Students investigate the Gowanus Canal’s water health and measure water quality parameters for dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and turbidity during a 90 minute, in-person, outdoor field trip. Using testing equipment, students collect and discuss data. They discuss New York City’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) issue, solutions for cleaner water, the role of a keystone organism in water health, and why we value good water health of the Gowanus Canal and other NYC waterways. Students' water quality data is uploaded to a publicly accessible database after their trip. Teachers receive pre and post trip resources.

Students in grades K-2: programs run 75 minutes
Students in grades 3-5: programs run 90 minutes

In this outdoor field trip, students will visit the Lowlands Nursery and become urban ecologists, exploring the Gowanus ecosystem. Students will get the chance to make unique observations, explore the wildlife and plants of the canal, and become stewards for improving ecosystem health. Teachers will receive pre- and post-visit materials to accompany their trip experience.

On walking tours, students gain historical perspective on the Gowanus Canal as a former salt marsh that became a polluted industrial waterway, with a Superfund clean up and stewardship efforts underway. Students learn about industrial waste and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) as the two primary sources of water pollution. Students will also be able to observe and calculate the water saved by the various types of Green Infrastructure they discover and learn about along their route.

They will see how green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, bioswales and permeable pavement are engineered to reduce CSO and climate impacts such as increased precipitation and the urban heat island effect.

Important Notes:
- Walking tours have different start and end points.
- Tours start on the public esplanade, south west corner of the Carroll Street Bridge.

Additional tour dates and times may be available. Inquire with education[at]gowanuscanalconservancy.org.

To schedule a college/university or adult tour and for program fees email education[at]gowanuscanalconservancy.org.