Get on Board to Get Outside with
Schooner’s Free Activities and Guides!
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
Fact Sheets
Learn about Wetlands / Spanish learn about Wetlands
Learn about Wind / Spanish learn about Wind
Learn about Tide Pools / Spanish learn about Tide Pools
Learn about Waves / Spanish learn about Waves
Learn about Food Webs / Spanish learn about Food Webs
Learn how humans affect food webs / Spanish learn how humans affect food webs
Learn how your eating habits affect the environment / Spanish learn how your eating habits affect the environment
Learn how to regrow your own food / Spanish learn how to regrow your own food
Nature’s Mystery
Can you figure out what each nature mystery is? Look at each mystery, make a guess, and then hover over the image to see the answer!
How did this coconut make it to Long Wharf?
By Transport of an African or European Swallow?
To be honest, we're not sure how a tropical coconut ended up in Long Wharf, so your guess is as good as ours and Monty Python's. How the coconut got to Long Wharf will continue to be a mystery of the ages.
Who is this cute little creature?
Hint: The adult of this creature can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 4,400 lbs!
A Giant Sunfish Larva!
This giant sunfish larva was identified for the first time off the coast of Australia. This larva is approximately 5mm in length, but adult Sunfish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 4,400 lbs!
Whose track is that?
Hint: we love shells, but this is no mollusk.
Snapping Turtle Tracks!
Did you know? Snapping turtles can live to be over a 100 years old!
What is this?
Extra Challenge: Who do you think left it there?
A Fish Skull!
This fish skull was found by our camp director, Nikki, at Long Wharf Preserve, and was most likely dropped by an osprey. Did you know ospreys almost exclusively eat fish--it makes up 99% of their diet!
What made this mysterious blue light?
Hint: the light was spotted in water!
Comb Jelly!
As we've been learning, comb jellies are one of many creatures in the New Haven area that emit light (bioluminescence). Can you think of any other creatures in New Haven that create light?
What do you think this is?
A pile of sticks
Were you, like our camp director, Nikki, fooled into thinking these sticks were a rabbit?
Long Island Sound Creatures
Have you ever wondered what creatures might live in your neighborhood or your community? With New Haven’s close proximity to the Long Island Sound, the diversity of creatures in the environment that surrounds us is amazing. Do you want to know more about these creatures? Let’s study them together!
Happy Learning!
Coloring Sheets
Shell Identification Coloring Sheet / Spanish Shell Identification Coloring Sheet
Spider Crab Coloring Sheet / Spanish Spider Crab Coloring Sheet
Jelly Pollution Coloring Sheet / Spanish Jelly Pollution Coloring Sheet
Jelly Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Jelly Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Oyster Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Oyster Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Plant Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Plant Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Birds of Prey Coloring Sheet / Spanish Birds of Prey Coloring Sheet
Compost Cycle Coloring Sheet / Spanish Compost Cycle Coloring Sheet
Pollution Awareness Coloring Sheet / Spanish Pollution Awareness Coloring Sheet
Hermit Crab Craft / Spanish Hermit Crab Craft
Seaweed Blow Art Craft / Spanish Seaweed Blow Art Craft
Food Chain Craft / Spanish Food Chain Craft
Paper Towel Jelly Craft / Spanish Paper Towel Jelly Craft
Self-Watering Planter Craft / Spanish Self-Watering Planter Craft
Wind Indicator Craft / Spanish Wind Indicator Craft
Paint with Rain Craft / Spanish Paint with Rain Craft
Recycled Arts and Crafts
New Haven Natural Bingo
Map Out Connecticut Waterways / Spanish Map Out Connecticut Waterways
Map Out Your Neighborhood / Spanish Map Out Your Neighborhood
Map Out Your Neighborhood Food Web / Spanish Map Out Your Neighborhood Food Web
Map Out Your Soil Food Web / Spanish Map Out Your Soil Food Web
New Haven Mapping Activities
Aquatic Engineer Activities
Compost at Home / Spanish Compost at Home
Create an Aluminum Foil Boat / Spanish Create an Aluminum Foil Boat
Create an Insect Pitfall Trap at Home / Spanish Create an Insect Pitfall Trap at Home
Design Your Own Water Filter / Spanish Design Your Own Water Filter
How to Harness Wind and Wave Energy / Spanish How to Harness Wind and Wave Energy
Calling all sailors! We at Schooner want to equip you with opportunities to continue learning so that your sailing skills stay in tip-top shape. Check here to find helpful sailing tips and tricks for you to practice and study at home.
As with the running of any ship, keeping up our nautical knowledge is a group endeavor, and we at Schooner want to hear from YOU, too! Think you mastered this week’s knot? Did you find our own observation about tide patterns? Share them with us in our Community Padlet, linked here! Show us what you’ve learned.
Sailing Tips and Tricks
Create an 8 Knot / Spanish Create an 8 Knot
Create a Bowline Knot / Spanish Create a Bowline Knot
Create a Square Knot / Spanish Create a Square Knot
Label a 420 Boat / Spanish Label a 420 Boat
Learn about Sailing with Wind / Spanish Learn about Sailing with Wind
Learn about Streamline Boating / Spanish Learn about Streamline Boating
Learn about Boats and Invasive Species / Spanish Learn about Boats and Invasive Species
Test your Knot Knowledge
Know your knots
Test your knot identification skills.
CT Field Guides
Shell Field Coloring Guide / Spanish Shell Field Coloring Guide
CT Shell Challenge Field Guide / Spanish CT Shell Challenge Field Guide
Long Island Sound Crab Field Guide / Spanish Long Island Sound Crab Field Guide
Long Island Sound Seaweed Field Guide / Spanish Long Island Sound Seaweed Field Guide
Tabletop Yoga Pose
Peaceful Warrior Yoga Pose
6 weeks of Nature Journal Prompts
Ant Activity Nature Journal Week 1
Water Habitat Imaginings Nature Journal Week 2 / Spanish Water Habitat Imaginings Nature Journal Week 2
Jelly Underwater Imaginings Nature Journal Week 3 / Spanish Jelly Underwater Imaginings Nature Journal Week 3
Wave and Wind Nature Journal Week 4 / Spanish Wave and Wind Nature Journal Week 4
Food Web Nature Journal Week 5 / Spanish Food Web Nature Journal Week 5
Crab Camouflage Nature Journal Week 6 / Spanish Crab Camouflage Nature Journal Week 6
Watch Schooner’s Gather Corps members teach us some sailing tips and tricks!
Additional educational videos created by our teenage volunteers, Gather Corps, that work all summer putting these videos together for you, Enjoy! Follow all of Gather Corps Videos on our youtube channel.
Below is virtual content of our Long Wharf preserve, the Schooner summer camp’s usual home, as well as other coastal observations.
Here are the complete Activity Guides that were created for the 2020 virtual Schooner summer Camp. These activities are universal and can be used any time of year. Since the summer has come to an end these activity guides with remain on our website for anyone to use.
Did you miss a newsletter email or just want to go back and review a past newsletter’s content? Find the email newsletter archives here!
English Guides
Spanish Guides
- + Learn Local Natural Science
-
Fact Sheets
Learn about Wetlands / Spanish learn about Wetlands
Learn about Wind / Spanish learn about Wind
Learn about Tide Pools / Spanish learn about Tide Pools
Learn about Waves / Spanish learn about Waves
Learn about Food Webs / Spanish learn about Food Webs
Learn how humans affect food webs / Spanish learn how humans affect food webs
Learn how your eating habits affect the environment / Spanish learn how your eating habits affect the environment
Learn how to regrow your own food / Spanish learn how to regrow your own food
Nature’s Mystery
Can you figure out what each nature mystery is? Look at each mystery, make a guess, and then hover over the image to see the answer!
How did this coconut make it to Long Wharf?
By Transport of an African or European Swallow?
To be honest, we're not sure how a tropical coconut ended up in Long Wharf, so your guess is as good as ours and Monty Python's. How the coconut got to Long Wharf will continue to be a mystery of the ages.
Who is this cute little creature?
Hint: The adult of this creature can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 4,400 lbs!
A Giant Sunfish Larva!
This giant sunfish larva was identified for the first time off the coast of Australia. This larva is approximately 5mm in length, but adult Sunfish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 4,400 lbs!
Whose track is that?
Hint: we love shells, but this is no mollusk.
Snapping Turtle Tracks!
Did you know? Snapping turtles can live to be over a 100 years old!
What is this?
Extra Challenge: Who do you think left it there?
A Fish Skull!
This fish skull was found by our camp director, Nikki, at Long Wharf Preserve, and was most likely dropped by an osprey. Did you know ospreys almost exclusively eat fish--it makes up 99% of their diet!
What made this mysterious blue light?
Hint: the light was spotted in water!
Comb Jelly!
As we've been learning, comb jellies are one of many creatures in the New Haven area that emit light (bioluminescence). Can you think of any other creatures in New Haven that create light?
What do you think this is?
A pile of sticks
Were you, like our camp director, Nikki, fooled into thinking these sticks were a rabbit?
- + Long Island Sound Creatures
-
Long Island Sound Creatures
Have you ever wondered what creatures might live in your neighborhood or your community? With New Haven’s close proximity to the Long Island Sound, the diversity of creatures in the environment that surrounds us is amazing. Do you want to know more about these creatures? Let’s study them together!
Happy Learning!
- + Recycled Arts and Crafts
-
Coloring Sheets
Shell Identification Coloring Sheet / Spanish Shell Identification Coloring Sheet
Spider Crab Coloring Sheet / Spanish Spider Crab Coloring Sheet
Jelly Pollution Coloring Sheet / Spanish Jelly Pollution Coloring Sheet
Jelly Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Jelly Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Oyster Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Oyster Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Plant Anatomy Coloring Sheet / Spanish Plant Anatomy Coloring Sheet
Birds of Prey Coloring Sheet / Spanish Birds of Prey Coloring Sheet
Compost Cycle Coloring Sheet / Spanish Compost Cycle Coloring Sheet
Pollution Awareness Coloring Sheet / Spanish Pollution Awareness Coloring Sheet
Hermit Crab Craft / Spanish Hermit Crab Craft
Seaweed Blow Art Craft / Spanish Seaweed Blow Art Craft
Food Chain Craft / Spanish Food Chain Craft
Paper Towel Jelly Craft / Spanish Paper Towel Jelly Craft
Self-Watering Planter Craft / Spanish Self-Watering Planter Craft
Wind Indicator Craft / Spanish Wind Indicator Craft
Paint with Rain Craft / Spanish Paint with Rain Craft
Recycled Arts and Crafts
- + Nature Projects and Activities
-
New Haven Natural Bingo
Map Out Connecticut Waterways / Spanish Map Out Connecticut Waterways
Map Out Your Neighborhood / Spanish Map Out Your Neighborhood
Map Out Your Neighborhood Food Web / Spanish Map Out Your Neighborhood Food Web
Map Out Your Soil Food Web / Spanish Map Out Your Soil Food Web
New Haven Mapping Activities
- + Aquatic Engineer Activities
-
Aquatic Engineer Activities
Compost at Home / Spanish Compost at Home
Create an Aluminum Foil Boat / Spanish Create an Aluminum Foil Boat
Create an Insect Pitfall Trap at Home / Spanish Create an Insect Pitfall Trap at Home
Design Your Own Water Filter / Spanish Design Your Own Water Filter
How to Harness Wind and Wave Energy / Spanish How to Harness Wind and Wave Energy
- + Sailing Tips and Tricks
-
Calling all sailors! We at Schooner want to equip you with opportunities to continue learning so that your sailing skills stay in tip-top shape. Check here to find helpful sailing tips and tricks for you to practice and study at home.
As with the running of any ship, keeping up our nautical knowledge is a group endeavor, and we at Schooner want to hear from YOU, too! Think you mastered this week’s knot? Did you find our own observation about tide patterns? Share them with us in our Community Padlet, linked here! Show us what you’ve learned.
Sailing Tips and Tricks
Create an 8 Knot / Spanish Create an 8 Knot
Create a Bowline Knot / Spanish Create a Bowline Knot
Create a Square Knot / Spanish Create a Square Knot
Label a 420 Boat / Spanish Label a 420 Boat
Learn about Sailing with Wind / Spanish Learn about Sailing with Wind
Learn about Streamline Boating / Spanish Learn about Streamline Boating
Learn about Boats and Invasive Species / Spanish Learn about Boats and Invasive Species
Test your Knot Knowledge
Know your knots
Test your knot identification skills.
- + Local Field Guides
-
CT Field Guides
Shell Field Coloring Guide / Spanish Shell Field Coloring Guide
CT Shell Challenge Field Guide / Spanish CT Shell Challenge Field Guide
Long Island Sound Crab Field Guide / Spanish Long Island Sound Crab Field Guide
Long Island Sound Seaweed Field Guide / Spanish Long Island Sound Seaweed Field Guide
- + Health and Wellness
-
Tabletop Yoga Pose
Peaceful Warrior Yoga Pose
- + Nature Journaling
-
6 weeks of Nature Journal Prompts
Ant Activity Nature Journal Week 1
Water Habitat Imaginings Nature Journal Week 2 / Spanish Water Habitat Imaginings Nature Journal Week 2
Jelly Underwater Imaginings Nature Journal Week 3 / Spanish Jelly Underwater Imaginings Nature Journal Week 3
Wave and Wind Nature Journal Week 4 / Spanish Wave and Wind Nature Journal Week 4
Food Web Nature Journal Week 5 / Spanish Food Web Nature Journal Week 5
Crab Camouflage Nature Journal Week 6 / Spanish Crab Camouflage Nature Journal Week 6
- + Educational Videos
-
Watch Schooner’s Gather Corps members teach us some sailing tips and tricks!
Additional educational videos created by our teenage volunteers, Gather Corps, that work all summer putting these videos together for you, Enjoy! Follow all of Gather Corps Videos on our youtube channel.
Below is virtual content of our Long Wharf preserve, the Schooner summer camp’s usual home, as well as other coastal observations.
- + Activity Guides PDFs (Full Versions)
-
Here are the complete Activity Guides that were created for the 2020 virtual Schooner summer Camp. These activities are universal and can be used any time of year. Since the summer has come to an end these activity guides with remain on our website for anyone to use.
Did you miss a newsletter email or just want to go back and review a past newsletter’s content? Find the email newsletter archives here!
English Guides
Spanish Guides
We wanted to include a list of Schooner’s green spaces that, if you feel comfortable, you and your family could visit for a socially-distanced nature outing. Our preserves and land holdings are large enough to ensure families could visit while still maintaining a safe distance from others. Use the list below as a reference guide for open spaces!
Long Wharf Information:
Parking- available near Sound School entrance and across from Veterans Park
Entrance- Near Sound School and Veterans Park(refer to Stars on map)
Restrictions- Dogs must be leashed to protect the habitat and nesting wildlife, no camping, carry-in/carry-out trash policy, Closes at Dusk
Pond Lily Information:
Parking- parking available at basketball courts across the street from the main entrance and along the street.
Entrance– Main entrance located along East Ramsdell Street, residential entrance for residents only to park there
Restrictions– Dogs must remain on leash to protect the habitat and nesting wildlife, no camping, carry-in/carry-out trash policy, Closes at Dusk.
Quinnipiac Meadows Information:
Parking– located at gate @ 1040 Quinnipiac Ave; try not to block gate. Gate will be open for special events to accommodate for extra parking
Entrance– pedestrian entrance located to the left of gate
Restrictions– Dogs must be leashed to protect habitat and nesting wildlife, No Camping, Carry-In/Carry-Out Trash Policy, Closes at Dusk.