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Education Catalog

DAY PROGRAMS:

  • 1817 Schoolhouse Experience

    1817 Schoolhouse Experience

    Wanna go back in time to an 1817 schoolhouse? In our real schoolhouse built in 1817, our talented staff—in costume—play the part of the strict School Master or Marm, using…

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  • 19th Century Homestead Journey

    19th Century Homestead Journey

    Travel back to a simpler time on the Ashokan Homestead, where students are embraced as members of our homestead family. We expect everyone to earn their keep! Contribute to daily…

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  • Adventure Canoeing

    Adventure Canoeing

    Paddle on the Esopus Creek and experience the magic that has attracted so many to this important waterway. While navigating the waters with friends, students practice cooperation and communication to…

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  • Animal Tracks & Traces

    Animal Tracks & Traces

    Home to many elusive creatures like beavers, bobcats, and bears, Ashokan is one of the best places in the Catskills to find traces of our animal neighbors. From feathers and…

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  • Apple Cidering (Sept-Nov)

    Apple Cidering (Sept-Nov)

    Press locally grown apples into delicious cider using our antique cider press and learn all about its amazing history in our country. Each student will have a chance to participate…

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  • Archery

    Archery

    In this classic archery class, students learn the history of archery along with the necessary rules, safety procedures, and archery techniques before hitting the range and letting the arrows fly.…

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  • Blacksmithing

    Blacksmithing

    The Ashokan Center is home to the first mill and blacksmith shop in Ulster County. Sparks will fly as students use ancient tools to hammer iron into a fire poker,…

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  • Explore and Draw Nature Journaling

    Explore and Draw Nature Journaling

    An opportunity for students slow down, observe and interact with the natural world around them and get creative!  It is also an opportunity to connect this process as part of…

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  • Forest Ecology I: Forestry Forensics

    Forest Ecology I: Forestry Forensics

    Students will become citizen science detectives and investigate the cause of the disappearance of Ash Trees in our area. After using a variety of tools and scientific methods to explore…

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  • Hike to Cathedral Gorge

    Hike to Cathedral Gorge

    Hike through an old Eastern Hemlock forest along the Esopus Creek and explore the natural and social history of the region! The trail passes relics of the recent and prehistoric…

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  • Hydrology Lab

    Hydrology Lab

    Students will venture into the lab to assess the water quality of aquatic systems found on campus. Through observation and analysis of water samples, students will learn about the natural…

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  • Maple Sugaring (Feb-April)

    Maple Sugaring (Feb-April)

    After a scenic hike out to our sugar shack, students will learn about the history of maple sugaring and its roots in Indigenous and colonial cultures. Our staff will demonstrate…

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  • Nature Art

    Nature Art

    Students will interact with nature while exploring the elements and principles of art. Using inspiration from artist Andy Goldsworthy and their imaginations, students will cooperatively create a temporary art installation…

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  • Pond & Stream Investigations

    Pond & Stream Investigations

    Students become scientists with hands on experiences as they investigate the health of our freshwater ecosystems. Just downstream from the Ashokan Reservoir, a vital source (40%) of NYC’s drinking water,…

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  • Ropes Course

    Ropes Course

    Challenge yourself on an obstacle course in the trees above the forest floor. Students work on their teamwork and communication skills while practicing personal and group responsibility as they encounter…

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  • Survival

    Survival

    What would you do if you were lost in the woods or stranded on an island? Learn basic survival skills and wilderness safety concepts in this fun, hands-on class. With…

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  • Team Building Level I: Challenge and Discovery

    Team Building Level I: Challenge and Discovery

    Work as a team to solve a variety of fun and purposeful challenges that cultivate trust and cooperation among the group. Designed to de-emphasize competition, these activities encourage creativity, spontaneity,…

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  • Team Building Level II

    Team Building Level II

    This team building course is more advanced than Challenge and Discovery, designed to challenge a group, both physically and mentally, through a variety of fun initiatives and ground-level elements. As…

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  • Tinsmithing and Broom Making

    Tinsmithing and Broom Making

    Students work together to make beautiful, functional crafts using colonial methods and tools. They will learn about the raw materials they’re using and question how the industrial revolution has changed…

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EVENING PROGRAMS:

Teachers choose evening programs (in advance of their class’s arrival to Ashokan) that will complement the day programs. Some are presented by visiting instructors; historic re-enactors, music & dance leaders, and animal specialists. Ashokan instructors lead other evening programs like night walks, skits & song night, and campfire. Click photos for more details.

More questions? Reach out to our program staff directly:

Email our Education Team