All around the world, people are faced with conflicts of environmental justice and are affected by social, economic, and political influence.This lesson introduces students to the concept of environmental justice and civic engagement with an interactive role-play activity. Students will learn to communicate with one another to devise an equitable plan for the sake of all stakeholders involved and consider the range of environmental impacts that community level decisions can have.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will identify at least one environmental impact of climate change
-Students will learn how to organize their thoughts and communicate to a group
-Students will discuss solutions to a local environmental concern that support and protect all stakeholders

Please note that there is required student prep work to be lead by teachers prior to this program. Be sure to factor in extra time when booking. Thank you!

Just one drop of Hudson River water holds multitudes of drifting plants and animals called plankton. Students learn why plankton are vital to the Estuary ecosystem through interactive microscope activities.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will define plankton and identify the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton
-Students will learn how microscopes are used to view microscopic organisms
-Students will identify plankton’s role in the Hudson River food web

Fish in the Hudson River? You bet! More than 200 species of fish are found in the Hudson River and its tributaries. Fish Ecology introduces students to life in the Hudson River through a home brackish water density experiment, a live fish trap survey and more. Plus, teachers will receive a Program Resource Packet featuring printable worksheets, activities and resources.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will identify native Hudson River fish species
-Students will define salinity and density as it pertains to local water bodies
-Students will learn how a fish ecology survey is conducted
-Students will apply their experiences to define ways they can contribute to the health of the Hudson River and its wildlife

Investigate the impacts of climate change on our atmosphere and shorelines in Climate & Our Coast. Students will develop solutions to the effects of climate change by analyzing the delicate balance of the carbon cycle and engineering models of sea level rise adaptations.

Grades 9–12
Program Objectives:
Students will define weather and climate
Students will explore global and local impacts of climate change
Students will create a model that engineers solutions to protect shorelines from sea level rise
Students will discuss the carbon cycle, its impacts on our ecosystem and reducing their own carbon footprints

All around the world, people are faced with conflicts of environmental justice and are affected by social, economic, and political influence.This lesson introduces students to the concept of environmental justice and civic engagement with an interactive role-play activity. Students will learn to communicate with one another to devise an equitable plan for the sake of all stakeholders involved and consider the range of environmental impacts that community level decisions can have.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will identify at least one environmental impact of climate change
-Students will learn how to organize their thoughts and communicate to a group
-Students will discuss solutions to a local environmental concern that support and protect all stakeholders

Please note that there is required student prep work to be lead by teachers prior to this program. Be sure to factor in extra time when booking. Thank you!

Just one drop of Hudson River water holds multitudes of drifting plants and animals called plankton. Students learn why plankton are vital to the Estuary ecosystem through interactive microscope activities.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will define plankton and identify the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton
-Students will learn how microscopes are used to view microscopic organisms
-Students will identify plankton’s role in the Hudson River food web

Learn how wastewater is treated in NYC and discuss the impacts of pollution to the health of our waterways. In Pollution Solutions, students will explore ways to conserve water and improve water quality while designing and testing a water filtering system. For a list of learning objectives by grade level, please visit our website! Please Email education@hrpt.ny.gov with any questions.

Students explore the importance of restoring historic eastern oyster populations in the Hudson River Estuary and how these beneficial bivalves support biodiversity in local waterways. Students take on the role of field scientists as they examine a living oyster reef and other aquarium residents, conduct water quality analysis and collect data from oysters growing in New York Harbor. For a list of learning objectives by grade level, please visit our website! Please email education@hrpt.ny.gov with any questions.

Fish in the Hudson River? You bet! More than 200 species of fish are found in the Hudson River and its tributaries. Fish Ecology introduces students to life in the Hudson River through a home brackish water density experiment, a live fish trap survey and more. Plus, teachers will receive a Program Resource Packet featuring printable worksheets, activities and resources.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will identify native Hudson River fish species
-Students will define salinity and density as it pertains to local water bodies
-Students will learn how a fish ecology survey is conducted
-Students will apply their experiences to define ways they can contribute to the health of the Hudson River and its wildlife

Discover the plants and animals of Pier 26’s transitional landscape. Hudson River Park’s ecologically themed pier provides the ideal stage to teach students about coastal habitat zones. From the woodland forest in the east, to the rocky tidal zone in the west, students will learn about the native plants, migratory birds, and mollusks and crustaceans that thrive in this environment.

Come explore Hudson River Park's Habitat Garden, a green space with a rich diversity of native trees and plants. In Garden Adventures, students investigate the ecosystem services that the Park's land-based plants provide to its many inhabitants. For a list of learning objectives by grade level, please visit our website! Please Email education@hrpt.ny.gov with any questions.

Fish in the Hudson River? You bet! More than 200 species of fish are found in the Hudson River and its tributaries. Fish Ecology introduces students to life in the Hudson River through a home brackish water density experiment, a live fish trap survey and more. Plus, teachers will receive a Program Resource Packet featuring printable worksheets, activities and resources. -Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary -Students will identify native Hudson River fish species -Students will define salinity and density as it pertains to local water bodies -Students will learn how a fish ecology survey is conducted -Students will apply their experiences to define ways they can contribute to the health of the Hudson River and its wildlife

Fish in the Hudson River? You bet! More than 200 species of fish are found in the Hudson River and its tributaries. Fish Ecology introduces students to life in the Hudson River through a home brackish water density experiment, a live fish trap survey and more. Plus, teachers will receive a Program Resource Packet featuring printable worksheets, activities and resources.

-Students will define and identify the ecological significance of an Estuary
-Students will identify native Hudson River fish species
-Students will define salinity and density as it pertains to local water bodies
-Students will learn how a fish ecology survey is conducted
-Students will apply their experiences to define ways they can contribute to the health of the Hudson River and its wildlife

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

DITL Program Time Slot

With its lush greenery and protected estuarine waters, Hudson River Park serves as a much-needed habitat and travel corridor for numerous fishes, birds, crustaceans and insects. Monitoring the frequency with which these animals use the Park’s land and waters provides valuable information about the health and future of these populations.

Information gathered from Hudson River Park’s environmental monitoring initiatives helps Park managers make informed decisions about Park management and operations. In addition, these environmental monitoring projects are opportunities for students and the public to engage with the Park’s River Project in interactive, hands-on ways. Data from these projects also supports larger research initiatives that are helping protect and restore wildlife and natural resources on local, regional and national levels.

Hudson River Park’s STEM Activity of the Week offers free online resources for students and families to learn about the Hudson River. With many learning opportunities moving to online and virtual platforms, we have started this series to share a hands-on activity that is a fun and engaging way to connect with the Hudson River.

Hudson River Park is one of several organizations that monitors River health. At two locations, Pier 25 and Pier 84, the Park manages weather and water quality stations that continuously measure environmental conditions. Scientists and educators use this information to learn and teach about the environment.

The Park’s River Project has been working with experts to develop a dashboard that makes the collected environmental data accessible to broader audiences. Last year, we were thrilled to receive the “Innovate for Social Impact” award from Cantina, a highly regarded design innovation agency that — among other things — works with organizations to design user-friendly experiences involving complex technology. Through this partnership, and with technical support from Dr. Wade McGillis of Columbia University, we are proud to launch our new water quality model that uses actual and historic data to predict, in close to real time, occasions when water quality is degraded due to pollution events. The dashboard will support the Park’s stewardship and environmental education efforts while also helping non-motorized boaters make informed decisions when water quality conditions are poor.

We invite you to explore our new dashboard to learn more about physical and environmental factors affecting our local water environment. Thank you to all our partners, especially Cantina, Wade McGillis at Columbia University, NYS DEC, USGS and NYC Water Trail Association, for helping to make continuous water quality data more accessible and relevant to the public at large.

Learn about the different species of fish, invertebrates and even reptiles that call the Hudson River Estuary home through species profiles curated by HRP River Project staff. each profiles contains information on the size, habitat and diet of the animal alongside fun facts, pictures and video.