Uniondale students set sail for climate education on Long Island Sound
By Hannah Schwalberg
For many Long Islanders, the Sound is more than scenery—it’s a lifeline for our environment, our economy, and our way of life. That’s why a group of Uniondale High School students set out to explore its waters and learn how climate science and clean energy solutions can protect the place they call home.
Earlier this spring, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) awarded grant funding to the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) to bring climate literacy programming directly into Uniondale High School classrooms. There, the Long Island students learned about how climate change affects their own community and the various clean energy solutions that are looking to address these challenges.
Last week, a cohort of 60 students had a chance to bring those lessons to life as they journeyed to the Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay to explore the Long Island Sound. Students get the opportunity to go out on the Long Island Sound, learn about the local ecosystem, and try their hand at dredging, seining, and other interactive activities, says Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito.
“This is especially meaningful since the majority of the students have yet to visit the Long Island Sound,” said Esposito. “Developing a relationship with our waterways is the best way to encourage students to fight to protect our environment in the future.”
Exploring the Sound—Science in Action
The day began with a safety briefing and an overview of activities before students split into two rotating groups. Each rotation offered a different window into the ecology of Long Island Sound and the impacts of climate change.
Students then boarded the Ida May, a replica of the first engine-powered oyster dredge built in 1925. After learning about the vessel’s history, students conducted water quality testing and participated in an authentic dredge operation. They identified species living in the Sound and discussed how changing environmental conditions may affect local marine life.
Along the shoreline, students took part in “Estuary Exploration,” examining the intertidal zone and its complex food webs. Activities included seining for schooling fish, studying invertebrate species, and conducting beach profile measurements to understand habitat dynamics.
A Meaningful Collaboration for Community Impact
This field trip represents the continued growth of the Future Stewards of the Sound program, which launched in the 2024-2025 school year by CCE, The Waterfront Center, and Uniondale High School. Although the school is located just 11 miles from Long Island Sound, many students had never visited it before. By offering both classroom instruction and immersive fieldwork at no cost to participants, the partnership ensures equitable access to environmental education for a school student community that is 99 percent minority and 62 percent economically disadvantaged.
“Working alongside Citizens Campaign for the Environment underscores how essential our local nonprofit partners are in advancing NYPA’s mission to support the diverse needs of our communities,” said NYPA Government and Community Relations Senior Director Theresa Santoro. “These organizations are trusted voices in their communities, and together we can reach students in meaningful, lasting ways. By bringing climate and clean energy education into Uniondale High School, we are empowering the next generation to shape New York’s clean energy future.”
Through its ongoing collaboration with CCE, NYPA continues to champion clean energy education across Long Island—demonstrating its commitment to uplifting communities, supporting STEM pathways, and preparing young people for the careers that will drive New York’s clean energy future.