The Professional Education Program's Outreach Division and the Marine Sciences Research Center at Stony Brook University have teamed up to operate an Environmental Education "Camp Seawolf" Program sponsored by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Suffolk County at Boy Scouts of America (BSA) SCHIFF SCOUT RESERVATION - Camp Wauwepex.
The camp will give highly motivated campers, ages 12-14, a chance to learn about our natural resources in a setting unmatched for its environmental beauty and diversity. Located in Suffolk County on Long Island, the 550-acre SCHIFF SCOUT RESERVATION is an ideal location for environmental stewardship camp located at 1606, Manorville Rd in the Town of Wading River in New York.
SCHIFF SCOUT RESERVATION CAMP centers around a Deep Pond, 20-acre picturesque body of water fed by an underground spring. The camp is basically spread out in two arms that encircle the lake. Just before the lake, a spot indicates the beginning of the camp's Ecology Trail. Running around the lake, it offers campers a chance to learn about the flora and fauna of the area.
Across the beach to the other side of Deep Pond, a swimming dock is set up in summers for campers to enjoy the cool of the waters. Trained and certified life guards will be attending campers at all times during swimming sessions. The beach also provides a nice spot to spend few minutes enjoying the animals that live in the camp. Deer tracks and baby turtles are easy to spot. There are beautiful butterflies, insects and birds passing by, making it a nice retreat from the homes and businesses that now circle the property. The beach is often covered with small fish that could be seen at the water's edge.
More excitingly, sometimes, there are also signs of some larger fish, particularly a few jumping out of the water. It looks like the State's efforts in stocking the lake are paying off. Up ahead is another small beach, the current fishing dock for summer campers. Past the beach is the Stone Campfire Ring on the left and yet another beach which is now the site of all boating activities for the camp. At both sides of the waterfront area are some tall grasses growing out of the water. While they look pretty, the plants are not native to the area. Campers will be engaged in identifying plant specific to wetlands and emphasize and illustrate the bio-diversity of the area.
While Camp Seawolf is operated at the SCHIFF SCOUT RESERVATION- Camp Wauwepex site, campers will also have an opportunity to engage in field trips to Laurel Lake in the Town of Southold which is a beautiful unspoiled 30 acre freshwater lake. Each year, NYSDEC stocks the lake with Brown and Rainbow Trout. In addition, the lake is home to a diverse fish population that includes Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead Catfish and Sunfish. The lake and its surroundings include mature woodlands, grassland/shrublands, freshwater marshes and vernal ponds support a wide range of flora and fauna. An adjacent saltwater estuary inlet with salt marsh lends itself as a field study site. In addition to environmental studies ranging from forestry to aquatic ecology, our campers will have a chance to canoe and kayak, swim, fish, environmental arts and crafts, leisure time recreational sport of archery, basketball, soccer, volleyball with campfires and much more.
ForAdditional Information:
Email: camp_seawolf_environmental_camp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu or call 631-632-7696
