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Educational Partnerships

Park educators enjoy working with local community groups to build in-depth enrichment opportunities aimed at increasing awareness and appreciation of the Hudson Estuary and surrounding natural environment.  Our STEM-focused programs connect participants to Hudson River Park and promote environmental stewardship.

If your community organization is interested in learning more about partnership opportunities with our Estuary Lab please contact 212-627-2020 or education@hrpt.ny.gov.

Community Partnership Highlight: Hudson Guild

Hudson River Park partners with the Hudson Guild, a Chelsea-based non-profit group which supports both the NYCHA Chelsea-Elliot and Fulton Houses. Hudson Guild supports the community of Chelsea through a broad range of programming and services, with a priority focus on those in economic need. HRP’s partnership with the Hudson Guild supports efforts to serve this neighboring community.

In spring 2015, Park educators launched the “Hudson River Maker” series to the Hudson Guild’s after school program. This series connects marine science to STEM (Science, Technology Engineering & Math) principles to bring basic river concepts to life and increases local environmental awareness through engineering challenges. Over a 12 week term, Park educators led a series of workshops to 120 students filling a vital need for more hands-on STEM enrichment opportunities for students.

For 2016 this partnership expanded to include a “Maker Camp” during NYC public school holidays at Hudson Guild. At Winter Break Maker Camp 2016:

  • Park educators delivered 4 workshops where students built water filters, created plankton models, designed oyster habitat and picked up objects using small suction cup vacuums.
  • Upon completion of the program, over 70% identified as Makers and 80% of the students said that they enjoyed hands-on science even more!