The visitor enters a large compression habitat which represents a compressed eco-slice and time slice, through the significant Long Island succession microsystems to the present. The habitat will include living and artificial plants, live animals, freshwater marine mammals such as otters and beavers, combined with birds, fish, turtles, salamanders, and snakes. Also, many other species will be presented in controlled habitats which will appear to be one large habitat to the viewer. As visitors move through the exhibit, acrylic panels at full and rail height allow views to reveal the exquisite natural species of plants and animals. The visitor continues down a boardwalk in the day lit world of the habitat, viewing exhibits that feature life in the glacial stream with waterfalls and cutaway views of successive pools with native fishes.
Visitors can descend to view deeper pools to closely observe the activities of the fish.
Various exhibit rooms featuring enhanced views of several ecosystems may be accessed from the path. Learning centers will also be positioned in this area, enabling visitors of all ages to partake in multi-faceted educational programs. The visitor will proceed along the boardwalk into an extension of the stream where the river otters will live. The viewer will then have the option to step down for a close look of a bog that will be home to beavers, turtles, frogs and fish. The adjacent forest habitat will be protected from the industrious beavers that will be supplied regularly with fresh cut limbs and tree trunks, providing food and bedding for the beavers as well as entertainment for the visitors.