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The Living Laboratory

Step Out of the Classroom

The river and its watershed are a living laboratory

The Bronx River Living Laboratory supports a growing number of teachers and community educators – as well as parents and lifelong learners – who use, or would like to use, the Bronx River and adjacent areas as outdoor learning spaces.

We provide training, curriculum consulting, lesson plans, equipment, supplies, in-field support and a network of experts. This helps students become more aware of the river, understand its importance, and take part in its protection.

The Bronx River Alliance is an approved Department of Education vendor.

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Our Staff's Favorite Game

Use our virtual resources to bring the Bronx River to you and your students… whether you’re in the classroom or through at-home learning.

Curriculum, Field Trips, and more

Educator's Corner

Seasonal Programming & Field Trips

Connect to the river year round

The history of the Bronx can be told by the river’s health. Field trips are a great way to start—they’re available for all levels of students across a range of interests. 

And when you dive deep as part of our Water Quality Monitoring Exploration program, your students become real river doctors. They use hands-on equipment to test and think critically about environmental effects. 

Inclusive Programming: All educational experiences are modifiable to ensure all programs are accessible to everyone! Spanish-language programs available upon request.

Year Round

Did you know that you influence the Bronx River every day? Project WASTE is designed to make communities aware of one of the biggest impairments along the Bronx River, litter. Each year, thousands of floatables end up within the Bronx River impacting our wildlife and health of the river. This project can be a long term hyper local project focusing on community impacts and/or short term down by the river collecting litter and data part of a community outreach project.

Trip can be held at East 233rd Street or Concrete Plant Park.

Learn more about the project here.

Have students become real river doctors as they look to make a scientific diagnosis of the river’s health. By using hands-on equipment, students will be testing for different parameters that are key in understanding environmental health. This experience helps students think critically about how the surrounding environment affects the chemical and physical state of the Bronx River.

Trip can be held at Starlight Park, Concrete Plant Park, or Shoelace Park.

Learn more about the monitoring here.

Spring (March-June)

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to shake some artificial habitats. American eel look to return to the Bronx River each Spring to grow through different life stages within the freshwater areas of the river. The Alliance uses artificial habitats called eel mops to attract the eel into safe grounds during the day to avoid predation. Students will be involved in a population and life stage research project in order to determine the survival rates of eel along the Bronx River. Small groups encouraged.

 

Learn more about the American eels here.

Meeting at Burke Avenue and Bronx Park East, this excursion will take your students into the majestic Bronx River Forest, one of the oldest forests in New York City. Discover native trees, observe a variety of birds, and learn what you can do to keep this treasure thriving!

Learn more about the Bronx River Forest Hike here.

Summer (June-September)

These hands-on programs are designated for students 15 years of age or older in groups of 15 or less. Join us at Muskrat Cove, in the upper section of the Bronx River, to wade into the river and remove trash from the boom, a protective barrier that collects floatables that come downstream from Westchester County.

Learn more about the project here.

Meeting at Burke Avenue and Bronx Park East, this excursion will take your students into the majestic Bronx River Forest, one of the oldest forests in New York City. Discover native trees, observe a variety of birds, and learn what you can do to keep this treasure thriving!

Learn more about the Bronx River Forest Hike here.

Enjoy our water quality monitoring field trip with a special add-on: seining! Students will don waders, enter the water, and catch real fish using a seine net.

This program requires additional pricing. Call or e-mail for more information!

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Yes! All COVID protocols will be followed.

A: Yes! We would be happy to join your “classroom” or provide a Zoom link and present an informative PowerPoint presentation on the history of the river, water quality, and the animals who call the river home.

A: As of January 2022, we have a new pricing structure! All programs will incur a $150 fee to cover staffing and supplies. Public schools that serve environmental justice communities within 2 miles of the Bronx River are eligible for a 20% discount. 

We have availability throughout the year. Please view our new booking website: https://calendly.com/bronxriveredu to secure your date!

Please use the button on the right to request a program. You can also send an inquiry to Education@bronxriver.org.

Student Research Projects

Students use the river as a learning laboratory. Many exceptional individual and class projects have used the ecological restoration and conservation efforts of the river as research topics. We’re always looking for partners and students to participate in research!

Learn more about the work, people and impact of the Bronx River Alliance's Education Program!