Snug Harbor ’s history begins with its opening August 1, 1833 as America’s first home for “aged, worn-out and decrepit” seamen. It was built on land given by Captain Robert Richard Randall, whose father had amassed a fortune as ship owner, merchant and privateer during the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. Our historical programs provide students with opportunities to experience what active life might have been for a seaman on a wind-driven schooner.

Young Seafarers: Students search for glorious sea images in the Main Hall ceil- ing mural and sketch the grand nautical decorations finding clues of sailors’ lives in the 19th Century. Examine an authen- ticsailors’knotboard. Learntotieknots that sailors depended on for survival. Grades 2-8. (All Seasons)

Stained Glass: The beauty of stained glass introduced through marine themes in a historic landmark. Call for pricing. Grades 6-12. Traveling Program (October – June)

Constellations: Light the night sky and use the brilliant stars to lead you to your destination. Myths, magic and a brief introduction to celestial navigation. Grades 6-12 (All Seasons)

Historic Site Tours available for Grades 9-12. Additional charge for guided tours.

Snug Harbor is an ideal setting to study Architecture – the art and science of designing and erecting buildings as functions of society and living design. Explore the concepts of symmetry, strength, support and space. Investigate some of our 28 celebrated structures that are renowned as extraordinary examples of Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Second Em- pire and Italianate styles.

Porticos to Pediments: Introduces young minds to the value of preserving buildings for their history, heritage and beauty. Use geometric shapes in blueprinting redesigns of buildings. Modified for K-12 introductions to architecture and local history. (All Seasons)

Architectural Scavenger Hunt: Students may already recognize a column or an arch. But, what’s a pediment, a capital, an obelisk, a fresco? Find these and other staples of architecture and determine the purpose of each. Grades 1-2, 3-8. Inte- rior/Exterior (Fall/Spring).

Careers: Advanced students may be con- sidering professions, and architecture en- compasses an array of professional roles and career paths, from designers and structural experts to engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and urban or regional planners. How does one be- come a professional in these related fields? Grades 9-12 and Adult (Scheduled Work- shops)

Snug Harbor ’s vibrant Horticulture program addresses theory and practice in the healthy balance of physical, chemical and biological processes. Classes are topical, informative and fun, and, emphasize the “greening” of the world around us.

Pumpkin Seeds and Autumn Leaves: How do pumpkin seeds grow? Why do leaves change color in the fall? Includes leaf rubbing craft and a sugar pumpkin. Off-site students receive gourds. Grades K-3 (Fall/On-site & Travel)

Three Sisters of Autumn: Learn about Native American gardening customs and visit a vegetable garden. Includes making an age appropriate seasonal craft. Grades 2-4 (Fall)

American Deserts of the Southwest: View a slide show presentation about the arid world of deserts and the animals that inhabit them. Take home a sand art design and a planting. Grades 2-6 (All Seasons/ Indoors)

Tree Sleuths: Detectives are on a mission to estimate a tree’s age, match seeds to trees, and determine a tree’s name. Includes a recycling craft. Grades 3-5 (Late Spring – Outdoors)

I Speak for the Trees: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and puppets invite students to learn about conservation. A demonstration of papermaking is included. Grades 1-3 (All Seasons)

Under the Green Umbrella: Explore the mysteries of the Rain Forest through sight and sound. Includes creating a miniature terrarium. Grades 3 and up (All Seasons

The A-Mazing Secret Garden and Castle: Students learn about plants while listening to the children’s classic tale, The Secret Garden. Discover the magic of playing in a maze. Each student takes home a small planting. Grades 1-4 (Fall/Spring)

Flower Sense: Explore the five senses. Includes creating a potpourri sachet for gift-giving. Grades PreK-1 (Travel)

From Seeds to Supermarket: Look inside a seed to understand how plants germinate. Learn about the products they “grow” into. Grades 1-3 (All Seasons)

Plants That Dance: Little ones learn how a plant grows through storytelling, puppetry, poetry and dance. Includes craft and small planting. PreK-1 (Travel/ All Seasons)

The Staten Island Compost Project introduces students to biology, environ- mental studies and soil science. Learn composting with the innovative Unearth- ing the Science of Composting class. This hands-on class encourages students to:

• Foster environmental stewardship by learning the importance of reusing, reduc- ing and recycling our waste.
• Discover the complex ecosystem in the decomposition process with working com- post and live worms.
• Learn the essentials to start composting at school and at home.
• Realize numerous benefits that compost provides to soil and plant health.

Discover why a compost bin is such a rich and rewarding educational tool: Compost bins, supplemental texts and lesson plans for in-class activities are provided. (All classes modified for grades K-12)

Unearthing the Science of Composting can be provided at your classroom upon request. There is a fee of $25 per class (max. # of stu- dents is 25). Call 718-425-3557 to make a reservation.

Performing Arts programs at Snug Harbor serve educators as a resource for classroom activities and staff development as suggested by the Blueprint for the Arts. On-site classes, in- school residencies and teacher resources offer arts integration through creative and disciplined-based instruction. Professional teaching artists guide classes and choices include both subject and outcome-based curriculum. Resident artists bring inventive activities in theatre and literature to your classroom.

Culminating performance projects and readings can be held on the Snug Harbor campus.

Creative Drama and Playmaking: Class sessions help develop cognitive skills through creative writing, group process, and peer evaluation. Instruction includes acting, drama, movement and, rudiments of design. As students progress, so does the difficulty; however, students at any grade level participating for the first time will be successful. (Grades K-12)

Music: Staten Island Conservatory of Music’s courses cover an historic timeline from ancient to contemporary music. Lectures are accompanied by audio presentations. Course offerings include: composers, genres, styles, history of musical instruments, ancient music, music in the Middle ages, music in the Baroque era, music in the Classical period, Romanticism, Post- Romanticism and 20th Century music, all of which will greatly contribute to students’ intellectual and cultural enrichment. (Grades K-12)

Contact us for a custom, designed series to support your school’s strategic plan, provide curriculum, or enhance current programs.

Snug Harbor is a garden of Visual Arts delights for all students. Learning experiences here sprout from grassroots, hands-on events, grow into appreciation, analysis and creation of multi-media works of art, and blossom into activities planned to produce the seeds of community service and career growth. Experiences available to student participants in the visual arts program include grade appropriate lessons.

Changing exhibitions of acclaimed local, national and international artists at the Newhouse Center are platforms for learning as students tour the gallery exhibitions and create their own related artworks or inventions through innovative hands-on experiences. Programs are led by experienced teaching artists who work with a range of media from painting and sculpture, to video. Hands- on workshops follow all gallery visits.

Discovering the Visual Arts Scavenger Hunt: Students will first be introduced to an exhibition through a teacher’s kit, which includes reproductions for them to develop basic skills identifying different art forms such as paintings, sculpture and architecture. Next a one-hour school visit to Snug Harbor occurs and an educator leads a scavenger hunt through works of art and architecture with students. A follow up discussion takes place after returning to the classroom where students can discuss their experience discovering art through analysis of shape, color, form and subject matter. Grades 2-8

Visual Literacy: Students will first be in- troduced to an exhibition through a teacher’s kit, which includes reproductions for them to develop basic skills identify- ing different art forms such as paintings, sculpture and architecture. An educator will then meet students in the Gallery’s Study Center for an in-depth analysis of three to four works of art. This session lasts one-hour and combines a discussion with an art-making workshop. Grades 9-12