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© Alexa Hoyer
Places To See
Environmental Education Center
Location
Main Street
Now open Tuesdays (3-5pm), Thursdays (3-5pm), Saturdays (1-5pm), and Sundays (1-5pm)
How To Get Here

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center is a year-round space, located at 99 Plymouth Street in DUMBO.  It is the home base for our thriving education program which serves over 10,000 school children each year. The Environmental Education Center is open to families and park visitors on weekends and weekday afternoons. Click here to learn more about visiting for Open Hours or scroll below.

Participate in Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Environmental Education Programs to investigate the ecology, history and infrastructure of the Brooklyn Waterfront.

Open Hours

Public Open Hours at the Environmental Education Center take place three days a week and are free and open to all. Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. Our exhibits invite visitors to explore our exemplary animal collection showcasing creatures that are local to New York. Open Hours also features educational games, activities, exhibits and crafts that rotate monthly and coincide with comprehensive themes such as sustainability, pollination, and geology. Click here to learn more.

  • TUESDAYS 3-5pm
  • THURSDAYS 3-5pm
  • SATURDAYS 1-5pm
  • SUNDAYS 1-5pm

*Check back later for select dates the Education Center will be closed in 2023.

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  • HISTORY

      In 2008, before Brooklyn Bridge Park officially opened, the Conservancy sought to engage the public in learning about the marine life of the East River and what would soon be a vibrant waterfront park for all. With the unique opportunity of beach and shoreline access (a rarity in NYC), we began a public seining program right underneath the Manhattan Bridge. In the years following, the Conservancy expanded environmental education programs and offerings by utilizing the newly restored park piers as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory.

      The Environmental Education Center opened September 10, 2015 and this new indoor space enabled field trips and educational classes to take place year-round, even in inclement weather. It also allowed for the expansion of new education programs such as Public Open Hours, Discovery Sessions, Early Nature Experiences, and more.

  • FEATURES

      A key feature of the Environmental Education Center is the interactive “Discovery Station.” A large ten foot by four foot exhibit featuring a three dimensional scaled map of Brooklyn Bridge Park and thirteen distinct hands-on drawers that highlight a particular feature of the park pertaining to sustainability, ecology or the built environment. There are also twelve “Then and Now” picture pull outs that focus past and present photos of certain locations in and around the park. The beautiful yellow wood around the base of the structure is Longleaf Yellow Pine that was salvaged from the warehouses that were demolished in the making of the park. The exhibit was designed in collaboration between education staff, Human Nature Design and Moey Inc.  

      One of the most beloved features in the space is the Environmental Education Center’s 250 gallon estuarium which houses a fluctuating collection of East River fish and invertebrate species caught in our seining and fishing programs. The estuarium was designed to represent the distinct aesthetic of the park-adjacent East River and includes an attached interactive Tidal Pool where visitors can get a top down look at some of the smaller species. 

      The Environmental Education Center is also home to a small collection of more aquatic and terrestrial native species such as turtles, amphibians, and invertebrates. 

      All of the living species are acquired and housed in accordance with NYS DEC educational permits.

  • FAQ
      • Where is it located?
        • The Environmental Education Center is located at 99 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Just under the Manhattan Bridge, the building can be accessed at the intersection of Washington Street and Plymouth Street.
      • Rules?
        • Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
        • Be respectful to all living things in the space.
        • No gum.
        • Shoes required.
        • No pets.
        • Education staff reserves the right to ask any visitor to leave at their discretion.
      • How much does it cost?
        • Public Open Hours are free but we do accept donations.
      • Can I rent out the space?
        • We do not rent out the space but do offer our signature DISCOVERY SESSIONS that take place on weekend mornings. 
      • What ages is the center appropriate for?
        • The center is designed to serve all ages.
      • Are there restrooms?
        • Yes. Restrooms are located within the building.
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