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Watershed Education Resources Materials and Programs for Teaching about the New York City Water System and the Catskill-Delaware Watershed |
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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 and History Programs
"Catskill Mountain Tales & Tunes" by Ira & Laurie McIntosh
www.catskillmountainmusic.com, 845-676-4727, Laurie@CatskillMountainMusic.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 Naturalist John Burroughs
rparisio@hotmail.com - 845-633-8065
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 by Rich Parisio a poet and writer with more than 35 years as an environmental educator. Parisio also offers a free illustrated talk for upper elementary, middle school, high school, and adult audiences: "Naturalist John Burroughs: His Life and Work."
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 Catskill Stream and Watershed Education Program (CSWEP). Funded by the NYCDEP Stream Management Program and the WAC Forestry Program, CSWEP is a modified version of Streamwatch. This is a 5-day program (3 in the fall and 2 in the spring) that involves two fieldtrips to a local stream and in-class visits by Catskill Center 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 conducting work within their watershed. 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.
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, tree identification, tree planting, maple sugaring, and timber management 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. Also available are CFA’s Forestry on Wheels including a mobile classroom unit that houses educational materials, tools, equipment and supplies. Costs vary depending upon schedule, travel distance and preparation time. Please call CFA to better tailor a lesson to meet your needs.
Green Connections, funded by the Watershed Forestry Program of the Watershed Agricultural Council;
coordinated by Catskill Center for Conservation & Development
Green Connections is a 12 week extension of the Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers (see Professional Development category below) and is designed to establish partnerships between classes in NYC and its Watershed. The purpose of Green Connections is to educate students about the important connection between water quality and healthy forests. Contact Lisa Jemison, 845-586-2611; ljemison@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 Agriculture and Natural Reasources Program Team Coordinator Dan Shocky, dos6@cornell.edu (coordinates Ag-stravaganza, Farm Safety Days and other County-wide Agricultural Programs)
Ulster County: 4-H Director Patti Zellmer, 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. The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program provides out-of-school timeeducation activities under the Youth Watershed Stewards Program. The program provides hands-on activities on a variety of watershed topics and includes service-learning components. Michael Courtney; (845) 688-3047; mcc55@cornell.edu
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.
Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers (WFIT), a program administered by the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development (www.catskillcenter.org). Professional Development for Educators
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 Lisa Jemison, 845-586-2611; ljemison@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 Ben Murdock, 845-586-2611; bmurdock@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. To find out about Project WET workshops, call Stonykill Environmental Ed Center (845) 831-8780 or Five Rivers Environmental Ed Center (518) 475-0291.
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
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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