As a new school year begins and field trips ramp up across Jamaica Bay, we’re reflecting on just how far our education programs have come and looking forward to what’s next!
Over the past four-plus years, the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) has steadily grown its school programs, connecting more students across New York City to the extraordinary ecology, history, and open spaces of Jamaica Bay. A key part of this growth has been the National Park Foundation’s (NPF) Open OutDoors for Kids initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) to help make national parks more accessible to young people.
Through our field trip programs, students take part in a three-part learning experience that combines pre- and post-visit resources, an in-park field trip, and a virtual session with a JBRPC educator. These experiences bring coastal ecology and environmental stewardship to life while helping students develop meaningful connections to the parks in their own communities—all at no cost to participating schools.
Thanks to NPF’s continued support, our education programs are reaching more students and offering new ways to connect with Jamaica Bay. During the 2025–2026 school year, we recorded over 6,450 student engagements, an increase of more than 22% over the previous year, and introduced a new pollinator-focused field trip. This investment has also helped us grow our education team, build stronger relationships with schools and teachers, and bring more public programs and hands-on learning experiences to our community. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited about the many ways we can continue helping people of all ages discover and connect with their national park.
This growth wouldn’t be possible without the strong partnerships that support our work. We’re grateful to the National Park Service and Gateway National Recreation Area for their continued collaboration, and to our education partners at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium for their shared commitment to connecting young people with coastal environments and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
And there is more to come! With new educational experiences in development at Floyd Bennett Field, we’re looking ahead to another exciting chapter of growth, creating even more opportunities for students, families, and community members to discover, investigate, and connect with their national park.
We’re incredibly proud of what our education team has built over the past four-plus years. Thank you to NPF, NPS, Gateway National Recreation Area, and NJSGC for helping make this work possible and for investing in the people, partnerships, and programs that bring these experiences to life.
Here’s to another great school year at Jamaica Bay!