FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT RQ RIVER EDUCATION

Through the generous assistance of Pittsburgh area foundations, RiverQuest is working to keep our mission to serve schools flourishing - even during tough economic times. The boat is scheduled for School Programs from Tuesday, September 6, all the way through Friday, December 9.  Students participating in this fall's programs represent grades 3-12, nearly half of these from the Pittsburgh Public School District.

Our sincere thanks to the foundations, schools, teachers and administrators who have proven how valuable the RiverQuest experience is to their educational efforts.

RiverQuest recently unveiled a public ticketed Saturday tour that features content and activities designed to shed light on the basics of Marcellus Shale: what it is, where it is, why there's natural gas in it, and why everyone is so interested now.  The program describes the opportunities as well as the challenges, and asks participants to form their own opinions on the topic.

"Our goal is to provide some of the background knowledge that can help people be better consumers of media on the subject [of Marcellus Shale activity]," says Jeff Jordan, assistant executive director of RiverQuest.

NEW SCHOOL PROGRAM

In Spring 2012, RiverQuest makes a new program available for school groups.

The Marcellus Shale + River Ecosystems combination program gives students in grades 4-12 two 2-hour investigations (and a 30 minute break for lunch) onboard RiverQuest's hybrid vessel EXPLORER. "The 4.5-hour format allows schools to get the most use out of their fieldtrip day."  Paired with new hands-on modules exploring Marcellus Shale are some of the popular environmental science activities for which RiverQuest is known, including biological and chemical testing of river water to gage water quality. Through the support of the Dominion Foundation and the Negley Flinn Foundation, schools are able to book this program at $10 per student in 2012.

NEW OUTREACH PROGRAM   

Starting this November, schools, afterschool programs, and social nonprofit community groups are eligible to reserve the new Exploring Marcellus Shale traveling program for presentation at your site.  This new informational session looks at both sides of the Marcellus Shale debate.  It can be adapted with or without hands-on activities to meet the needs of different audiences, from grade 4-adult.  Available to schools and community groups at no cost this coming November through March, it is sponsored in part by PA Department of Environmental Protection. 

For more information, click here to visit our homepage. To reserve an onboard School Program or on-site Outreach Program, call RiverQuest at 412-231-2712.