RIVER EXPLORER EDUCATION PROGRAM

River Explorer is Ohio River Foundation's education program. River Explorer is designed to help children and adults learn about the ecology and importance of the Ohio River. The River Explorer Program classes are taught along the banks of the Ohio River and other rivers, streams, and creeks in its watershed.

The Ohio River Foundation's exciting River Explorer Program is now accepting scheduling applications for its fall and spring field trip seasons. Now is the time to schedule your River Explorer trip!

Submit Application on-line here.

The River Explorer education program brings students down to the banks of the Ohio River and other rivers, streams, and creeks for field study, investigation, and exploration. The learning station activities connect the concept of watersheds to school science and social studies core content, teach students about Ohio River watershed ecology, and involve students in water quality and ecology projects to foster development of environmental stewardship ethics. During the activities students learn about the differences, structures, and interactions between and in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and how they function in a watershed. The experience is guaranteed to make students look at the world in a new light!

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN RIVER EXPLORER

River Explorer is an innovative, inquiry based, outdoor learning-lab that provides experiential, activity-based environmental education about the Ohio River and its watershed. Utilizing microscopes, nets, live and lab specimens, and a great deal more, students will be introduced to a new and exciting learning experience.

River Explorer learning stations are currently designed for 4th thru 12th grade students. Note: only our 4th thru 9th grade program meets state curriculum requirements for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Activities incorporate discussions of the relationship between food web, habitat, and chemistry concepts.

RE guest educator and UC professor Mike Miller (center) leads 9th graders in seining

Planning:

River Explorer activities take place along the banks of the Ohio River, or rivers, creeks, or streams in its watershed. Activities are subject to change if it rains. We are constantly considering new locations that are proximate to schools that register for a field trip. If you would like a field trip and can suggest a new location for consideration please let us know!

Our current field trip locations:

Little Miami River locations - Nesbit Park (Loveland, OH), Sycamore Park - (Batavia, OH), Kelly Nature Preserve (Miamiville, OH)

Sharon Creek - Sharon Woods Park (Sharonville, OH)

Grassy Creek - Near Alexandria, KY

Ohio River locations: Fernbank Park - FP (Sayler Park, OH), Thomas More Field Station - TMC (Silver Grove, KY), Chilo #34 Lock and Preserve - CLP (Chilo, OH), Tanners Creek - TC (Lawrenceburg, IN)

To schedule a field trip, please complete the scheduling application. Instructions for completing the application, including group sizes, minimum age, and pricing information, are available on this website. Submit Application on-line here. Trip dates are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Don't delay...reserve your date today!

Learning Stations:

The following are our basic learning activities. These activities are used for every program, unless otherwise noted. Students are broken into groups and rotate through learning stations where they engage in these different activities.

Seining - Working in small teams, students will get an opportunity to help pull the seine net out of the river and gently retrieve whatever they've caught in the net. Depending upon height of student and site location, a student may get wet up to their knees or waist. Not available at TMC or CLP.

Fish Study - Fish adaptations are examined first hand (1) using aquariums stocked with “the catch of the day” collected by the children during the seining activity, or (2) by analyzing dozens of lab specimens.

Kick and Hand Netting - Gathering macroinvertebrates with kick nets and hand nets opens up whole new topics for exploration. Not available at TMC or CLP.

Plankton Study - Students learn to throw plankton nets and learn about the creatures that form the foundation of the “pyramid of life”. Catches are then examined under microscopes and students learn about the important role of plankton in the Ohio River food web.

NKU professor and RE guest educator Miriam Kannan guides 5th graders in viewing plankton they caught!
Elective Learning Stations (available at all locations)

The following are elective learning stations we offer to customize your program and better fit your individual curriculum needs. When you fill out your scheduling application, be sure to select one elective. This elective will be the subject focus of one learning station. If you do not select an elective, we will select one for you!

River Chemistry: We found some dead fish and we need a top notch investigative team to figure out why. Our prime suspect is the water. Students will test samples of river water for oxygen, temperature, and more. Learn why these parameters are so important to river health and fish longevity and vitality.

The Water Cycle and River Ecology: Through games and group activities, students piece together an overview of the Ohio River hydrologic cycle and ecosystems, and learn how to tell what caused certain erosion patterns, and focus on the impact human activities have on the health of the river and its riparian zone.

Mussel Mania: Students will see and handle a variety of freshwater mussel specimens and learn why these creatures have been termed "silent messengers of water quality".

Small but Important: For those students with a macro appetite, but who are at a location where they don't get to kick or hand net, we've got more macroinvertebrate lab specimens than you can shake a stick at for them to observe and analyze and learn how important and biologically sensitive these little creatures are.

How to sign up for a Trip:

Please fill out and submit a Scheduling Application (submit it on-line here) to reserve a date for your field trip today.

1. Group Information : To expedite the scheduling of your trip(s), we need all of the information requested on the form.

2. Location: Please select a trip location. If you do not select one, our field staff will select one with you after the trip date is booked.

3. Elective Learning Stations: Select one choice. If you do not select one, our field staff will select one for you.

4. Date(s): Please be flexible about the date of your trip(s). On the application, please indicate several preferred dates as well as dates that you are not available. We will make every effort to accommodate you but cannot guarantee specific dates.

5. Group Size: For the program to be most effective there is a limit of 60 students. If your group size exceeds the maximum number allowed for a program, you have two options:

• Request two or more programs on the same date (we can attempt to put these at the same location, but only a few sites can accommodate such a request), or

• Request the program on multiple days.

If you are unable to download the application from this website or submit your application on-line, you may have an application and information packet mailed to you. Contact us at:

Ohio River Foundation

River Explorer Coordinator

P.O. Box 42460

Cincinnati, OH 45242

Phone: 513-377-1408

Fax: 513-469-6755

Email: educator@ohioriverfdn.org

Fees:

Fees are based on the number of students participating per field trip; larger classes require more educators, increasing the cost of the trip. The price listed is for groups of up to 60 students.

$6 per student - Minimum group fee: $150

*Thanks to the generosity of our funders, Ohio River Fdn. is able offer this program for a fee far below its cost.

Sample Field Trip Timetable :

A typical field trip lasts about 4 hours, including a 20 minute sack lunch break. Lunch is not provided by Ohio River Foundation and should be brought by the student or school. All students will rotate through each of the learning stations.

9:30am: The group arrives and is greeted by the Ohio River Foundation leader, who discusses the day's plans and safe behavior.

9:45am: Students separate into small groups and rotate through Learning Stations

11:50am: Lunch Break (students need to be prepared to pack trash and recyclables back to school/home)

12:10pm: Finish rotation through Learning Stations

1:00pm: Review or Closing activity

1:15pm: Departure

Additional Information:

Scheduling Application

Scheduling Application Instructions

FAQ

Ohio State Standards

Kentucky State Standards

Fees and Sample Schedule

Stewardship Activities:

At the end of their experience or as a follow-up event, students are encouraged to participate in a service project such as placement of erosion and storm water runoff controls, invasive species and trash removal, and native habitat plantings. These activities naturally flow from the curriculum studies, as the students will employ knowledge and skills learned on their field trip. Contact us to discuss options for stewardship activities for your class.

RIVER EXPLORER EDUCATION PROGRAM

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