On October 10th this year, Minerva students had the opportunity to participate in the Day in the Life on the Hudson River! In collaboration with Sarah Fink’s environmental science class at Johnsburg Central School, Minerva’s middle school and environmental science students worked on the Hudson River to collect physical, biological, and chemical data. All of this information will assist the Department of Environmental Conservation in better understanding the changing conditions of the Hudson River ecosystem. Thousands of students from all over the state, stretching from New York City to the Adirondacks, get out in the field every year on a coordinated day to collect a snapshot of the river’s conditions.

Students were actively involved in the data collection process. They worked collaboratively to carry out tests with indicators, perform calculations, and physically collect samples to examine. This provides the opportunity for students to see how what they learn in class applies to the real world and helps them explore a career opportunity in the sciences. Students will analyze the data collected in class, working on our data interpretation and communication skills. We are hoping to start our data collecting site next year to increase our understanding of our area.

Some questions we asked:
What species of plants and animals are around?
What is the oxygen concentration of the water?
How does the site look to our eyes (natural, altered)?