New York City public school students will soon trade traditional classrooms for the decks of NYC Ferries as part of a new floating classroom initiative designed to enhance marine science education. The program, slated to begin next September, aims to bring thousands of K-12 students on 90-minute interactive voyages across the New York Harbor during off-peak weekday hours.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Billion Oyster Project, NYC Ferry, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the Hornblower Group. Leaders announced the project on Monday, emphasizing that "the entire city can be a classroom."
"We're taking our beloved NYC Ferries transportation system that connects neighborhoods through our waterways and using it to create educational opportunities and open pathways for young people," said Jeanny Pak, COO of the city Economic Development Corporation. She added that the program utilizes existing infrastructure to educate and empower the next generation.
The floating classrooms will operate from Labor Day through Memorial Day on school days, with up to two voyages daily accommodating approximately 300 students and teachers. During these trips, students will divide into smaller groups for age-appropriate activities led by educators from the Billion Oyster Project. These activities will focus on marine life, climate resilience, and the industries that operate within the harbor.
"When you're on the water, you see the city from a new and different perspective, and you see this extraordinary ecosystem that we have here in New York City," said Ann Fraioli, Director of Education at the Billion Oyster Project. Students can expect hands-on learning experiences, including examining nautical charts, testing water quality, and observing live marine organisms like oysters.
The Billion Oyster Project has a decade-long history of providing harbor-focused curriculum and hands-on experiences to over 66,000 students. This floating classroom initiative builds upon that work, with officials hoping to engage one million students by 2030 and welcome 10,000 students annually through the ferry program. Teachers interested in participating can sign up on the Billion Oyster Project's website.