Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: science behind environmental solutions

September 14, 2011

City Students Use Live Data to Teach Ecology on the Walkway

MILLBROOK, N.Y. — Students from the City of Poughkeepsie are serving as ecology docents on the Walkway Over the Hudson, using live data transmitted to a sign on the Walkway from the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System. Through the summer and into the fall students in grades 5-12 will be teaching the public about the ecology of the Hudson River watershed.

The Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS) is a real-time monitoring network on the Hudson River estuary. Every fifteen minutes, stations at nine sites record data about an array of environmental conditions and relay the information to a website (www.hrecos.org) for anyone to see.

The Walkway Ecology Team (WET) is funded by the Open Space Institute and was developed by Cornelia Harris, an educator at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. Harris comments, “This is a wonderful opportunity for students of different ages to work together and to teach the public about the beautiful Hudson River.” Students have the opportunity to use real scientific data to help the public understand how the river changes over time.

Students applied in the spring to be a part of the program, participated in a training session at Waryas Park, and teach about the Hudson River during six evening sessions on the Walkway. Topics change every two weeks, and the students are educating Walkway-goers about everything from invasive species and tides to water quality. At the end of the experience, in celebration of their hard work, the students will take a sail on the Clearwater Sloop.

The Walkway Ecology Team is on the Walkway Over the Hudson on Fridays from 5-7pm. The remaining sessions are September 16th and 23rd.

For additional information contact Lia Harris at harrisc@caryinstitute.org or call (845) 677-7600 x321.

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is a private, not-for-profit environmental research and education organization in Millbrook, N.Y. For more than twenty-five years, Cary Institute scientists have been investigating the complex interactions that govern the natural world. Their objective findings lead to more effective policy decisions and increased environmental literacy. Focal areas include air and water pollution, climate change, invasive species, and the ecological dimensions of infectious disease. Learn more at www.caryinstitute.org.