Washington Spy Trail

  • Events
  • News
  • Specials
  • Itineraries
    • Long Island’s Blue Bloods
    • “Prohibition Secrets Revealed” Itineraries
  • About
    • North Shore Promotion Alliance Directory
    • NSPA-Communities
    • Member Registration
    • Members Login
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Washington Spy Trail Blog
  • Stony Brook NY Hotel, Restaurant and Event Venue
  • Stony Brook Village Center
  • stonybrookvillage
  • stonybrookvillage
  • Attractions
  • Museums, Arts & Culture
  • Historic Sites
  • Parks-Natural Sites
  • Lodging
  • Dining-Shopping-Business
  • Home

Erwin J. Ernst Marine Conservation Center

08/18/2015

Located in the heart of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 88-acre wetlands preserve is the Erwin J. Ernst Marine Conservation Center (EMCC).  Named after Dr. Erwin J. Ernst, the Center has been an important part of WMHO for more than 50 years.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ernst worked to preserve marine life and the environment. His passion was contagious as he taught thousands of students at Southampton College, the New York Aquarium, Ward Melville High School and on-site at WMHO’s Wetlands Preserve.  In fact, many of Ernie’s students changed their career path and went on to careers in marine biology and environmental science.

Dr. Ernst’s intensive six-week summer course began at the Marine Conservations Center in 1965 at West Meadow Creek. At the same time, the Town of Brookhaven was making plans to carve out a marina in the wetlands.  Dr. Ernst convinced Mr. Melville to save the wetlands from being developed and Mr. Melville began to purchase parcels of land from individuals.  He then designated the entire 88-acres as a Wetlands Preserve.  Mr. Melville subsequently deeded the preserve to WMHO.    It continues to be one of the most pristine wetlands on Long Island and in fact on the Eastern Seaboard.

The Marine Conservation Center houses two classrooms, a learning lab, microscopes, touch tank and video conferencing equipment.  The on-site program allows students to explore the salt marsh ecosystem and learn the importance of salt marshes and food web interactions.  The hands-on program enables students to identify plants, animals, shells, rocks and marsh grasses.

Realizing how important it is for students all across the country to learn about a salt marsh, WMHO developed a distance learning program “Electronic Explorations – The Salt Marsh Ecosystem.”  Wearing a specially equipped pair of eyeglasses the naturalist teaches right from the water’s edge. Now, students from all over the United States, who may never have the opportunity to see a salt marsh, can explore the plants and animals native to a salt marsh, see live specimens, and converse with the naturalist in real time.  WMHO won an International Award for this unique program.

*Covid-19 update. The Ward Melville Heritage Organization is offering a virtual field trip to the Erwin J. Ernst Marine Conservation Center for educators. Called ‘Electronic Explorations: The Salt Marsh Ecosystem Live!‘ the program is held live from the heart of an 88-acre wetland preserve and lab, introducing participants to the marine science and ecology of coastal environments. The program follows NY State and Common Core Standard learning standards.  You can reserve online.

Filed Under: Attractions, Parks, Gardens & Natural Sites, Stony Brook / Setauket NY

  • Washington Spy Trail Map

Attractions

  • Avalon Park & Preserve
  • Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
  • Caumsett State Historic Park
  • Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
  • Discovery Cruise
  • Erwin J. Ernst Marine Conservation Center
  • Gov. Alfred E. Smith Sunken Meadow State Park
  • Hercules Pavillion
  • Huntington Historical Society
  • Jazz Loft
  • Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages
  • Nathan Hale Monument
  • Nissequogue River State Park
  • Oheka Castle Historic Hotel
  • Raynham Hall Museum
  • Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
  • Staller Center for the Arts
  • Stony Brook Grist Mill, c.1751
  • Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
  • Take the Ferry to the Heart of Spy Country
  • The Brewster House, c. 1665
  • The Country House
  • The Heckscher Museum of Art
  • The Thompson House, c. 1709

Dining-Shopping-Business

  • Finnegan’s
  • Oheka Castle Historic Hotel
  • Sandbar
  • Stony Brook Village Center
  • Take the Ferry to the Heart of Spy Country
  • The Country House
  • Three Village Inn

Vacation Lodging

  • Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook
  • Oheka Castle Historic Hotel
  • Three Village Inn

Vacation Special Packages

More Special Packages

North Shore Promotion Alliance Mission

Our mission is to promote the history, culture and beauty of Long Island’s North Shore and provide a guide to visiting the major attractions and historical sites along the Washington Spy Trail, a pathway through history.

Contact Us

Search by Keyword

Explore the Washington Spy Trail

  • Attractions
  • Parks & Natural Sites
  • Museums, Arts & Culture
  • Historic Sites
  • Vacation Lodging
  • Dining-Shopping-Business

Copyright © 2023 · Explore the George Washington Spy Trail & Discover Historic Sites · Parks · Arts & Culture
Heritage Sites & Attractions · Shopping · Lodging · Dining on Long Island's North Shore · Log in



Discover Long Island NY



Discover Long Island's North Shore - Suffolk County



Web Design & Development by Rita D. Robinette, Foresite Consulting, LLC