Tiana Bayside Summer Programs
Thank you for an inspiring 2025 summer season! Check back in January for updates about our 2026 camp season.
Best of Both Worlds
Tiana Bayside Facility offers a truly unique setting for youth education and recreation. From our facility on Dune Road in Hampton Bays, students can explore the diversity of marine habitats that make Long Island such a special place to live and visit. Sheltered from the ocean by the dunes, the calm waters of Tiana Bay harbor salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mud flats. A short walk across the protective barrier island, and you arrive at the mighty Atlantic Ocean. This unique position allows students to gain an understanding of the biology and ecological importance of these marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. All of our programs are led by experienced CCE Marine Educators, skilled in fostering positive relationships between children of all walks of life. Children who attend our programs forge a life-long relationship with maritime culture and come away deeply inspired by the natural world.
Previous Summer Program Offerings
Bayside Adventures
Bayside Adventures is a 5-day immersive science program where students delve into the multi-disciplinary realm of Marine Science. They learn to formulate and test scientific questions, conduct experiments, measure environmental parameters, and record data. The unique proximity of Tiana Bayside to both the ocean and bay provides a unique opportunity for students to explore various marine habitats such as salt marshes, eelgrass meadows, mud flats, and dunes. Activities include seining for local fish, hiking through coastal environments, bird watching, identifying local species, microscopic specimen viewing, restoring marine plant environments, and incorporating art and creativity into observational learning. Each student actively cares for their own fish tank throughout the week. To participate, students must be capable swimmers, comfortable wading in water, and physically able to engage in seining.
Director: Kim Manzo kp92@cornell.edu
ArtSea
Art and science both require careful and keen observational skills. The marine habitats surrounding Tiana Bayside Facility are full of visual, tactile, and scientific wonder and CCE’s ArtSea Programs at Tiana offer an experience like no other. These week-long sessions foster personal creative expression, while immersing students in the marine environment. Led by local artist, Carolyn Munaco, students learn the techniques of painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage using the creatures and seascapes around them as inspiration. A typical day at ArtSea includes one or more art projects, accompanied by hands-on science lessons created by CCE educators, with daily outdoor habitat exploration and touch-tank time. Students collect found objects and natural specimens, observe wild animals in nature, study the patterns in plant life and insects, and create works of art that are personal and spark a sense of pride. ArtSea offers something for everyone.
Director: Carolyn Munaco | cjm427@cornell.edu
Marine Art + Science Camp
From macroalgae to marine mammals-2 weeks of immersive learning
Join us for an incredible adventure at the Marine Art + Science Camp! This two-week camp is designed to provide an immersive learning experience like no other for kids who have a passion for marine science. Located at the Tiana Bayside Facility, our camp offers the perfect setting to explore the wonders of the bay and ocean. Campers will gain a deep understanding of marine science and develop their artistic skills during this 2-week camp experience.
From microscopic plankton to the behavior of marine mammals, our campers will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into various marine topics. Through hands-on activities, beach adventures and engaging projects, they will learn about marine ecosystems, conservation, and the importance of protecting our oceans. At the Marine Art + Science Camp, creativity is encouraged! Campers will have the chance to express their newfound knowledge through art projects inspired by the marine world. Whether it's through drawing, painting, or sculpting, our campers will unleash their artistic talents. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to dive deep into the world of marine science and art. Join us at the Marine Science and Art Camp and embark on an unforgettable journey!
Directors: Kim Manzo kp92@cornell.edu
+ Carolyn Munaco cjm427@cornell.edu
Seahorse Art & Science Program
In this specialty program, students will become immersed in the world of seahorses! Each day we will focus on different aspects of the biology, ecology and behavior of seahorses. The highlights of this program will include daily seining to contribute scientific data to CCE's Seahorse Conservation Initiative, by capturing, photographing, measuring and using other scientific equipment to monitor the population seahorses in the eelgrass meadow. Students will also get the unique opportunity to snorkel over the eelgrass meadows, discovering many of the elusive species that shelter there. On Friday, the day will take place at the Old Ponquogue Bridge site, just down the road from Tiana. Parents must transport their children to and from this site and are welcome to stay and enjoy the fun! Detailed information will be provided.
When not in the water, students will set up fish tanks and conduct experiments, help our local seahorse populations through stewardship activities including eelgrass restoration and coastal clean ups, and have the opportunity to work on a seahorse inspired art project everyday with the guidance of local artist Carolyn Munaco.
All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable wading in the water up to waist height, and be physically able to participate in seining to attend.
Director: Kim Manzo kp92@cornell.edu
Tiana Bayside Facility
Hampton Bays, NY
Tiana Bayside Facility offers a truly unique setting for youth education in marine science. Students will get to explore the diversity of life within the marine habitats surrounding the facility, including the ocean beach, the dunes, the calm waters of Shinnecock Bay, the salt marshes, and the seagrass meadows.