Sandy Creek Central School District • News • Sandy Creek students learn about the environment at annual dune fest

Sandy Creek students learn about the environment at annual dune fest

June 5th, 2017 by Lani Camp, Public Relations

Mason Wallace checks out some of the many insects in a display case that are found in the area during the annual Dune Fest.

Sixth grade students from Sandy Creek Middle School traveled to Southwick Beach State Park recently where they learned about the fragile environment surrounding them. The Department of Environmental Conservation hosted the dune fest event where students traveled through several stations to learn about different aspects of their natural surroundings. Among the stations were: water safety, invasive species, fish species in the area, wetlands, birds and more.

The recent changes in the water levels on Lake Ontario showed the power of the waves as the beach at the park was non-existent. One of the presentations spoke about soil erosion and the efforts to maintain the ecosystem that inhabits the area along the shoreline, while maintaining a balance of water for the marshlands.

Students were able to take part in the hands-on activities and presentations including how to properly throw a life-saving device to someone in the water without risking injury to themselves by entering the water. Another presentation illustrated the life and feeding cycle of the near threatened piping plover; a shorebird who lives and feeds along the sandy beaches in North America. Invasive plants and insects were also discussed in a separate presentation and students enjoyed a display of insects found in the Central New York area that the DEC had on hand to view. Students also learned to identify birds through their call and many other distinguishing characteristics in a special ornithology presentation.

Gallery

Ashley Rubacha, an environmental educator with the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department shares information about identifying an invasive species called swallow-wort with sixth grade students from Sandy Creek. Her fellow presenters also shared information about other species, plant and insect, that should be avoided but are spreading in the area.