Tangier Smith Elementary School fourth-grade students recently participated in STEM activities at Osprey Park as part of an educational field trip. The visit, organized by Ms. Chanda Zadrazil’s STEM classes, provided students with hands-on experiences in environmental science.
During the trip, students learned about fish anatomy by designing their own fish species and collected weather data. They also participated in a seining activity at Forge River, guided by Walt Meshenberg from Save the Great South Bay and Alex Mercado from Cornell Cooperative Extension. The marine life collected and data recorded during this activity will contribute to assessments of the Forge River ecosystem conducted by the New York State Department of Conservation through its “Day in the Life” program.
This event marked the first time Tangier Smith students took part in the program, which has been a recurring opportunity for William Floyd science students. The “Day in the Life” program allows students to contribute to real-world environmental monitoring while learning about local ecosystems.
Other schools in the district, such as William Floyd High School and Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School, have also participated in the program, focusing on biodiversity and water quality studies in Long Island waterways.
Ms. Zadrazil expressed appreciation for those involved, stating, “Thank you to Walt and Alex for providing our students with such an amazing hands-on experience at Osprey Park! They got to see the environment they play in every day through a new lens, a living ecosystem worth protecting and caring for. A huge thank you to the Tangier Smith fourth-grade team for supporting the STEM program and embracing opportunities to step outside the classroom to create meaningful, real-world learning experiences for students.”
Suffolk County Legislator James Mazzarella joined students on one of the days and commented, “I applaud the William Floyd School District for giving these students the opportunity to explore environmental science and learn the importance of protecting our local waterways. We’re so fortunate to live in a waterfront community — and inspiring the next generation to appreciate, protect, and enjoy our rivers and bays is vital to preserving them for years to come.”
The school district acknowledged the contributions of organizations such as the Central Pine Barrens Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Cornell Cooperative Extension in supporting the “A Day in the Life” program.