Science Barge Opening Features Critters from Land and Sea

From Groundwork Hudson Valley: The Science Barge will open to the public officially on Saturday, April 29, when Mayor Spano cuts the ribbon on the gangplank at 2pm. Among the hands-on science and nature activities will be several oyster stations, where visitors can learn about the importance of oysters as filter feeders, helping to clean the river water and reestablishing ecosystems.

The Science Barge is a site for the Billion Oyster Project at the New York Harbor School. “Our oysters are growing faster and healthier than the oysters in New York’s harbor because our water is cleaner,” said Bob Walters, Director of the Science Barge. Twenty young “citizen scientists” visiting the Science Barge will have the opportunity to participate in the project themselves. These young people will document the growth of their own bags of baby oysters over the summer. Students from Hastings High School will be sharing their work with oysters on Saturday, as well.

The Barge is also one of 11 sites selected by Cornell University’s oyster project. Katie McParland, a post-doctoral student at Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, has been monitoring the growth and mortality rate of oysters.

An eel mop demonstration will take place at 3pm. Visitors will be able to see the tiny glass eels brought up on the “mops” that serve as a temporary habitat in their migration up the Saw Mill River to spawn.

The Science Barge greenhouse will feature wildlife, as well, with animals from the Greenburgh Nature Center, including Big Foot, the turtle, and Nugget, the chicken.

Visitors will be able to learn about the effects of climate change at 7 new exhibits aboard the Science Barge--part of a cutting-edge education initiative for 700 Yonkers students. Groundwork Hudson Valley, the operator of the Barge, was one of only 6 organizations in the country to win a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to teach climate change and resiliency, in partnership with Columbia University and the Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB).

The Science Barge is open to the public on weekends from noon to 6 pm, from mid-April to November, offering children’s activities and tours of the climate change exhibits, hydroponic greenhouse, and energy systems. Art & Science Sundays for children offer planting and science activities, crafts, crabbing, and more from 2-4 pm, July- November.

The Science Barge is funded by grants from the City of Yonkers, Con Edison, Croton Energy, Domino Sugar, Green Mountain Energy, Hudson River Foundation, the New New York Bridge, and Vista Yacht Cruises.

The Science Barge is located at 99 Dock Street, Yonkers, NY 10701. For more information, call 914-375-2151 or visit here.