Discover the importance of restoring historic Eastern oyster populations in the Hudson River Estuary and how these beneficial bivalves support biodiversity in local waterways.
Students assume the role of field scientists as they examine how to collect data from oysters, explore the marine ecosystem and gain understanding of oyster reef habitat. This program occurs in the Pier 40 Wetlab, a non-climate controlled indoor space.
This field trip is available to book Tuesdays through Thursdays in September and October.
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 Information
- Student Capacity: 30 students
- Cost: $200 (waivers available upon demonstration of need)
- Teacher chaperones: One chaperone is required for every 10 students (1:10 ratio) at minimum
Program Activities
- Watershed Geography and Brackish Water Experiment
- Wetlab Tour
- Water Quality Testing
- Oyster Handling & Monitoring
What Teachers Say About the Program
- “The material taught in [Oysters & Water Quality] was advanced for my students. It was a topic that they had never been exposed to before. Despite the difficulty of the topic, the educators were able to break down the content and make it easy to understand. It was engaging and interesting for the students.” —11th Grade Teacher, Staten Island
