In 2003, the Prospect Park Alliance partnered with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York City Department of Education to establish the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment.

BASE is one of over 40 new schools opened city-wide through the New Century High Schools program, designed to provide students with smaller classes, personalized instruction, and rigorous concentrations. BASE uses field study in Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to supplement classroom teaching about science, nature, and the environment.

BASE's Learning Expedition program sends students on field trips to study nature and habitats in different parts of the world with partners like The Nature Conservancy, Earthwatch, Sadie Nash Summer Institute, and Audubon New York.

For instance, the Rheinstrom Hill Learning Expedition Program strives to connect children to nature by involving them in a state-wide science project designed to catalog New York state's dragonfly population.  In a four day, three night, program based at Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary, students put skills that they have learned in the classroom to practical use and obtain experience in the outdoors. Students participate in dragonfly and damselfly surveys, learn to use field equipment, learn to follow research protocol, learn species identification skills, develop presentation skills and spend time outdoors.

Spotlight on: Francine

Francine has taken part in a number of partner programs, including the Dragonfly programs and Learning Expeditions. In September 2009 Francine went to New Mexico for the National Hispanic Environmental Education Conference. During the summer she is working as a research assistant to Dr. Pell of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  In the fall of 2010, Francine starts at  Wheaton College.

BASE is open to all New York City residents with priority given to Region 6 students. For more information, call (718) 636-5800 x5400 or visit newvisions.org.

Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment
Headquartered in Prospect Heights High School
883 Classon Avenue, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Phone: (718) 230-6363
Fax: (718) 230-6370
Veronica Peterson, Principal

Read about how a TogetherGreen  grant to Audubon, New York will help BASE students.


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