On Oct. 15, Mahopac High School science teacher Scott Rizzo and his students stepped out of the classroom and onto the banks of the Hudson River for a hands-on day of environmental exploration.
Participating in the “Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor” program, Mahopac student scientists joined more than 5000 students and educators from more than 90 schools across the Hudson Valley to conduct real-world scientific testing on the river’s ecology. The annual event, coordinated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, provides students with the opportunity to gather and analyze data about the river’s health.
At the Mahopac group’s site in Verplanck, New York, students took part in biological, chemical and physical testing stations, collecting data that would later be uploaded and compared with results from schools up and down the river.
Rizzo said the experience gives students a meaningful way to connect their classroom learning to the world around them.
“This project allows our students to apply scientific concepts in a real-world setting,” Rizzo said. “By testing and recording data from the Hudson, they see how environmental factors like water quality impacts species diversity. It also helps them build data literacy and an understanding of how science contributes to environmental stewardship.”
At the biological station, students used seine nets to capture and identify fish and macroinvertebrates, including striped bass and jellyfish. At the chemical station, they measured pH levels, salinity, nitrates, phosphates and other indicators of water health. Meanwhile, at the physical station, students examined sediment samples and recorded observations of surrounding wildlife and human activity on the river.
By the end of the day, students not only had a snapshot of the Hudson’s current condition but also a greater appreciation for the importance of protecting it.
