Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) Wetlands Nature Preserve Over 600 natural acres of wetlands and forests located about 10 minutes from campus. Used by courses in Ecology, Botany and Natural Resources as field study site. The preserve includes freshwater and estuarine wetland systems along a central tidal creek - Alley Creek. The freshwater inflows are from small lakes and streams including a rare artesian spring. Tidal ranges in the estuary are typically greater than 6 feet. The Alley Creek tidal system connects to the North with a much larger estuary -Little Neck Bay- which itself is tributary to the upper East River and Long Island Sound.
Windmill Pond Ecological Restoration Project In 1987 planning began for the creation of a new open water habitat within the existing freshwater wetlands near the headquarters building. The capital part of the pond project was finished in 1997. Vegetation and wildlife are now firmly established within and around the pond which in the last few years has become a featured part of the landscape at the center.