Teatown Lake Reservation - Environmental Education

Environmental Education

An important part of Teatown’s mission is to teach ecology and encourage responsible interaction with nature. About 25,000 people come each year to attend an education program, visit the Nature Center, hike its trails, or tour Wildflower Island, a 2-acre (8,100 m2) island sanctuary located within Teatown Lake that is home to over 230 native and endangered species of wildflowers.

Teatown’s educators offer a variety of environmental education programs including weekend family and adults only programs, multi-week children’s series, school programs, school vacation camps, a summer camp, and special programs for Scouts and others organizations.

Over 10,000 participants annually attend one or more such educational programs, including nearly 6,000 school children and 700 summer campers. Annually, over 15,000 hikers traverse Teatown's 15 miles (24 km) of trails that span abundant fields, mixed forests, lakes, streams, swamps and farm land. Teatown volunteers also participate in the 'Great Backyard Bird Count' sponsored by Audubon each winter. Teatown’s Nature Center is a source of wildlife knowledge and home to a variety of amphibians, birds of prey, mammals and reptiles. The Nature Center also houses a store with books and small gifts. The Center often hosts gallery shows of art by area painters and photographers related to environmental themes.