Queens College's Center for Environmental Teaching and Research at Caumsett State Park combines a rich diversity of natural environments with comprehensive facilities for study, research, and living. The Center, a 40-minute drive from the Queens College campus, is located on Long Island's North Shore, and offers a unique outdoor laboratory. The Center's mission is fourfold: it is a facility for student and faculty research; a classroom for Queens College students; a training ground for elementary and secondary school teachers and students; and a center for community education about the environment.

The Facility
The mansion itself, designed and built in 1924-25 by John Russell Pope for Marshall Field III, was one of the largest great "working" country estates on Long Island. Originally 110 rooms, later reduced to 64, the mansion is entered in the National Historic Register.

The mansion, carriage house, and cottage have been leased from the State by Queens College, which uses the park for the Center's teaching and research activities.

The Park
Caumsett State Park lies on the central tip of Lloyd Neck, a peninsula that projects into Long Island Sound about 5 miles north of Huntington Village. The park offers students of all ages an outdoor laboratory - encompassing 1,600 acres and with 2.5 miles of seashore, a freshwater pond, salt marsh, meadows, and woodlands - unlike anything they might find elsewhere on the east coast.

The Center
The house and carriage house provide a laboratory space as well as classrooms, offices, and meeting rooms for conferences, seminars, and events in the humanities and arts. The Center can accommodate overnight classes of up to 50 students, plus teachers and aides. Linens and meals are provided at modest cost.

Naturalists are available to accompany groups of students, explaining and interpreting the habitats and conducting learning activities. Naturalists can also offer suggestions for park use, activities, and meal planning. Daily and overnight programs are varied, and individual learning experiences can be arranged

Laboratory space, environmental films, and selected equipment are available. The Center also functions as a Conference Center, and can provide audio-visual equipment, copy machines, and other office support. Conferences may be scheduled for single or multiple days.

The Caumsett Field Center also provides a total environmental education experience for elementary and secondary school classes and groups. Both day and resident programs are conducted. Visiting classes are provided with environmental instruction by a naturalist working with groups of 15 or fewer students. Very young children may be instructed in smaller groups.

Hands-on activity-centered lessons in the varied habitats of the park are offered. Resident programs use the Center as a dormitory, with students involved in serving meals and cleanup. Bus service is available to and from the Center at nominal cost.

Center for Environmental Teaching & Research
At Caumsett State Park

Peter Schmidt, Director
Lloyd Harbor, Huntington, NY 11743
(718) 520-7240, (516) 421-3526

All visitors from the College, students and faculty, are requested to carry college I.D. cards while in the Park. Distance from the College: approximately 30 miles.

Directions via automobile:
Long Island Expressway east to exit 45 (Manetto Hill Road); turn right, then turn right again at traffic light onto Woodbury Road. Continue north on Woodbury (see insert) to Huntington, where Woodbury Road changes its name to West Neck Road. Continue north 5 miles to Caumsett State Park, on the left.

Northern State Parkway east to exit 37 N (Plainview Woodbury). Turn left off exit ramp. Turn right at light onto Woodbury Road. Continue north on Woodbury to Huntington, where Woodbury Road changes its name to West Neck Road. Continue north 5 miles to Caumsett State Park, on the left.

No dogs allowed.
No alcoholic beverages.
Buildings are not open to the public
The collecting of plants, flowers, etc. is prohibited
Picnicking is not permitted.