Overview
Back to the Bays is the public engagement arm of Cornell Cooperative Extension's Marine Program, which has been running real restoration science on Long Island's East End bays since 1985. What makes it worth your attention isn't the Cornell connection — though that matters. It's that young people here aren't observing conservation work. They're doing it.
The program operates across seven active sites spanning Hampton Bays to Montauk, with work as varied as the species they're trying to bring back: oyster reefs, eelgrass meadows, bay scallops, horseshoe crabs, and Long Island's threatened seahorse population. There are three distinct ways for your child to get involved, and they're meaningfully different in age range, commitment, and what they'll take away.
Stewardship Sessions — All ages, no experience needed
Stewardship Sessions are public, hands-on workshops held throughout the year at restoration sites across the East End. The work changes with the season. One session might involve weaving live eelgrass shoots into burlap anchors for marine meadow planting; another might be deploying oyster reef structures, seeding bay scallops, or building "seahorse hotels" in the eelgrass beds. These are not demonstrations. The data collected and the structures built are part of active, multi-decade conservation work.
Sessions are open to all ages and require no prior experience. To access the calendar, your family joins the Back to the Bays Stewardship Program — an annual membership that supports the initiative and keeps the Stewardship Sessions running. Stewards also receive a newsletter, merchandise discounts, and the option to follow activity at a specific site.
Junior Steward Certificate — High school
This is Back to the Bays' structured track for high school students who want more than a one-time experience. Junior Stewards commit to attending a series of Stewardship Sessions over the year — eelgrass restoration, shellfish aquaculture, coastal plant propagation, oyster reef deployment, bay scallop and clam seeding — and earn an official certificate documenting their work. Students can also log additional hours by helping with setup and cleanup at outreach events.
Community service hours are available for all participants. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Hazel Wodehouse at hew57@cornell.edu to get started.
Internships — College students and post-grads
Back to the Bays takes on interns year-round, with the most structured opportunities in summer. Two tracks are available.
General Internships place students inside CCE Marine's active restoration and research work — aquaculture, habitat restoration, seahorse population monitoring, horseshoe crab tagging surveys, and public outreach. Interns work directly alongside staff scientists. Art/Science Education Internships are focused on communications, public engagement, and youth education outreach — a less common option that works well for students whose strengths bridge science and storytelling.
Both tracks require a minimum of 20 hours per week, with some evening and weekend events expected. Interns must be 18 or older. All internships are currently unpaid; college credit is available upon request.
For post-grads with a bachelor's degree in marine or environmental science, a more selective Post-Grad Specialization track pairs individuals directly with a CCE staff scientist on a focused research question in either the Habitat or Aquaculture Program. This one is offered on a case-by-case basis, to highly motivated, independent, experienced candidates.
Summer intern selection typically wraps in spring; fall and spring internships are occasionally available.
Who It's For
- Stewardship Sessions — Works for the curious kid of almost any age, including the younger child who just started slowing down outside and paying attention. No experience needed. Families are welcome.
- Junior Steward Certificate — For the high schooler ready to commit to something real over time. Not a child who needs to be entertained — one who wants to show up consistently, do hard work alongside scientists, and leave knowing it mattered.
- Internships — For the college student who wants to know what this work actually feels like before deciding it's the path. Both tracks — science and education — reward someone who is self-directed and genuinely curious about the marine environment.
All three have one thing in common: your child won't leave having watched scientists work. They'll leave having done the work themselves.
Cost & Information
- Stewardship Sessions: access included with annual Stewardship enrollment
- Individual: $25/year · Family: $50/year · Supporting Steward: $100/year
- Junior Steward Certificate: free; series of Stewardship Sessions required
- Internships: free (unpaid); college credit available upon request
- Community service hours available for all participants
- Internship application: backtothebays.org/volunteer
- Volunteer Coordinator: Hazel Wodehouse — hew57@cornell.edu