In addition to our calendar
of free public programs and field trips, Saw Mill River Audubon offers classroom programs for schools and community groups.

Our classroom programs are centered on Westchester County species, focused on current environmental issues, and integrated with New York science curriculum.

Audubon classroom and outdoor programs are interactive and entertaining events that students will remember all year. Saw Mill River Audubon will work with you to adapt the program content to your lesson plans or your organization's needs.

All classroom programs include visuals such as slide shows or videos, handouts, wildlife artifacts as well as hands-on activities. (Our programs do not include live animals.)

Because of the generosity of our members, these programs are offered on a sliding scale, priced to fit your budget

Saw Mill River Audubon programs can be customized to fit your schedule, and class or group subject matter.

Ages and Grades
Our programs have been well-received by all ages: grade school, middle school, high school, and college students; adult community groups; and seniors. We will work with you to tailor our classroom program topics to your class or group needs. Suggested grade levels are also provided for each of our program topics.

Cost: $65 for classroom programs. $75 for field trips
Underwritten by the support of our membership and by other fundraising support, our fees do not reflect the full cost of our programs. However, our programs are also offered on a sliding scale fee to a limited number of schools and groups unable to afford the above per program cost.

Payment is requested by the date of the program by check payable to "Saw Mill River Audubon." (Please see below for more information on BOCES payments.)

Scheduling
We want to schedule our programs to suit your time frame and class or group needs. Our programs are offered daytime, evening and weekends.

Scheduling for the 2007-2008 program year
begins July 1, 2007.

For your first choice of dates, please contact our office as soon as possible. Once you have reserved a date, we will send you a confirmation letter acknowledging your reservation.

Class Sizes and Locations
Classroom program topics are offered at your site. Class size is limited to 30 students per presentation. Limit of three classroom programs per school building per day. [Program Lengths]

We limit class sizes to offer a higher quality, more enjoyable program for your class or organization.

Assembly programs or programs for larger groups of adults are available by request; however, please note that not all topics are suitable for school assemblies.

Program Lengths
In general, we suggest a 45-60 minute classroom program for most grade school classes.

Double-period, longer classroom programs are available for middle and high school students. For adult groups, a typical classroom program length is 45 minutes with addtional time allowed for questions and discussion at the end.

In all cases as much as possible, we will tailor the program length to suit your class or group needs. Please also see the individual program topics for suggested lengths of classroom programs by topic.

For more than one classroom program offered at your location, please schedule 5-10 minutes between programs if the programs will be offered in different classrooms. We are able to offer programs in both morning and afternoon with a longer break to accommodate lunch schedules. We do limit scheduling to three classroom programs per day per building.

BOCES funding
Northern Westchester schools are encouraged to investigate the possibility of BOCES funding for our programs. We have been grateful to receive Northern Westchester-Putnam BOCES support for our classroom and outdoor programs for over ten years. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about this option.

The Saw Mill River Audubon Federal Employee Identification Number for BOCES forms is: 13-6161411. This number should be used in lieu of the Social Security Number on payment forms.

In the case of BOCES funding, we can work with your school office and BOCES to help process the necessary forms and payments once your school initiates the request to BOCES.

Wildlife Topics

Westchester Birds
Discover the world of birds. Find out what makes birds different from other animals. Explore feathers, a bird skeleton, bird calls and more.
5 yrs old to 2nd grade: 30 mins
2nd to 5th grade: 45 mins
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

Westchester Mammals
Discover the world of mammals. Find out what makes mammals different from other animals. Explore skins, skulls, mammal tracks and more.
5 yrs old to 2nd grade: 30 mins
2nd to 5th grade: 45 mins
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

Westchester Reptiles & Amphibians
Discover the world of reptiles and amphibians. Learn about local species, their habitats and conservation issues. Explore skins, skulls and more.
2nd to 5th grade: 45 mins
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

Invertebrates
Discover the animals without backbones focusing on local species easily observed in schoolyards and backyards. Excellent introduction for insect unit or forest ecology field trip.
3rd to 8th grade: 45 mins

Westchester Butterflies & Moths
Discover the scale-winged flyers! Compare butterflies & moths to other insects. Learn about the names and habitats of local species and how they are being protected.
2nd to 5th grade: 45 mins
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

New York Birds of Prey (A.K.A. Raptors for Rookies)
Using slides, handouts and specimens, become a raptor watcher! Learn how to identify hawks, owls, falcons and eagles and where to see them year-round in the Hudson Valley.
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

Westchester Wildlife (of the Season)
Focus on wildlife habitats found in Westchester County and discover the variety of local wildlife species. Program can be focused on the current season.
2nd to 5th grade: 45 min
5th grade to adult: 45 to 60 mins

Habitat Topics

Westchester Trees
Learn or review the parts of a tree by turning an audience member into a tree! Sort out leaf shapes and bark textures. Discover the layers of a forest habitat. Find out what kinds of trees and forests are found locally.
2nd to 5th grade: 45 mins
5th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

Westchester Wetlands
Take a slide tour of local wetland wildlife and plants. Compare wetland birds to birds from other habitats. Become a wetland detective and discover where wetlands are found.
4th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

Westchester Wildflowers
Take a slide tour of local wildflowers from many habitats throughout the seasons. 4th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

Ecology Topics

Predators
What is a predator? Discover the sizes and shapes of local predators. Find out how predators and humans interact. What are the current predator issues?
5th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

Endangered Species
Why do some species become extinct, endangered or threatened? What New York species are in danger and how can we help? Use slides, specimens and problem-solving activities to explore the issue of endangered species.
5th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

Toxic Trouble
Are there good and bad toxics? What kind of toxics do we use every day? What should we do with hazardous household waste? What effects do toxics have on the environment?
5th grade to adult: 45 to 90 mins

You are invited to come to our free public programs and field trips, visit our sanctuaries and add your voice to ours to protect the natural world. Come, meet us and see, in person, what we do!

We also invite you to consider joining us as a member.

You can join Audubon online today
and be billed later for membership.