Reef Raisers + Meadow Makers OPEN HOUSE

Join us June 6th at our Southold facility to learn about our restoration work, tour our shellfish hatcheries, and celebrate student work!

About The Event

We are pleased to welcome our Reef Raisers + Meadow Makers students, family members, and the local community to this open house-style art + science exhibit!

Learn about the restoration, research, and education initiatives of Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program of Suffolk County and Back to the Bays Initiative, and how you can get involved as a Back to the Bays Steward.

Guided hatchery tours will be offered at top of each hour. Enjoy refreshments, visit our local partner tables, and help us celebrate the artwork and student work produced throughout the inaugural year of this program.

About The Program

With funding provided by a grant from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, we were able to launch our pilot Reef Raisers + Meadow Maker Program. This multi-unit, hands-on curriculum is designed to engage local students and schools in restoring oyster reefs and coastal plant habitats to Long Island's shorelines. Throughout the past year, our educators delivered presentations in participating classrooms that introduced students to the biology, ecological importance, and restoration methods of oyster reefs, salt marshes, and eelgrass habitats. Students activitely participated in aquaculture and coastal plant restoration in their classrooms and learned to collect scientific data. Many also participated in our integrate art/science curriculum, producing unique projects inspired by the curriculum.

We'd like to thank the schools, teachers, and students that worked with us during our inaugural 2025/26 school year.

• Peconic Community School - 5th-7th Grade Science Classes
• Southold High School - AP Environmental Classes
• Mattituck/Cutchogue High School - AP Environmental, Environmental, and Marine Science Classes
• Riverhead School District's Pulaski School - Entire 5th Grades

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County strives to host inclusive, accessible events that respectfully enables all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to interact and engage fully. Our Association will make reasonable accommodations to enable all individuals to participate in our events. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact (Hazel Wodehouse, hew57@cornell.edu).