A Hands-On Study in Science and Sustainability at Lower School

In its third year, Lower School Science teacher Carmen Dreyer has guided Kindergarten through Grade 4 students in a unique, grade-specific unit centered around Bobwhite Quails. Students research and observe the life cycle of these birds—from egg to hatchling—while taking part in their care in preparation for an exciting ecosystem restoration project in partnership with The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED). At six weeks old, the quails are released to support local ecosystems in their natural habitat of Long Island: helping control the tick population, contributing to farm health by eating invasive weeds, and offering other environmental benefits.

Throughout the project, students become stewards of this restorative work, witnessing the wonder of life as eggs hatch in real time, naming and gently handling the baby quails, recording detailed observations, and conducting research. Grade 4 students culminate their experience by collaborating on a published book documenting their learning. Read an excerpt from this year’s Grade 4 quail book and a reflection from Dreyer. If you’re interested in witnessing the inspiring and joyful release of the quails in Long Island dates are noted below.

About the Lower School Quail Project

By Carmen Dreyer, Lower School Science Faculty 

During my first year teaching science, I became acquainted, through a mutual friend, with Ranger Eric Powers, Site and Program Director, Co-Founder of CEED (The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery) which is located on Long Island. Powers organizes quail hatching all across New York City and Long Island as part of an ecosystem restoration project. This project is restorative in that it eliminates pesticide use and promotes organic farming because quails eat weeds, and even more importantly, they help balance the insect population. Quails are excellent at eating ticks and other insects and decreasing the tick population is very helpful for humans!

The fourth graders are the leaders of our quail study, though every grade enjoys learning about quails during this exciting event. As a culminating science project, Grade 4 students dive into quail research, participate in a virtual visit with Ranger Powers as part of an in-class “field trip,” and collaborate to write their own class book about quails. Since there are no children’s books specifically about quails, or at least none we’ve been able to find, we create one ourselves. The information they provide is vital for future hatching. It’s a big job; for example, every year, I need to apply for a license to hatch with the Fish and Wildlife Agency. 

Fourth graders take on significant responsibility during the project—independently researching and recording information, monitoring the incubator, carefully handling the quails during their first three days of life, and naming them. They also write the class book with a high level of independence, showcasing the academic growth they’ve achieved during their time in the Lower School. The project ties into at least one science unit from each grade level they’ve experienced: Kindergarten’s bird identification through sight and sound, first grade’s study of biological structures, functions and life cycles, second grade’s focus on ecosystems, and third grade’s sustainability unit. The initiative began with me; I’ve worked with this group since second grade.

An Excerpt from a Grade 4 Book by Students

Chapter 1: Our Quail Project

Written by Mia D. ’33 and Caroline M. ’33, 4A

“Hey Ms. Carmen! When are they coming!?”

“OH MY GOSH, I THINK ONE IS HATCHING!”  

If you’ve ever been to Poly Prep Lower School in April, chances are, you’ve heard this craziness. So, why does this happen, you ask? Are we creating monsters or something? No. Actually, we’re raising the cutest little animals on the PLANET! Also known as: the Northern Bobwhite Quails. We take them in as eggs from an environmental and quail expert called Ranger Powers and set them in an incubator and wait for them to hatch. In late April every year, we get the eggs and keep them until about a week or two after they hatch, which is usually around the time they lose the fuzzy little fluff that keeps them warm, and start getting real feathers. Then, we send them to their natural environment, Long Island. The older and more responsible students are allowed to touch and even play with them! We have been doing this at Poly Prep since 2023. We do it because, though Northern Bobwhite Quails belong in Long Island, they have been extirpated from Long Island, and so the tick population is EXPLODING.

If you don’t know what ticks are, skip to the sub-chapter “Ticks!” (by Addy C. ’33) to find out. Even though we just explained why we do it, you might be wondering how did the organizers of this quail-raising program even notice how many ticks there were? Well, this whole program actually took a few years to kick in. It started out on a (mostly) normal mountain, where classes around Kindergarten and second grade took small hikes for field trips. As a standard health and safety precaution, they did a “Tick Check” after every hike. And guess what? By 2004, they found 15 TICKS PER CLASS! That’s one tick every one and a half people, or at least half of each class. So, they did some research and turns out, as we said before, their main predator was quails, but there were no quails coming to eat them. They had been extirpated! (Cue loud and ominous noises DUN DUN DUNNNN!!!)

But now we are working on raising them and bringing them back to their natural environment. So don’t worry Long Island, our quails are coming your way soon!

Public Quail Release Dates

• Friday, July 19, 2025, 10:00 AM: Brookhaven State Park, Ridge NY, brought to you by Mount Sinai Elementary School.  
• Thursday, July 24, 2025, 11:00 AM: Hempstead Harbor Woods Mountain Bike Trail, Port Washington, NY, brought to you by the Town of North Hempstead.
• Saturday, July 26, 2025, 10:00 AM: Caleb Smith State Park, Smithtown, NY, brought to you by CEED.
• Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 10:30 AM: CEED Nature Center, Brookhaven, NY, brought to you by CEED.

NOTE: For Caleb Smith State Park only: If you are coming to a release with children from your school or library, you are welcome to bring a pet carrier or box. Ranger Powers or CEED staff can catch 5-10 Quail for you and after the main release, you can take your carrier and children and have your own private release.

Lastly, Quail Care Volunteers are still needed for the Clark Botanic Garden pen and the Manorville Pen. If you know anyone, please have them contact CEED. Ranger Eric Powers thanks everyone for their enthusiastic participation in CEED’s Quail Project. The organization needs and appreciates each and every one of you. Thank you again!