Increasing public awareness and understanding of water quality.
From the Long Island Sound to Lake Champlain, NEIWPCC and its partners offer programs and events to engage community members in their water resources.
Youth and the Environment Program
The Youth and the Environment Program (YEP) introduces young people to careers in the wastewater industry through paid summer internships. This six-week long EPA-funded program began in 1990.
Hudson River Programs
NEIWPCC staff members at the Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve help plan and implement community programs and events. These include the community science Hudson River Eel Project and the “A Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor” event, that involve thousands of students and volunteers annually. Additionally, staff supported the development of a K-12 curriculum guide, and offer classroom programs and professional development opportunities. The Institute Discovering Environmental Scientists (TIDES) is a paid summer research opportunity for high school and college students in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Lake Champlain Basin Program
Staff at the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) offer a variety of learning opportunities for youth and adults alike. These include presentations to school and community groups in the basin, as well as a Watershed for Every Classroom educator workshop. The Champlain Basin Educational Initiative provides professional development to primary and secondary education teachers in New York, Vermont, and Québec. Working out of the LCBP Resource Room at the ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, staff educate and inspire visitors of all ages.
Long Island Sound Study
The Long Island Sound Schools network provides support for K-12 schools to implement school or community-based projects and increase ocean literacy. Additionally, Sound Stewards field trips are offered in New York, implementing hands-on STEM and marine science learning.