Media Advisory: A Day in the Life of the Hudson River Estuary 2009

• by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

What: Thousands of students and teachers, many from your area, engaging in hands-on scientific learning exercises in the Hudson River. The Press is invited to attend.

When: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 (see below schedule for times)

Where: More than 60 locations between NYC and Troy (see below schedule for a selection of locations)

Why: A primary goal of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is to connect New Yorkers to nature. The Hudson River Estuary Program educates Hudson Valley residents about the ecology of the river through innovative and engaging public programs and the development of a K-12 curriculum. This event takes on special significance this year in connection with the Hudson/Fulton/Champlain Quadricentennial and release of DEC's "State of the Hudson" 2009 Report.

On Thurs., Oct. 8, environmental education centers and school classes all along the Hudson River estuary will collect scientific information and share it to create a picture of "A Day in the Life of the Hudson River." This annual program will help participants understand how their piece of the river fits into the larger Hudson estuary ecosystem.

Sponsored by the DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program, A "Day in the Life" is in its seventh year. Over 3,000 students and educators will be sampling the estuary's waters at 61 sites from New York Harbor to Green Island.

In partnership with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, the Hudson River Estuary Program has recruited river educators to work with students at each site. They will use hands-on field techniques to describe their sites, seine for fish, collect water and invertebrate samples, and examine water chemistry parameters.

Beyond just a field trip, participating groups will benefit from being part of an estuary-wide event, including sites from the Capital. Data will be added to a rich data set from previous "Days in the Life", and made available for classroom activities. This year's event will reinforce attention being paid to the river on the 400-year anniversary of Henry Hudson's historic voyage. The "Day in the Life" also connects to DEC's State of the Hudson 2009 report, which discusses trends and characteristics that students themselves may observe during their time at the river.

For more detailed information on the event and history of the event, visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/47285.html.

Participating classes continue to represent the full diversity of the region's school population. Of the more than 60 sites, approximately 25 will be in New York City, 12 in Westchester/Rockland and Bergen County in New Jersey, 15 in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and 10 in the upper reaches of the estuary from Catskill to Troy. Some examples of the student populations involved are:

• New York City PS 51 - 40 fourth graders at Pier 84, Hudson River Park.
• Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem - 20 high school students at Inwood Hill Park on the Harlem River, northern Manhattan.
• Saunders Trades and Technical High School, Yonkers - 15 high school students at the Beczak Environmental Education Center, Yonkers.
• Pearl River High School, Tappan Zee High School, Clarkstown South High School - 5 high school classes at the Piermont Pier with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory scientists.
• Krieger Elementary at Quiet Cove, Poughkeepsie – two 4th-5th grade classes, plus a partnering class from Wappingers Falls.
• Tech Valley High School, Rensselaer - 40 students at the Rensselaer waterfront park.

A list with details of the 61 sites holding activities on Oct. 8 can be found in attachment below. "RM" refers to River Miles up the river as measured from the Battery at Manhattan. "NY Hbr" refers to New York Harbor, "ER" is East River, and "HRL" is Harlem River. For additional information on teachers and partner organizations, and to schedule visits to a site, please email or call: Chris Bowser (chbowser@gw.dec.state.ny.us; 845-264-5041)