CLE Students Learn About Their Local Environment

Our Cottage Lane Elementary School students stepped out of the classroom and into nature last Friday during their annual Earth Day event at Tallman Mountain State Park! 

This outdoor education day is organized by CLE Technology teacher Jacob Tanenbaum and features various hands-on stations that teach students about their local environment, animals, renewable energy and ways to protect the earth. “I think it’s so important that our students learn about the environment they live in. There is truly no better way to learn about it than to be immersed in nature,” noted Tanenbaum. “This is our way of introducing them to the importance of protecting their environment and teaching them environmental stewardship. We’re so grateful to all of our volunteers that come together to start that effort and to everyone at Tallman for allowing us to come here every year.”

This year, students rotated between stations hosted by volunteers and local experts from Veolia Water, Orange and Rockland, Lamont Doherty, the Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Keep Rockland Beautiful, Rockland Green, the Turtles of the Western Highway, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, CLE staff members and retired CLE teachers. 

Thank you to all of the CLE staff and community partners that helped make the 2025 Earth Day a success!