Field Trips

Field trips provide hands on experiences that are an essential part of this course. Students are expected to attend each one of the 4 separate field research trips and to participate appropriately while on the trips. An alternate assignment will be made available for students who are not able to attend a particular trip, but students are still responsible for content covered in class that is reinforced on the trips.

It is the student's responsibility to inform all of their teachers BEFORE the field trip. You are responsible for getting and completing all assignments you miss as a result of the field trip. We WILL likely go on field trips even if it is raining, except in severe circumstances. If there is inclement weather on the day of a field trip, please listen for announcements or contact Ms. Williams. If a field trip is cancelled you are responsible for any work, for any of your classes that is due that day.

Filled-out, signed permission slips must be handed in by the date requested by Ms. Williams. As some trips have limited space, students will be allowed to go on trips based on the order in which permission slips are received.  If you do not go on a field trip, you are required to attend class with a substitute teacher and complete an alternate assignment.

Ms. Williams reserves the right to exclude a student from a field trip because of behavioral or academic issues in this or another teacher's class. In consideration of the safety and security of all of our students and staff, only those who can successfully represent Smithtown while in the classroom and school building will be asked to participate in our field research at this time.

For all field trips, please bring a picture ID, lunch, water and sunscreen. Do not bring inappropriate materials. On all trips you must wear close-toed, comfortable shoes (i.e., sneakers or boots) that can get dirty and wet. You will not be allowed to go on the trip in sandals or flip flops. Wearing layers is highly recommended.



These are the tentative dates for all of Ms. Williams Oceans field trips for 2020-21:

1) Tuesday, September 29th or Wednesday September 30th; Research Field Work aboard the Research Vessel Peconic in Shinnecock Bay out of SUNY Southampton, departure at 7:20 a.m., return to school by 1:45 p.m.  Due to limited space to work on deck, these trips are limited to the first 30 students who hand in permission slips on time. Click here to see the Research Vessel we will use to conduct our field work on this trip.

2) Tuesday, March 16th or Wednesday, March 17th; Marine Vertebrate/Invertebrate Comparative Anatomy/Physiology Day at Sunken Meadow Environmental and Science Center, departure at 7:20 a.m., return to school by 1:45 p.m. 

3) Thursday, April 8th or Friday, April 9th; Cnidaria Workshop/Behind the Scenes at Atlantis Marine World; Riverhead Foundation, departure at 7:20 a.m., return to school by 1:45 p.m.

4) Thursday, May 20th or Friday, May 21st; Ferry Ride to a Hiking Trip/Research Field Work around Sunken Forest on Fire Island via Sailor's Haven, departure at 7:20 a.m., return to school by 1:45 p.m.