Waterfront Stewardship

Waterfront Stewardship

The Waterfront Stewardship Program invites students to explore Randall’s Island’s natural areas through dynamic, STEM-based lessons, designed to align with NYS learning standards. Students make in-depth observations, build upon ecological concepts, and interact with the waters of the Harlem and East Rivers.

Your Visit

icon
Registration
icon
Pre-Visit Activities
icon
Post-Visit Activities
icon
Directions
Field Trip Options

In-person field trips run 90 minutes and are available during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.
Virtual field trips run 30-45 minutes and are available through the school year with a brief hiatus during the winter months.

Pre-Visit Activities

Bring lessons from the Island’s natural areas to your classroom! Pre-visit activities linked below require minimal materials and are designed to supplement the scheduled field trips. However, most activities can be used on their own in the class or at home!

Post-Visit Activities

Learning doesn’t stop when your students leave the Island! Extend the fun with one of our post-visit activities! Post-visit activities linked below require minimal materials and are designed to supplement the scheduled field trips. However, these activities can be used on their own in the class or at home!

Where To Meet

The meeting location for the Waterfront Stewardship Program is Ichan Stadium or 10 Central Rd, New York, NY 10035. Download our directions for suggested travel routes whether you’re driving, biking, walking, or using public transportation.

icon
Registration
Field Trip Options

In-person field trips run 90 minutes and are available during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.
Virtual field trips run 30-45 minutes and are available through the school year with a brief hiatus during the winter months.

icon
Pre-Visit Activities
Pre-Visit Activities

Bring lessons from the Island’s natural areas to your classroom! Pre-visit activities linked below require minimal materials and are designed to supplement the scheduled field trips. However, most activities can be used on their own in the class or at home!

icon
Post-Visit Activities
Post-Visit Activities

Learning doesn’t stop when your students leave the Island! Extend the fun with one of our post-visit activities! Post-visit activities linked below require minimal materials and are designed to supplement the scheduled field trips. However, these activities can be used on their own in the class or at home!

icon
Directions
Where To Meet

The meeting location for the Waterfront Stewardship Program is Ichan Stadium or 10 Central Rd, New York, NY 10035. Download our directions for suggested travel routes whether you’re driving, biking, walking, or using public transportation.

Learn More

For over 30 years, the Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) has worked to restore, maintain and develop programming along the Randall’s Island waterfront. The Park’s 20 acres of restored natural areas, ten acres of wetlands and nearly five miles of scenic waterfront offer a unique opportunity for families, community organizations and school groups to explore and learn from the natural world.

RIPA’s Waterfront Stewardship Program was created to utilize this unique resource for local engagement and environmental education. RIPA’s experienced educators guide RIPA in providing extensive volunteer opportunities, public events, guided tours, research partnerships, and educational programming for local public schools –

enabling RIPA to responsibly care for the Island’s shoreline while forming robust relationships with a range of local stewards.

The Waterfront Stewardship Program offers free hands-on STEM education to students in partnership with local schools, prioritizing public schools in neighboring East Harlem and the South Bronx areas. We offer all our courses to engage students at an appropriate level between Pre-K through 12th grade with our fully aligned curriculum.

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance is able to program and maintain the natural areas thanks to generous donations from individuals, foundations, and grants.

Waterfront Stewardship

Lessons to Choose From

Wild Wetlands
The Secret Life of Insects
Plant Power
Feathered Friends
Water is What Matters
play
Wild Wetlands

Wild Wetlands

New York City and Randall’s Island are home to many different types of wetlands. Wild Wetlands explores the critical role wetlands play in the environment, including improving water quality, providing habitat for plants and animals, and protecting our communities from climate change. Students will get an up-close and personal look at the wetlands (your choice of Salt Marsh or Freshwater), plants, and animals found on Randall’s Island while exploring the critical roles wetlands play for people and our environment.

play
The Secret Life of Insects

The Secret Life of Insects

Delve into the complex world of insects with this course! Insects are essential organisms in our environment and everyday lives. They pollinate plants, fuel ecosystems, impact human products, and inspire technology! Students will use their observational skills to participate in an up-close and personal exploration of the different types of insects found on Randall’s Island, learning about their biology, ecology, and conservation efforts to save them.

play
Plant Power

Plant Power

Plants are the backbone of all life on Earth and an essential part of our daily lives. They provide us with food and medicine, purify our water, clean our air, reduce greenhouse gases, and provide habitat. Students will get an up-close and personal look at the various plants found on Randall’s Island, learning about their life cycles, anatomy, and ecological roles.

play
Feathered Friends

Feathered Friends

They fly, they dive, they swim, and they sing! Birds are abundant at Randall’s Island year-round. Despite being located in one of the world’s largest cities, Randall’s Island Park is home to various species of waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, and wading birds. Check the wetlands for herons, egrets, and ducks. Look over Icahn Stadium for soaring hawks. Search the freshwater wetland for migratory warblers and sparrows in the fall and spring. Learn all about bird anatomy, their adaptations to survival, and their unique life histories. Students will learn how to use binoculars and scopes to view birds in their natural habitat.

play
Water is What Matters

Water is What Matters

Water connects us all. Water is constantly moving in, around, and through the Earth in various forms. People and wildlife all over the planet require clean water to live and thrive. Unfortunately, human activities related to different land uses and land management have severely deteriorated water quality over the last century. But where does water come from? Where is it going? What is a watershed? Are our NYC waterways clean and healthy, including the Harlem River, East River, and Long Island Sound? Through in-class and field activities, we will answer these and other questions in this course.

Contact Us

Thank you for contacting us!

Someone will get back to you shortly.