Parks To Visit

The Early Years Institute recently finished an inventory of 740 parks across Long Island. Later this year, we will be launching an easy to navigate component to our site to provide you with pictures and information about local parks in your neighborhood.

We are also working with various organizations to create Nature Explore Classrooms.

Nature Explore Classroom: This is an all natural setting where children are free to explore on their own and develop a sense of wonder and imagination. These spaces are designed for all types of learners and include areas for art, music, climbing, water play, messy materials, blocks, among other things.

As of March 2009, we have Nature Explore Classrooms being created, in the planning process of creation, or complete ones you can visit.

Name and Location of Site

  • Bailey Arboretum, Lattingtown*
  • CA, Islandia**
  • Five Towns Child Care Center, Inwood**
  • Garden City Community Church Nursery School, Garden City*
  • Head Start Center, Southold
  • Head Start Center , Central Islip
  • Head Start Center, Roosevelt
  • Hillside Farm, Oyster Bay
  • Long Island Children's Museum, Uniondale**
  • Tackapausha Preserve County Park, Seaford
  • Middle Country Public Library, Centereach
  • Middle Country Public School, Centereach
  • Port Washington Children's Center, Port Washington
  • Sands Point Preserve, Sands Point
  • Seatuck Environmental Center, Islip
  • Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

*Completed

**Completed and nationally certified by Dimensions Educational Research Foundation as a Nature Explore Classroom

All others are planned or in the process of implementation.

Smiles make babies smart.                                         Take a trip to the library where you will find more than books to learn from.                                         Jump in puddles when it rains.                                         Make cookies or a cake today with your children to help them develop math skills.                                         Letting children help set the table helps them learn about responsibility and gives them confidence.                                         Spray shaving cream on your windows and let children finger paint so they develop fine motor skills, creativity and imagination.                                         Tell your children a story today. Tomorrow, have your children tell you a story.                                         Let your children color outside the lines, or give them blank paper to create their own pictures.                                         Let your child use pots and pans and spoons for musical instruments.                                         Make today the day that you and your children unplug TVs, video games, and cell phones.                                         Some of the best toys for developing imagination come from recycled materials, such as empty containers, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, cereal boxes, and tape.                                         Blocks build math skills, fine motor skills, and cooperation.                                         Decorated old socks make the best puppets.                                         Laughing with children develops their spontaneity and creativity.                                         Imagining with children helps them develop complex thinking.                                         Research says that children who play, do better in school and become more successful adults.                                         Childhood is for learning how to learn.
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