ReWild Long Island / Cow Neck
Summer Program to Fight Hunger & Climate Change

LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM: PARTNERS, LOCATIONS, SCHEDULES & FAQ

The Cow Neck Summer Program is now accepting applications from High School students who would like to foster biodiversity, climate resilience and food security. Projects include: 

• Gardening for pollinators with native plants

• Organic farming to benefit food-insecure community members

• Oyster & bioswale pojects to benefit our waters

Applications will be accepted until we have filled our spots. Interviews start around May 15.

Question or Comments?

Email SummerOrganizers@ReWildLongIsland.org

WORK LOCATIONS

Please ensure that you can get to the following work locations where activities will be conducted. Refer to the map for details.

• Greentree Foundation, Manhasset: On 200 acres of wild forest and 70 acres of wildlife fields, students will have an opportunity to tend to a vegetable garden, an exotic flower garden, and a native grassland. Learn about composting, rotating plants, sowing, harvesting, weeding, and pesticide-free gardening.

• Guggenheim Preserve, Port Washington: Access the Guggenheim Preserve from Oakland Avenue as shown on the map. Learn about native and exotic plants. Help clear invasive plants and plant a wildflower garden in this location. 

• Adult Activities Center - Plant a Row (PAR) Garden, Port Washington: The PAR Garden is located right behind the Adult Activities Center building. Learn to plant, grow and harvest food on the 18 new raised beds that are being put in by Plant A Row For the Hungry. All produce we grow will be donated to a food pantry.

• Helen Keller National Center - Plant A Row (PAR) Garden, Port Washington: The PAR Garden is located on the grounds of the Helen Keller Center, down the drive as indicated on the map. Learn to plant, grow and harvest food. All produce we grow will be donated to a food pantry.

• ReWild Garden @ Dodge, Port Washington: There are two activities that will be located at the Thomas Dodge Homestead. Learn to plant, grow and harvest food, compost yard, and kitchen waste, as well as rewilding and sustainable landscaping at this location. Additionally, Transition Town Port Washington and ReWild have an initiative to clean and recycle used plant pots at this location.

• Sands Point Preserve - Vegetable Garden, Port Washington: The fruit and vegetable gardens at the Sands Point Preserve are located behind the Hempstead House as indicated on the map. Learn to plant, grow and harvest food. All produce we produce will be donated to a food pantry.

• Sands-Willets House, Port Washington: The Sands Willets House is a farmhouse from the 18th Century that the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society runs. Learn rewilding, composting, and sustainable landscaping at this historic location.

• Science Museum of Long Island (SMLI) Preserve, Plandome: Located next to the Leeds Pond Preserve, the SMLI maintains four pollinator-friendly native plant gardens, including rain gardens and three replanted woodland areas, next to the parking lot shown on the map. We will work on maintaining the gardens, learn to identify native and non-native invasive plants, and observe the importance of native plant gardens for birds on Long Island.

• Science Museum of Long Island (SMLI) - Audubon Garden, Plandome: Work will involve removing mainly non-native plant species in several native plant gardens at the Science Museum of Long Island. We may plant some native perennials as well, and birdwatching is an option at the end of the session.

• CSHH Oyster Gardening at TONH Beach Park, Port Washington: The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor is restoring local shellfish populations through their harbor-wide oyster gardening program. Help raise baby oysters that will be released in Hempstead Harbor to support marine life and aid in cleaning our waterways by filtering bacteria and nutrients. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. Garden oysters with us to benefit water quality on Long Island and protect our local environment.

• Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock (UUCSR) Preserve, Manhasset: The 100-acre grounds of the UUCSR are home to wildflower gardens and a very large Preserve. Help clear invasive plants and learn how coyotes are making a comeback.

• Monarchs Matter RTR Program: Raise, Tag, and Release (RTR) Program - ReWild Garden @ Dodge, Port Washington; Science Museum of Long Island (SMLI), Plandome: The eastern US monarch population plummeted more than 80% since 1996 and have been listed as a vulnerable species since December 2023. With Monarchs Matter, gain hands-on experience raising, tagging, and releasing monarch butterflies to contribute to monarch research; receive milkweed to plant in your home and welcome bees and butterflies; and learn about your role in biodiversity and the environment.

• Water Testing Project: Transition Town Port Washington’s Citizen Scientist Water Quality Testing Program will take place at 3 locations on the Port Washington Peninsula. These locations are Baxters Pond, Mill Pond and Leeds Pond.

• Design a Sustainable Garden: Students will work on designing their own sustainable gardens throughout a series of Saturday Zoom sessions (dates TBD). Expert guest speakers will talk to ReWild interns and volunteers about garden layout, irrigation, and planning. Students will work in small groups and will present their finished garden designs by the end of the Zoom series.

We will communicate detailed pickup and drop off instructions for different locations.

SUMMER PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The schedule below (TBD) will indicate the times that various activities will be conducted. All students are required to attend all training sessions, which will count towards your work hours, and mandatory Sunday Zoom Sessions. For a general idea of the dates and times, refer to the 2023 program schedule here.

INformational video

SUmmer program FAQ

Go to the FAQ page.

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Summer Program Questions Form

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