Dutchess Academy of Environmental Studies

What is the Academy?

The Dutchess Academy of Environmental Studies is a two year, half day, field-based high school to college to workplace bridge program to prepare high school juniors and seniors for education and careers in ecology and the natural sciences.

Our philosophy is we believe you must be in the environment to effectively learn about the environment.

We hold our classes at CTI and at the Norrie Point Environmental Center in Mills-Norrie State Park in Staatsburg, New York. We also hold field classes at sites throughout Dutchess County.

Students successfully completing the two year program will receive 17 transcript credits from Dutchess Community College.

Most students are accepted into their first choice schools including top environmental programs like S.U.N.Y. Environmental Science & Forestry and Paul Smiths.

The Curriculum & Academic Quick Reference Guide

• Plant Science & Dendrology
• Navigation (Map, Compass & GPS)
• SCI 100: Seminar in Science
  • Read, write, and present scientific information
  • Design a scientific research proposal
• SCI 101: Computer Applications for Science
  • MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, MapInfo (GIS)
• Wildlife Biology
• Introduction to Occupations
• Career Exploration Internship Program [CEIP]
  • Complete three 18 hour Shadowing Internships
  • Investigate potential career areas
  • Begin to build a career network
  • Build resume skills and experiences
  • Examples of CEIP Internships
    • GPS/GIS mapping with National Park Service
    • Study populations of whitetail deer, Canada geese, Deer ticks, zebra mussels and other wildlife with NYSDEC, IES and universities
    • Environmental education programming at Norrie Point, Stony Kill Farm, IES, and Clearwater.
    • Landscaping, arboriculture, aquaculture, veterinary, and greenhouse operations
• BIO 107: Ecology
  • Learn basic ecological theory from a population, community, and ecosystem level perspective.
• Aquatic Ecology
• Fish Management and Aquaculture
  • Run the Norrie Point Aquarium
  • Sample fish using seines, trawls, pop nets, and electrofishing
• BIO 225: Environmental Measurements
• The GLOBE Program (www.globe.gov)
  • Apply the theory from BIO 107 to measure hydrology, soils, atmosphere, and land cover
• Geographic Information Systems
  • Computer mapping using MapInfo and MultiSpec
• Natural Resource Management
• Land Use Planning -- local and global
• CHE 111: Introduction to Chemistry
• Student-Designed Field Research Project
  • As a class, design and execute an 8 week field research project using GLOBE protocols
• Wetland Ecology and Management
  • Measure and determine a wetland’s boundaries using current Federal regulations and map with GPS/GIS

Benefits of the Program

• Blend of theory, knowledge, and practical skills in the classroom, laboratory, and the field
• Location and Facilities:
  • On the Hudson River in Mills-Norrie State Park
  • Walking distance to rivers, forests, streams, & wetlands
  • Short paddle to Esopus Island & Black Creek Preserve
• Earn up to 16 transferable college credits from Dutchess Community College at no tuition cost to the student
  • Save over $4,000!
  • More readily accepted by colleges than AP courses
• Earn a major sequence toward a NYS Regent's Diploma, a high school MST [Math, Science, Technology] and a high school Science credit

Special Opportunities

• Students addressed the United Nations Sustainable Development Conference on Earth Day 1999
• Students placed 1^st and 3^rd in an international science competition in 2004 and traveled to Croatia to present their award winning papers.
• MUCathons! -- over 17% of the GLOBE Program qualitative land cover data for the world has come from Dutchess County!
• GLOBE Program Protocol Video filming site
• 2 time champion SUNY Cobleskill High School Competition -- Fish and Wildlife Event
• The Inaugural Enviro-Adventure Race...

College Acceptances

If You're Interested...

• Come and visit the Academy at Norrie Point.
• Read our:
  • Overview of the Program
• Print, fill out, and return the application
  • Prerequisites: 2 years of science including Regent’s Biology, and Course 1 Math
  • Recommendations from a Science Teacher and your Guidance Counselor
  • A 300 word essay relating your environmental background and career goals

Questions?

• See your high school guidance counselor