Voyage to Governor's Island

Fifth graders traveled to Governor's Island by ferry--a 5-minute trip from Red Hook. Why?  To help prepare oyster shells for the Billion Oyster Project.  And to see the 100% solar powered MicroFactory created by Barent Roth, BNS parent. What does the factory do?  It turns single use plastic into useful products!

Thanks to Todd Scott for these great photos.

Waiting for the ferry

Student clutching plastic bottle for recycling

Shells needed for oyster reefs--are donated by NY restaurants.
Students have to sort through to remove things that wind up in the shells--mussel shells, rubberbands, and gloves.  

Shinara Sunderlal, BOP education liaison, motivates us
by helping us see how our work leads  to a healthier ocean ecosystem.

                                                       Some students found forks! 

                         Next the microfactory.  Subbing for Barent:  Rachel Joo!

     

Barent Roth showed up for the second trip. 

Cyla, his daugther was the co-presenter.

Barent is holding mini version of molded traffic cone.

                                                                                    

And of course:  lunch and recess!

   Click to learn more about the Micro Factory. 

By the way, Cora Sangree's daughter, and BNS graduate, Lissa helped write the grant that enabled Barent and his team to construct the Micro-Factory. It's a family affair!

DITL* 2022

Once again BNS 4th graders were part of a state wide analysis of the health of the Hudson River. (*Day in the Life of the Hudson)

"What are you fishing for?", wondered a passerby.  

"Children's minds!" we answered.

Here are some images of students working:

Toss that highly scientific tool--an orange--to find out the current's direction:

Checking out BOP oyster restoration stations for living organisms

Testing Properties:  pH, turbidity, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen

Seining for Microplastics 

Barent Roth gave us this microplastic seining net

A fisher caught this tautog.