RiverQuest Education Specialist Megan Griffin is busy these days preparing for a frenetic month of summer camp programming at RiverQuest. In addition to two weeks of traditional daycamp programming, RiverQuest embarks on a third annual Bayer International Summer Sustainability Camp in July 2010.

Sponsored by Bayer USA Foundation and    Bayer Science & Education Foundation, the camp is populated competitively by application to the foundations from students in the US and Europe.  Based at Duquesne University residence halls, the contingent spends nearly two weeks with RiverQuest exploring urban and rural freshwater ecosystems and many of the sites and resources unique to Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania.  Participating partner agencies range from Bayer MaterialScience to Duquesne University's Center for Environmental Research and Education, and site visits range from Tour-ED Mine to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.  Check out the Bayer Camp blog during the last two weeks of July 2010 to find out what's going on with the Sustainabilty Camp crew!

RiverQuest Saturday sails continue through July, ticketed through Carnegie Science Center. Come aboard to discover biodiversity and the complex relationship between humans and nature. Learn about current ecological issues and why "Water Matters!" Tickets are $6 per person, and a special discount is available for members of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh through July 2010.

During the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta celebration on July 3 , Explorer will be parked at our dock near Carnegie Science Center and open for special free RiverWorks Discovery activities from 11:00am through 3:00pm, sponsored by Port of Pittsburgh Commission. Stop in and make your own "Cartesian diver" to take home!

School is finally out, the summer season is upon us!  If you are looking for a perfect school excursion for 2010-11, think about boarding Explorer this fall! October is the most beautiful month on the rivers - cool mornings, warm sunny afternoons, and the summer green of the river valley fading into fiery brilliance.  Avoid the conflicts of April testing schedules and the frenzy of May fieldtrips this school year!  Call us for more information on fieldtrip opportunities for grades K-16, on board the world's first green boat designed expressly for education.

Last time, we asked:

What unique Pittsburgh-area educational organization is poised to celebrate its 15th anniversary?

The answer:

RiverQuest celebrates 15 years on the water starting in July 2010.  Originally known as Pittsburgh Voyager, RiverQuest set sail for the first time with school groups aboard in 1995.  Check out the history of the RQ fleet at our website.

Stay tuned for upcoming information about 15th anniversary events.  Our first event will be on Regatta weekend, Saturday, July 3 at our dock!  Stop by the boat between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM for our free Open House, featuring RiverWorks Discovery activities, sponsored by Port of Pittsburgh Commission, and a sweet treat in honor of our 15th year.