The following are our 2025 Floating Classroom sessions. They are all set to run from 10-11 a.m. the dates they are scheduled.
July 8 - Fish Kill Conundrum with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. Murder mystery meets chemistry and waterway research. Participants will learn how water sampling can provide critical clues for fish kill and other investigations, looking at the chemistry and how that can point to sources. Discussion will be mixed with hands-on opportunities for a fun learning session for the whole family.
July 29 - Dabblers vs. divers ... a program about ducks in our watershed. Come learn about different duck species, what makes a dabbler or puddle duck and what characteristics are common for diving ducks. We will talk about different species in each category, offer some hands-on learning and more.
August 5 - Owls of the watershed ... In this partnership session between the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Camp Susque, learn about owls through the pellets they leave behind with environmental educator Colleen Zehr and discover the different major owl species found across our watershed with ID and fun facts with Riverkeeper John Zaktansky.
August 19 - Scatology 101: Join us for a special program looking at scat. We will discuss what characteristics can be used to determine what animals left various types of scat as well as the ecological impacts and unexpected benefits of animal poop. Will include a special activity to help illustrate differences in scat.
September 9 - Riparian buffer discussion and activity with Penn State Extension educators Cat Pugh and Erin Trouba. A plant ID walk will be offered after the Floating Classroom.
September 23 - Hawkwatch for migrating broad-winged hawks with West Branch Regional Director Andrew Bechdel with discussion about the broad-winged hawk as well as a look at special tech available for birding, including microphones and radar options.
September 30 - Wilderness survival and Leave No Trace. Rose Anna Moore, season 8 contestant on the TV show Alone, will provide an interactive overview of wilderness survival fundamentals in a program designed for all ages. The other level will include Vernal School Program Supervisor and certified Leave No Trace instructor Marissa Crames reviewing the core principles of Leave No Trace practices.
October 14 - Session details still being finalized.
July 29 - Dabblers vs. divers ... a program about ducks in our watershed. Come learn about different duck species, what makes a dabbler or puddle duck and what characteristics are common for diving ducks. We will talk about different species in each category, offer some hands-on learning and more.
August 5 - Owls of the watershed ... In this partnership session between the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Camp Susque, learn about owls through the pellets they leave behind with environmental educator Colleen Zehr and discover the different major owl species found across our watershed with ID and fun facts with Riverkeeper John Zaktansky.
August 19 - Scatology 101: Join us for a special program looking at scat. We will discuss what characteristics can be used to determine what animals left various types of scat as well as the ecological impacts and unexpected benefits of animal poop. Will include a special activity to help illustrate differences in scat.
September 9 - Riparian buffer discussion and activity with Penn State Extension educators Cat Pugh and Erin Trouba. A plant ID walk will be offered after the Floating Classroom.
September 23 - Hawkwatch for migrating broad-winged hawks with West Branch Regional Director Andrew Bechdel with discussion about the broad-winged hawk as well as a look at special tech available for birding, including microphones and radar options.
September 30 - Wilderness survival and Leave No Trace. Rose Anna Moore, season 8 contestant on the TV show Alone, will provide an interactive overview of wilderness survival fundamentals in a program designed for all ages. The other level will include Vernal School Program Supervisor and certified Leave No Trace instructor Marissa Crames reviewing the core principles of Leave No Trace practices.
October 14 - Session details still being finalized.
Floating Classroom 7/8/25: Fish kill conundrum
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Murder mystery meets chemistry and waterway research. Participants will learn how water sampling can provide critical clues for fish kill and other investigations, looking at the chemistry and how that can point to sources. Discussion will be mixed with hands-on opportunities for a fun learning session for the whole family. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Floating Classroom 7/29/25: Ducks: Dabblers vs. Divers
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Check out a program about everything duck as we explore what makes a puddle or dabbler duck vs. a diving duck, discuss general identification and habits for varous species. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Floating Classroom 08/05/25: Owls of the watershed
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
In this partnership session between the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Camp Susque, learn about owls through the pellets they leave behind with environmental educator Colleen Zehr and discover the different major owl species found across our watershed with ID and fun facts with Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Floating Classroom 08/19/25: Scatology 101: What we can learn from animal poop
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Join us for a special program looking at scat. We will discuss what characteristics can be used to determine what animals left various types of scat as well as the ecological impacts and unexpected benefits of animal poop. Will include a special activity to help illustrate differences in scat. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Floating Classroom 09/09/25: Riparian buffers and plant ID walk
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Riparian buffer discussion and activity with Penn State Extension educators Cat Pugh and Erin Trouba. A plant ID walk will be offered after the Floating Classroom. Program runs from 10-11 a.m. with plant walk offered right afterward.
Floating Classroom 09/23/25: Hawk watch & birding tech
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Hawkwatch for migrating broad-winged hawks with West Branch Regional Director Andrew Bechdel with discussion about the broad-winged hawk as well as a look at special tech available for birding, including microphones and radar options. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Floating Classroom 09/30/25: Wilderness survival and Leave No Trace
$0.00 - $10.00
Only a few left!
Rose Anna Moore, season 8 contestant on the TV show Alone, will provide an interactive overview of wilderness survival fundamentals in a program designed for all ages. The other level will include Vernal School Program Supervisor and certified Leave No Trace instructor Marissa Crames reviewing the core principles of Leave No Trace practices. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Looking back to previous Floating Classrooms
A variety of Floating Classroom programs have been held over the past couple summers. Looking back at some of the more recent ones:
Oct. 8: Butterflies and seed bombs
Sept. 24: Turtles
Sept. 10: Casting, fish species & Chesapeake logperch
August 19: Invasive plants and bees
August 6: Hellbenders and awareness
July 16: Louisiana Waterthrush and birding
July 9: Martens and other mammals
June 11, 2024: Snails on the Susquehanna
May 21, 2024: Commonwealth Cyber Academy studies salamanders and macroinvertebrates
June 13, 2023: Rocks and Geology of the River
July 11, 2023: Insects of the Watershed
July 18, 2023: PFAS and Plants
August 5, 2023: Artifacts & Logging History
August 22, 2023: Bird Calls & Birdnet
September 5, 2023: Secret Life Inside Our Fish
September 12, 2023: Eels and Hellbenders
September 19, 2023: Trout and Drought
October 3, 2023: Raptors on the River
June 28, 2022: Aquatic mammals
July 12, 2022: Mining heritage & AMD concerns
July 19, 2022: Microplastics and fish anatomy
August 2, 2022: Bats of the watershed
August 16, 2022: Invasive invaders
August 19, 2022: Bird species and watching
September 10, 2022: Photography and videography
September 13, 2022: Flooding and Agnes' anniversary
September 27, 2022: Freshwater mussels
Oct. 8: Butterflies and seed bombs
Sept. 24: Turtles
Sept. 10: Casting, fish species & Chesapeake logperch
August 19: Invasive plants and bees
August 6: Hellbenders and awareness
July 16: Louisiana Waterthrush and birding
July 9: Martens and other mammals
June 11, 2024: Snails on the Susquehanna
May 21, 2024: Commonwealth Cyber Academy studies salamanders and macroinvertebrates
June 13, 2023: Rocks and Geology of the River
July 11, 2023: Insects of the Watershed
July 18, 2023: PFAS and Plants
August 5, 2023: Artifacts & Logging History
August 22, 2023: Bird Calls & Birdnet
September 5, 2023: Secret Life Inside Our Fish
September 12, 2023: Eels and Hellbenders
September 19, 2023: Trout and Drought
October 3, 2023: Raptors on the River
June 28, 2022: Aquatic mammals
July 12, 2022: Mining heritage & AMD concerns
July 19, 2022: Microplastics and fish anatomy
August 2, 2022: Bats of the watershed
August 16, 2022: Invasive invaders
August 19, 2022: Bird species and watching
September 10, 2022: Photography and videography
September 13, 2022: Flooding and Agnes' anniversary
September 27, 2022: Freshwater mussels
