NEW ROCHELLE, NY (September 12, 2023) — On Sept. 12, eight teachers from New Rochelle took to the waters of Long Island Sound equipped with waders and kayaks to explore the coastline and uncover educational opportunities for their students.
The outing, led by New Rochelle High School teachers Carmen Glenn and Jonathan LaRosa, was part of a workshop sponsored by New York Sea Grant and the Long Island Sound Study Partnership. Teachers worked alongside Lillit Genovesi of NYSG to integrate coastal science and environmental education into their classrooms.
“Place-based learning is critical for science education,” said Glenn. “Five Islands Park is an ecological gem where students can learn about local ecology and human impact on the environment.”
Participants, including educators from several local schools, collaborated with the L.L.Bean Discovery School to investigate the marine ecosystem. They explored life cycles and organisms connected to the Long Island Sound, evaluating how these experiences could translate into meaningful classroom investigations.
Lucia Brea, a teacher from Jefferson Elementary School, emphasized the impact of the experience. “This was an amazing experience: to be able to visit the park, get into the water with waders and kayaks, and explore our local ecosystem,” she said.
The workshop aims to build continued opportunities for students, with plans to establish a lending library of equipment and activities for teachers to use at Five Islands Park.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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