CSTL will be opening a new educational facility that focuses on natural history. Dinosaurs and other favorite topics will provide an opportunity for exploration. The new facility will offer a variety of educational programming and hands-on exhibits. CSTL is working on the design and collaborative partners that make projects like this a reality. Nikon, WAC lighting, and Covanta Energy have already made the initial contributions as sponsors of the project.

CSTL's Museum of Science and Natural History will open soon.

CSTL is

Providing Expertise

to NBC Learn

NBC Learn is the education arm of NBC News. It is a global resource of historic news and media for anyone to use. Teachers in particular can use the resource to relate science concepts to actual news events. NBC Learns "Year of Chemistry" has just concluded.  CSTL staff, in conjunction with science teachers throughout Long Island, developed all the lesson plans used by NBC Learn.  Check out NBC Learn at http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn where Brian Williams and Lester Holt have a great video you can click on to learn more about this resource for educators.

New

Animal Exhibits!

Many new exhibits are available for viewing. An interactive duck exhibit, an educational butterfly garden, and golden pheasants are open for viewing. Found in Western and Central China, golden pheasants have been bred in captivity for generations. Although popular birds in captivity, very little is known about their behaviors in the wild.

Also recently constructed is a new butterfly garden, sponsored by Arrow Exterminating. This garden is designed to teach the public about butterfly anatomy and physiology and how to create a butterfly garden in your own backyard.  This garden will feature an oversized model of a butterfly demonstrating how butterflies use their proboscis to retrieve the nectar of flowers.

In addition, we have a new water fowl enclosure that visitors can enter and interact with our ducks.  Finally, a new Nubian goat enclosure was constructed by Troop 240. The Nubian goats arrived over the Summer.
 

New

Organic

Community

Garden at CSTL!

People from all over Nassau County are participating in our new community garden project. The garden was launched to unite people with an interest in organic gardening so they can learn more about the practice. Keeping the soil fortified with organic matter such as compost, and keeping the soil soft and fluffy so that oxygen can get into the soil are two key ingredients to keeping plants growing healthy. Organic gardening does not compromise the environment or human health.

Eagle Scouts

Projects at CSTL!

Eagle Scouts from Troops 182, 240, and 93  reclaimed 1,200 ft of trails connecting Hempstead Lake State Park to Tanglewood Preserve. As Part of an ongoing project at CSTL, Eagle Scouts have been connecting the trail systems of Tanglewood preserve with Hempstead Lake State Park in increments of 400ft per project. They have removed over 80 cubic yards of waste from the woods, built and installed benches, and have reclaimed trails that have not been in use for many years. Once completed, "Eagle Trail" as it will be called, will be 3,000 ft long. Eagle Trail will serve as a symbol of the strength and tenacity of the Boy Scouts of America. Eagles Interested in contributing to the project should contact CSTL at (516) 764-0045.

Also, in the Fall of 2011, Eagle Scouts completed a new fence around our recently renovated "Dino Dig" site.  The site now more accurately depicts a paleontological dig site.

CSTL provides

Informal Science

Learning to the NEXT STEP

Institute.

The NEXT STEP conference is organized by the Association of Science Materials Centers and sponsored by Dupont. ASMC creates opportunities for educators to network in ways that are rich, authentic, and inspiring. ASMC provides a platform for members and new audiences to explore and promote materials, methods and concepts to most effectively teach science.

CSTL's very own Dr. Ray Ann Havasy focused on the definition of informal science education, its many manifestations, and how it can support formal programs and practices. Throughout the Institute she explored the variety of informal experiences from the student, teacher, and institute perspective that all involve learning outside of the classroom. Key questions to explore include: How do informal formats contribute to learning? How can the media be used as a tool in student learning? How can formal and informal institutions work together to create meaningful learning experiences that fit within a standards based system? The outcome for this strand was that participants better understand their informal partners and learn how to work together to spark curiosity and learning in their students. Invited guests include, the Director's Guild from Hollywood, Sesame Workshop, the Franklin Institute, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, local informal education institutions and many more. learn more about the NEXT STEP at http://www.kitsupport.org

Gear-UP Program

a Success

EEach year CSTL serves as the official science education programming for the St. Johns Gear-Up Program, a national program. Directed by Yvette Morgan, its goal is to mentor kids and follow them through their academic careers from middle school all the way through their first year of college. The Gear-Up program has been running for ten years and 99% of the students involved in the program go onto college. Watch a well done video about the program here; Gear Up Video
Gear-Up Website: St. Johns Website (Gear Up Program)

CSTL named project managers of

America's Home Energy Challenge

CSTL has been named project manager of America's Home Energy Challenge.  The challenge is open to students from grades 3 through 8. The challenge is designed to teach students the benefits of energy efficiency and saving money by learning about ways to reduce energy costs.

For more information, go to: www.homeenergychallenge.org

New Fossil Dig Site

A completely refurbished fossil dig site has recently opened at Tanglewood Preserve! Disguised as an authentic paleontological dig site, the new design features several large dinosaur fossils embedded in hand sculpted rock and many loose fossils for junior paleontologists to discover and unearth.