Watershed Education Resources Materials and Programs for Teaching about the New York City Water System and the Catskill-Delaware Watershed

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Cultural Programs  

"Catskill Mountain Tales & Tunes" by Ira & Laurie McIntosh
www.storylaurie.com, 845-676-4727, storylaurie@hotmail.com
A 45-minute classroom or school assembly program of songs and stories focused on the rich environmental and social history of the Catskills and NYC Watershed region. Designed for Grades 4-8, but appropriate for older audiences as well, this program features songs, stories and background information about bluestone quarrying and lumbering, New York City’s quest for water, and the need for ongoing environmental stewardship. Additional songs and stories tailored to the specific performance area or age and interest of the audience may be included if time allows. A teacher guide and suggested follow-up discussion questions are provided.

"City That Drinks the Mountain Sky," a production of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
www.armofthesea.org - 845-246-7873
This lively, large-scale theater production tells the epic story of New York City's water supply system. The show, created in 1999, features hand-painted sets, dozens of mask and puppet characters and wonderful live music. It has received rave reviews at schools and festivals throughout the region. Arm-of-the-Sea Theater has been producing high quality arts-in-education programs for more than 20 years; this is one of their most successful school shows. Study guide and post performance discussion included with each school-day performance.


River of Words, and other programs offered by NYS DEC Educator Rich Parisio
rfparisi@gw.dec.state.ny.us - 845-831-8780, ext. 302
River of Words is an interdisciplinary program in watershed education, for grades K-12. Students investigate their own watersheds by writing site-specific nature poetry which is enriched by their studies of local flora, fauna, geology, and cultural history. Workshops for teachers, and outreach programs for school classes are presented free of charge by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation environmental educator Rich Parisio. Rich Parisio also offers a free illustrated talk for upper elementary, middle school, high school, and adult audiences: "Naturalist John Burroughs: His Life and Work."

Field Trips and Environmental Education Centers  

Agroforestry Resource Center,a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County. Acra, Greene County.
http://arc.cce.cornell.edu/, 518-622-9820
TThe Agroforestry Resource Center (ARC) provides educational programs, supports research, and promotes collaboration among organizations concerned with sustaining the forest-dominated landscape of the Catskill Mountain/Hudson Valley Region. The goal is to promote sustainable practices that will provide economic benefits to landowners and communities while preserving forested areas so they continue to provide ecological, economic and public health benefits. Adjacent to the ARC is the Siuslaw Model Forest illustrating the relationship between sustainable forest stewardship and water quality. The ARC provides programs for youth on environmental topics, including watersheds, and the annual Environmental Awareness Days for Greene County 6th Graders.

The Ashokan Center Olivebridge, Ulster County;
www.ashokancenter.org, 845-657-8333, office@ashokancenter.org
The Ashokan Center offers a Watershed Curriculum drawing on the facility's proximity to the Ashokan Reservoir. The activities are geared for elementary through high school students. You can choose from a list of natural history and science programs and hikes. Program durations vary. A three-day, two-night residential program (5 educational programs, 4 recreational periods, 7 meals, room, overnight dorm supervision) is approximately $180 per person (rate varies depending on group size). A one-day /two-program visit is approx. $12 per person.

Frost Valley YMCA Environmental Education Center Claryville, Ulster County,
www.frostvalley.org,
845-985-2291, enved@frostvalley.org; eedirector@frostvalley.org
At FV’s campus: Choose from 11 science-related programs for elementary through high school students. Three-day, two-night stay costs $157/person (students and chaperones) and includes room, board and educational programs. Streamside Classroom, acid rain research station, composting/recycling center, forestry classroom and raptor center on campus. Also available: One-day Model Forest Tour with two related programs to help students understand the relationship between water quality and working forest landscapes: $20 per student. Scholarship assistance available.

Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program, coordinated for the Watershed Agricultural Council by Common Ground Educational Consulting.
www.nycwatershed.org/edu_tours.html,
This program offers matching grants (up to $3,000) to downstate audiences - primarily from New York City - to organize and conduct forestry related educational field trips to the upstate water supply watersheds (East or West of Hudson). The purpose of the program is to provide educators with knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to explore the connection between watershed forests and water quality and to raise awareness about the New York City water supply system among urban water consumers. Eligible participants include any school, organization, community group, professional association, or other interested entity from the five boroughs of New York City. Contact Jessica Olenych, (845) 586-1600; jolenych@catskill.net

The Gilboa Museum and Fossils, a project of the Gilboa Historical Society
Stryker Road, off Route 990V, Gilboa
Much of the evidence for what is known about terrestrial life during the Devonian period in North America has come from some extraordinary fossils discovered in Gilboa, Schoharie County over the last 150 years. The Gilboa Museum, one-half mile from NYS Route 30, has some of the world’s oldest fossilized trees on display, along with a mural depicting Devonian Dawn, and photos and artifacts from the original village of Gilboa before it was condemned to construct the Schoharie Reservoir, completed in 1925. The museum is open weekends in summer and fall. Group tours are available mid-week, or during winter by appointment. Suggested donation $1 per person. An outdoor fossil exhibit is on display along NYC Road 990V not far from the museum. The display has nine large fossilized tree stumps with an information kiosk. A book and video on the Gilboa Fossils are available for sale. To arrange a tour, contact Kristen Wyckoff, 607-588 9413; kwyckoff@dmcom.net. Tours not available February-early April.

Life at Lake Wawaka/Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride, a program of the Catskill Revitalization Corp.
www.durr.org
A 14-mile round trip excursion aboard the Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride from Arkville to Halcottsville takes groups to the shores of Lake Wawaka (Halcottsville Pond). There they visit a learning station to explore the intersection of natural and human history in this little hamlet on the East Branch of the Delaware River. Pre- and post-visit classroom materials and teacher guide available. Cost is $6 per student, program is available from late May through late October. Contact Dave Riordan, 607-652-2821; fun@durr.org.

Reservoir Kiosks, a project of the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC)
www.cwconline.org/special/comm_pro.html
In an effort to recognize the sacrifices made by the Watershed communities on behalf of New York City water, the CWC spearheaded a project to erect outdoor exhibits (kiosks) and road signs at the City’s six West of Hudson reservoirs. The kiosks contain text and photographs explaining the history of the 25 communites which were removed or relocated to make way for the Ashokan, Schoharie, Neversink, Rondout, Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs built between 1907 and 1965. The exhibits also chart the NYC Water System, one of the world’s engineering marvels, and explain what is being done to protect this critical resource. For kiosk locations, go to website above. For other information on Watershed history, contact Diane Galusha, 845-586-1400. ext. 29; galusha@cwconline.org.

Classroom-based Science Programs  

Streamwatch and CSWEP, programs of the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development
http://www.catskillcenter.org/programs/edu/enviredu.html
Streamwatch is a four-day sequence, one hour each day, that promotes environmental stewardship and gets kids excited about science by collecting creatures in a local stream. Schools need not be within the NYC Watershed to participate in Streamwatch. A similar opportunity that exists for K-12 school districts within the NYC Watershed is our Catskill Stream and Watershed Education Program (CSWEP). Funded by the NYCDEP Stream Management Program and the WAC Forestry Program, is a modified version of Streamwatch. This is a 6-day program (3 in the fall and 3 in the spring) that involves two fieldtrips to the local stream and an in-class visit by Stream Management staff and/or staff from the local County Soil and Water Conservation District. Through CSWEP, students determine the health of their local stream, and hear from experts that are conducting work within their watershed. Please contact Ben Murdock at (845) 586-2611 or bmurdock@catskillcenter.org for more information about this FREE program.

Trout in the Classroom,a program of Trout Unlimited
www.troutintheclassroom.com
Raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in a classroom tank. Students monitor fish development and water quality, and collaborate and share data with other participating NYC and Watershed teachers. A high level of commitment is required all year long, from the September tank set-up through release of trout in the spring. NYC schools wishing to release fingerlings in the Watershed are encouraged to apply for Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Grant (see Funding Sources) to cover transportation costs. $1,300 purchases a 30- to 50-gallon tank and all equipment (chiller, sterilizer, filter etc.). Year-long support is available from the Trout in the Classroom Coordinator.

Outdoor Ecology Lessons offered by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
For middle-elementary age through high school students, these free programs are designed for classrooms and school grounds. They include Modeling a Watershed, Mapping Our Watershed, Stream Watch and Tree Study. To arrange for a lesson, contact Rich Parisio, 845-831-8780, Ext 302; rfparisi@gq.dec.state.ny.us.

Forest Lessons, offered by The Catskill Forest Association, Inc.
(845) 586-3054; cfa@catskill.net
Custom lessons are available to all school audiences on forestry and forest management topics ranging from tree growth, forest health and tree identification to forestry careers and wildlife habitat. Activities are usually done on school grounds, using on-site materials (leaves, seeds, twigs) as available. Indoor lessons are also an option. In addition to providing custom lessons, CFA often uses lesson plans from the nationally-renowned Project Learning Tree curriculum. Costs vary depending upon schedule, travel distance and preparation time.

Green Connections, funded by the Watershed Forestry Program of the Watershed Agricultural Council;
coordinated by Catskill Center for Conservation & Development
Green Connections is a yearlong extension of the Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers (see Professional Development category below) and is designed to establish partnerships between classes in the West-of-Hudson NYC Watershed and the City. The purpose of Green Connections is to educate students about the important connection between water quality and healthy forests. Contact Julia Goren, 845-586-2611; jgoren@catskillcenter.org.

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Contact the following CCE representatives for information on environmental programs and materials available to teachers and students:
Delaware County: 4-H Director John Hannum, 607-865-6531; jth44@cornell.edu (contact for Lennox Model Forest)
Greene County: Environmental Educator Liz LoGiudice, phone: 518-622-9820; eml37@cornell.edu (coordinates Environmental Awareness Days for Greene County 6th graders)
Schoharie County: 4-H Director Eileen McGuire, 518-234-4303; em96@cornell.edu
Sullivan County: 4-H Director Barbara McCausland, 845-292-4641, Ext. 110; bbm1@cornell.edu (Offers Water Savers 2006, a free in-class, hands-on program)
Ulster County: 4-H Director Patti Zellner, 845-340-3990; psz2@cornell.edu, Kristen Wilson, kew67@cornell.edu coordinator of Environmental Awareness Day for Ulster County 6th graders, and other environmental programs.


Education Programs and Materials offered by
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)  
www.nyc.gov/dep
DEP’s Bureau of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs offers free education resources for students, teachers, administrators and parents in the City and its Watersheds. Resources include information about the City's water supply and wastewater treatment systems, water conservation, water and air quality, sound and noise and other environmental topics. Fact sheets, maps, activity books and other publications are available in class sets. Professional development workshops and inquiry-based in-class education programs reflecting the needs of different grade levels and student abilities are provided. A Water Conservation Art and Poetry contest is held annually for fourth, fifth and sixth graders in NYC and the Watershed. For information about DEP’s education resources, please visit the DEP website (above) or contact DEP at educationoffice@dep.nyc.gov.


Professional Development for Educators

Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers (WFIT), a program administered by the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development (www.catskillcenter.org).
Catskill region and NYC teachers come together for a week to build their knowledge base about the natural world, specifically the Catskill Mountain region. Participants learn about and receive copies of a variety of curricula and resources. Examples include The Catskills: A Sense of Place, Project Learning Tree, and Trout in the Classroom. Off-site field trip locations include a nearby reservoir, a model forest, an active logging site, among others. The WFIT is held annually in August. Participants receive a small stipend. Contact Julia Goren, 845-586-2611; jgoren@catskillcenter.org.

Leaf Pack Network®, offered in the West-of- Hudson Watershed by the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development in partnership with Hudson Basin Riverwatch.
The Center has partnered with the Stroud Water Research Center to support another terrific water quality monitoring effort that is available to West-of-Hudson teachers and adult volunteers. The Leaf Pack protocol involves placing an artificial leaf pack (dry leaves in a mesh bag) in a local stream for 3-4 weeks. The contents of the packs are then examined and participants discover the different types of aquatic life that exist and how they indicate stream health. Student and adult groups can share information on-line with other groups throughout in the Watershed and around the world. Contact Ben Murdoch, 845-586-2611; bmurdoch@catskillcenter.org.

The Catskills: A Sense of Place,a program of the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development; http://www.catskillcenter.org/programs/edu/enviredu.html
A series of curriculum modules helps teachers enliven and enrich their lessons and instill a sense of Catskills pride in their students through lessons and hands-on activities that address NYS Learning Standards. The lessons are designed to fit school curricula. The modules span grade levels 3-12, so students can benefit from these engaging, place-based studies over a period of years. Contact Aaron Bennett, 845-586-2611; abennett@catskillcenter.org.

Project WET, a program of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an interdisciplinary program for educators and youth leaders. The goal is to facilitate the awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources. WET workshops for teachers include a sampling from the Project WET activity guide which contains 91 hands-on, fun, easy-to-use activities for grades K-12. Participants receive a copy of the guide with assessment strategies and skill charts. Workshop and guide are free. To find out about Project WET workshops, call Dee Strnisa (Region 4), 518-475-0291;distrnis@gw.dec.state.ny.us; or Dena Mehalakes (Region 3), 845-831-8780.


Audio Visual Materials Related to NYC Water System and Watershed


Videos/DVDs

After the StormStormwater issues; includes segment at NYC Watershed farm. Co-produced by US EPA and The Weather Channel. Free copies available at www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/. Can also be viewed on the web.

Deep Water: Building the Catskill Water System 45-minute documentary on development of the Catskill Supply of the NYC Water System. Produced by Willow Mixed Media. www.deepwaterdvd.com/orders.html. Teacher’s guide available from CWC. Contact: Galusha@cwconline.org; 845-586-1400, Ext. 29.

The Gilboa Fossils Half-hour video on the oldest tree fossils ever found, uncovered during construction of Gilboa Dam of Schoharie Reservoir. Produced by Gilboa Historical Society. Available at Gilboa Museum, or by contacting Kristin Wyckoff. kwyckoff@dmcom.net; 607-588-9413.

Mahackamack: The Building of the Neversink Dam as Told by the Men Who Built It Oral history produced by Sullivan County Historical Society. schs@warwick.net or 845-434-8044

Modern Marvels: City Water A History Channel documentary on development of water supplies in Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles. www.awwa.org/bookstore, or via www.amazon.com

Of Streams and Dreams: The Programs of the Catskill Watershed Corporation 15-minute overview of watershed history and CWC environmental, economic development and education programs. Free. Galusha@cwconline.org; 845-586-1400. Ext. 29

Shavertown: Reservoir of Memories 40-minute documentary/oral history on one of the communities taken for the Pepacton Reservoir. Produced by Andes Central School. 845-586-3166

Watershed Engineering Marvels: Building the Ashokan and Schoharie Reservoirs and the Shandaken Tunnel Video tour of an exhibit at the Empire State Railway Museum, Phoenicia. 845-688-7501

Audio Tapes

Behind the Scenes: The Inside Story of the Watershed Agreement 12 interviews with people involved in negotiations for the 1997 NYC Watershed Memorandum of Agreement. Transcripts/photos on www.cwconline.org/about/scenes.html; Produced by Nancy Burnett Productions, nburnett@usa.net; 607-369-4035

Voices from the Valleys Interviews with 15 former residents of communities claimed for the Neversink and Rondout Reservoirs. Produced by Time & The Valleys Museum. carolsmythe@earthlink.net

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