to be integrated into classroom curricula.