Build a model water filter and learn about our connection to the health of NYC’s waterways. This program occurs in the Pier 57 Discovery Tank, a climate-controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to identify basic elements of NYC’s waste water treatment process
• Students will be able to identify ways in which they can reduce water pollution
• Students will be able to define plastics and their impact on the environment

Program Activities:
• NYC Sewer System Demonstration
• Plastic Pollution Experiment
• Microplastics Under the Microscope
• Water Filter Build Activity

Investigate the impacts of climate change on NYC’s shorelines through a hands-on engineering challenge. This program occurs in the Pier 57 Discovery Tank, a climate controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to define weather and climate
• Students will be able to describe the impacts on sea level rise on NYC’s shorelines
• Students will be able to identify ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint

Program Activities:
• Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
• Introduction to Climate Change
• Hands-on Shoreline Engineering Challenge

Meet Hudson River wildlife in the Park’s unique research aquarium. This program takes place in the Pier 40 Wetlab aquarium, a non-climate controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to identify fish and various other organisms in the Hudson River
• Students will be able to understand adaptations fish use to survive in the Hudson River environment
• Students will be able to understand stewardship practices to support a healthy Hudson River

Program Activities:
• Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
• Fish Anatomy Lesson
• Wetlab Aquarium Tour

Learn about anatomy, adaptations and biodiversity through games and creative activities.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an estuary
• Students will be able to identify fish and various other organisms in the Hudson River
• Students will be able to identify adaptations fish use to survive in the Hudson River
• Students will be able to define ways they can contribute to the health of the Hudson River and its wildlife

Program Activities:
• Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
• Fish Anatomy Activity
• Food Web Fun
• Exploration of the Discovery Tank’s Touchscreen Games

Take a peek through a microscope and observe some of the Estuary’s smallest organisms. This program occurs in the Pier 57 Discovery Tank, a climate-controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to define plankton and identify the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton
• Students will learn how to operate microscopes to view microscopic organisms
• Students will identify plankton's role in the Hudson River food web

Program Activities:
• Watershed geography and brackish water experiment
• Plankton 101
• Plankton Under the Microscope

Become a field scientist and discover the important role oysters play in the Hudson River Estuary. This program takes place in the Pier 40 Wetlab aquarium, a non-climate controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to identify important water quality parameters
• Students will be able to identify the ecological benefits that oysters provide the Hudson River

Program Activities:
• Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
• Wetlab Tour
• Water Quality Testing
• Oyster Handling & Monitoring

Engage in an interactive role-play activity centered on environmental justice and civic engagement. This program occurs in the Pier 57 Discovery Tank, a climate controlled indoor space.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to identify basic elements of NYC’s waste water treatment process
• Students will be able to identify at least one environmental impact of climate change
• Students will be able to discuss solutions to a local environmental concern that support and protect all stakeholders

Program Activities:
• NYC Sewer System Demonstration
• Environmental Justice Discussion
• Student-driven Mock Community Board Meeting

Explore NYC’s native ecology to learn about the plants and animals found at the water’s edge. This program occurs fully outdoors at Pier 26.

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
• Students will be able to define the difference between gray infrastructure and green infrastructure
• Students will be able to identify several native & non-native bird & plant species
• Students will be able to recognize three different coastal habitat zones

Program Activities:
• Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
• Tide Deck Tour
• Touch Tank
• Native Plant or Bird Scavenger Hunt

For groups that have scheduled a custom program with the River Project team.

Dive in and explore our diverse coastal ecosystem. This program occurs fully outdoors at Gansevoort Peninsula.

Program Objectives:
Students will be able to define and identify the ecological significance of an estuary
Students will be able to identify various organisms native to the Hudson River Estuary
Students will be able to identify the role of tidal salt marshes in protecting coastlines and boosting biodiversity
Students will be able to describe the importance of gray and green infrastructure in protecting coastal communities

Program Objectives:
• Students will be able to identify various organisms native to the Hudson River Estuary
• Students will be able to identify the role of tidal salt marshes in protecting coastlines and boosting biodiversity
• Students will be able to describe the importance of gray and green infrastructure in protecting coastal communities

Program Activities:
• Watershed geography and brackish water experiment
• Salt marsh model build and observation
• Tide pool exploration and analysis using sampling equipment