Families learn about water chemistry and aquatic health through hands-on July 8 Floating Classroom

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association kicked off its popular annual summer and early fall Floating Classroom series aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat near Williamsport with a July 8 program looking at water chemistry and aquatic health. 

More than three dozen people joined the kickoff cruise, which started with reviewing an actual fish kill case from several years ago and then diving into numerous ways to monitor water health and how to determine what could be causing negative impacts on various ecosystems.

"These programs are always so much fun because kids, parents, grandparents and others from the community all learn alongside each other about the river and the greater watershed," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "There is no better place to discover more about the Susquehanna than in a classroom surrounded by the river basin and the creatures that call it home." 

Participants learned about watersheds and ways they can make positive impacts at home. They also discovered some of the common issues that can be found along waterways and how to determine whether things such as creek foams and oil-like sheens are naturally occurring or pollution-based and how to report things that may be concerning. 

There are seven more Floating Classroom programs planned for the 2025 season. Check out the full slate and register before spaces are full -- a number of the classes are nearing capacity.