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Schwenksville, PA – March 3rd, 2023 – The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s newest project, the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program, is now an award-winner! On Monday, March 13th at 6 pm, the Conservancy will accept the Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Education’s 2023 Outstanding Education Award at the association’s annual conference at Camp Hebron near Harrisburg. Education has taken a giant leap forward with the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program at Aqua’s Green Lane Reservoir. The Floating Classroom is environmental education, kayaking, and a floating science lab rolled into one incredible program geared towards developing real-world field skills in young learners. Students participate in courses in watershed science, aquatic communities, ornithology, geology, and botany. Moreover, students discover real-world applications for their newly acquired knowledge through hands-on explorations on the reservoir... and this all happens from the cockpit of a kayak. The Floating Classroom, affectionately called “Dragonfly I”, is a state-of-the-art STEM lab constructed on a reimagined 24' pontoon boat. The "classroom" is equipped with microscopes, iPads, Wi-Fi, water quality testing supplies and other equipment that aids students in their aquatic investigations. The boat itself is equipped with a 10-horse electric motor which derives its power from four specially-configured solar panels and a 48-volt smart charging system. Since its inception in the summer of 2021, over 300 high school and middle school students have experienced the Floating Classroom. In addition, hundreds of community members have joined Conservancy educators on Dragonfly I as part of the Out and About Experiential Ed Program. Finally, the Conservancy has hosted the Academy of Natural Sciences, Ursinus College and dozens of other groups for on-water learning and research. A special thanks goes out to the Floating Classroom’s Premier Sponsor and Project Partner: Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. and to the program’s Lead Sponsors: PA Fish and Boat, Dow, Constellation Energy, H&K Group, POWR, Pfizer, Montgomery County Parks, Trails and Historic Places. Learn more about the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program by visiting the Conservancy’s website at https://www.perkiomenwatershed.org/floating-classroom-program Contact Executive Director Ryan Beltz at rbeltz@perkiomenwatershed.org with any questions regarding the program or award.
Schwenksville, PA – March 3rd, 2023 – The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s newest project, the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program, is now an award-winner! On Monday, March 13th at 6 pm, the Conservancy will accept the Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Education’s 2023 Outstanding Education Award at the association’s annual conference at Camp Hebron near Harrisburg.
Education has taken a giant leap forward with the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program at Aqua’s Green Lane Reservoir. The Floating Classroom is environmental education, kayaking, and a floating science lab rolled into one incredible program geared towards developing real-world field skills in young learners. Students participate in courses in watershed science, aquatic communities, ornithology, geology, and botany. Moreover, students discover real-world applications for their newly acquired knowledge through hands-on explorations on the reservoir... and this all happens from the cockpit of a kayak.
The Floating Classroom, affectionately called “Dragonfly I”, is a state-of-the-art STEM lab constructed on a reimagined 24' pontoon boat. The "classroom" is equipped with microscopes, iPads, Wi-Fi, water quality testing supplies and other equipment that aids students in their aquatic investigations. The boat itself is equipped with a 10-horse electric motor which derives its power from four specially-configured solar panels and a 48-volt smart charging system.
Since its inception in the summer of 2021, over 300 high school and middle school students have experienced the Floating Classroom. In addition, hundreds of community members have joined Conservancy educators on Dragonfly I as part of the Out and About Experiential Ed Program. Finally, the Conservancy has hosted the Academy of Natural Sciences, Ursinus College and dozens of other groups for on-water learning and research.
A special thanks goes out to the Floating Classroom’s Premier Sponsor and Project Partner: Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. and to the program’s Lead Sponsors: PA Fish and Boat, Dow, Constellation Energy, H&K Group, POWR, Pfizer, Montgomery County Parks, Trails and Historic Places.
Learn more about the Floating Classroom STEM Education Program by visiting the Conservancy’s website at https://www.perkiomenwatershed.org/floating-classroom-program Contact Executive Director Ryan Beltz at rbeltz@perkiomenwatershed.org with any questions regarding the program or award.