Upcoming Opportunities

June 13 - October 5, 2008 - Michener Art Museum Exhibit - New Hope: Art and the River
The James A. Michener Art Museum in New Hope, Pa. is pleased to announce their upcoming exhibit entitled New Hope: Art and the River, which will be on display from June 13 through October 5, 2008. This exhibit celebrates the iconic influence of Bucks County’s waterways, the Delaware River, and the Delaware Canal as a powerful pull on regional landscape artists. Over 50 pieces of work from nearly 40 artists will be on display. For additional information, including a news release on this exhibit and some images of featured art work, please visit http://www.michenermuseum.org/exhibits/river.php.

July 28 - August 1, 2008: Summer Maritime Camp Aboard the A.J. Meerwald
This summer, the Bayshore Discovery Project will offer a 5-day maritime camp to students 13-16 years old (9th to 12th graders) aboard New Jersey's official tall ship and historic schooner, the A.J. Meerwald. The week-long maritime camp will take place from July 28 - August 1, 2008 and costs $750, which includes accommodations, meals, and activities.

Also offered are day-long "Sailor for a Day" camps for 10-16 year olds on several Saturdays throughout the summer starting July 2, 2008 and ending August 27, 2008. These camps are $60 and run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; please bring a packed lunch and a water bottle.

For specific details, including departure and arrival locations, dates for the day camps, and registration information, please visit the Bayshore Discovery Project's web site (click Camps on the left-hand side) or call 856-785-2060.

Delaware River Greenway Partnership 10th Anniversary Events - September 2008
The Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) is celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2008 and will hold several events in September to Discover the Delaware. On Friday, September 5, 2008 a Municipal Watershed Institute will be held at the Solebury Township Building in Solebury, Pa.; this event is by invitation only. On Saturday, September 13, 2008 DRGP will hold a workshop entitled Your River, Your Region at the New Hope-Solebury High School in New Hope, Pa. On the evening of September 13 there will be a Michener Museum Tour and a Party/Awards Ceremony at the Blue Raccoon, both also in New Hope, Pa. For additional details, please contact Pam Bush, event chair, at (609) 883-9500 x203. To download the Save the Date flyer, please click here.

World Water Monitoring Day Event at the Prallsville Mills, Stockton, N.J. - Thursday, October 16, 2008
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD), which takes place September 18 to October 18, 2008, is a month-long international event that promotes education and stewardship of our world water resources. New Jersey teachers and students are invited to celebrate WWMD with the DRBC, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) at the Prallsville Mills in Stockton, N.J. on Thursday, October 16, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. rain or shine. Staff from these agencies will be on hand to demonstrate water quality monitoring involving chemical, biological, and flow studies, as well as answer questions from and interact with the participants. Students will be able to conduct their own water quality testing for inclusion in the WWMD web site database. To download an informational flyer, please click here.

Contact: Marc Rogoff, NJDEP, at (609) 292-1474. Teachers, please pre-register your students and bring your own picnic lunch to this event (carry in-carry out).

AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program
Through this program, 20 AmeriCorps members are placed in watershed management areas across New Jersey at host agency sites like the DRBC. Over the course of 1,700 hours, members assist the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection in monitoring the rivers of New Jersey through visual and biological assessment volunteer monitoring programs. Members train community volunteers to participate in these monitoring programs. Through audio visual presentations, members provide information to community organizations and schools in order to have an informed citizenry about water and watershed issues in New Jersey. Visit the program's web site for additional information on the program.

Contact: Akili Lynn, Program Manager, at (609) 777-1406 or by email at akili.lynn@dep.state.nj.us.

FREE Guided Tours of The University of Delaware's College of Marine and Earth Studies Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del.
Middle and high-school students and teachers are welcome to attend free tours of this world-class marine research institution! Tours typically begin with a 20-minute video that highlights many of the college's research activities. Following the video presentation, knowledgeable guides take students on a walking tour of the facilities where the majority of the research in the college's Marine Biology-Biochemistry and Oceanography programs is conducted.

A favorite stop on the tour is a tropical reef tank, which introduces students to one of the most diverse communities on Earth. With the rapid deterioration of coral reefs worldwide, the tank provides a springboard for discussions about the causes of and solutions to this global crisis. "We are mindful of educators' needs to align student field experiences with grade-appropriate science standards and are prepared to customize the tours accordingly," says Rosalind Troupin, a retired physician and current director of the tour program. "Based on an educator's needs, we may, for instance, help coordinate a tour with a field biology or environmental education lesson involving naturalists in nearby Cape Henlopen State Park."

The free tours may be scheduled for middle- and high-school classes of five or more people, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Requests should be made at least one week in advance by calling the College of Marine and Earth Studies at (302) 645-4346, by e-mailing Rita Baty at rbaty@udel.edu, or by writing to the Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, University of Delaware, College of Marine and Earth Studies, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958-1298. The Hugh R. Sharp Campus is accessible to people with disabilities.

Program on Aquatic Environments Using an Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
Laurie Harmon, Assistant Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., has received a grant to conduct outdoor environmental programs using the ROV, which has an attached camera, to demonstrate how technology can effectively be used to enhance our interactions with the natural environment. She is looking for locations to conduct her program, which is ideal for children 12 and over, as well as adults, and lasts around one hour. The program would be focused on one of two topics: Invasive Species - Impacts on our Water Bodies or Understanding Human Impacts on Watersheds. The ROV can also be used in conjunction with any existing program as a tool/opportunity for experiential learning. Individuals would be asked to take 15 minutes upon completion of the program to complete a 5-page questionnaire.

Contact: Laurie Harmon at (703) 993-4565 after August 25, 2007 if interested in being a participant in this unique opportunity.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department's Philadelphia Storm Drain Marking Project
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department are proud to co-sponsor this project, which calls for volunteers to help affix "Yo! No Dumping, Drains to the River" medallions onto the street in front of storm drains across the region in areas which are not already marked. All supplies will be provided at no cost, and volunteers are welcome to participate year-round.

For more information and to register, please contact Dee Ross, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Program Specialist, at (800) 445-4935, ext. 106 or by email at dross@delawareestuary.org. For online details, please click here.

Upcoming Events at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, located along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, near the Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, is busy with various event opportunities for kids and adults alike. Come and learn something new while having fun at this excellent education center! For hours, directions, and other contact information, please visit http://www.fairmountwaterworks.com and also download their education programs brochure! For specific information on events at the Fairmount Water Works, please visit http://events.fairmountwaterworks.com or call (215) 685-0723. Learn more about its fascinating history!

The Stroud Water Research Center
The Stroud Water Research Center, one of the premier stream research laboratories in North America, offers teacher workshops throughout the year. The workshops will be held at the center in Avondale, Chester County, Pa. unless otherwise noted. Please dress for the outdoors. Space is limited. For more details about their specific offerings, please visit the Stroud Center's web site, where you also can learn about the center's student programs.

Contact: Education Programs Manager Vivian Williams at (610) 268-2153 ext. 249 or vwilliams@stroudcenter.org for additional questions and information.

Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education
The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education (PCEE), located in Slippery Rock, Pa., was established in 1996 to provide increased public and private access to quality environmental education through service, education, and research. PCEE helps provide technical assistance to teachers, as well as offers opportunities for professional development through continuing education. PCEE promotes partnerships amongst educators, local officials, non-profits, and environmental organizations that are necessary to help meet their goal of empowering all Pennsylvania citizens to exercise environmental stewardship. Their web site lists upcoming events and opportunities throughout the commonwealth for students, teachers, and individuals who wish to learn more about the environment and/or participate in stewardship projects.