Suffolk County Farm and Education Center
350 Yaphank Avenue
Yaphank, NY 11980
(631) 852-4600 General Info -- 852-4603 Farm Animal Helpline -- 852-4792 Wildlife Helpline
http://ccesuffolk.org/farm/

Based on an actual production farm with facilities representative of farming across the United States, the Center offers a wide variety of education programs for families and school and other groups. These excellent programs and field trips were designed by Cornell University faculty and local Youth Development Specialists.

Individuals and families can enjoy a Self-Guided Tour or any of a number of interesting, education programs covering topics such as gardening, landscaping, food, nutrition, health, and decorative arts to name a few. There is also a variety of programs for children.

The Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center, located at Cedar Beach in Southold, is also part of the Farm & Education Center. That's out near the end of the North Fork of the Island, but for those who have the time and inclination it's well worth the trip. The Marine Center includes aquaria, a beach, fish hatcheries, and more.

Examples of the School Programs available include Farm Tour (Elementary grades): a guided tour through the century-old working farm, including a chance for the kids to feed and pet domestic animals; Fleece to Fabric (K - 8): demonstrates how valuable sheep have been to man. Students work with raw wool as they learn the process of teasing, carding, and weaving; Advanced Chicken Embryology (9 - college): explores the development of the egg and the various scientific methods of studying and viewing fertilized eggs; Agriculture: A Long Island Sampler (4 -college): students trace the changes and evolution of agricultural practices and are introduced to today's agricultural world; Those Wondrous Pigs (K - 8): examines the most intelligent animal on the farm. Includes a video on the birth of piglets, pig trivia, and the math of ear-notching. Many other programs are available. All programs are preceded by a Farm Tour.

Marine Programs (all for Elementary and up) include, among others, Aquaculture/Aquaponics: students observe the operation of a shellfish hatchery and visit a greenhouse to see a working aquaponics system, whereby cultured fish excrete fertile wastes to provide a nutrient solution to grow plants without soil; Commercial Fishing: an exhibit of commercial fishing gear used in Long Island's waters and a slide/lecture presentation on fishing methods, history, and more; Water Quality Monitoring: a lecture and slide show teach students about the sources of marine pollution, then they use field test kits and electronic equipment to analyze samples they collect themselves.

Some of the above programs are seasonal. All programs require a minimum of 10 students and some have a limit of 25. Programs take from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Outreach Programs are available for Suffolk County schools.