Our 2026 Floating Classroom dates are set. Please add them to your calendar and check back often as we add presenters and themes! Every cruise includes two presentations/activities related to the theme of the trip and participants will get to rotate between the two halfway through the cruise. All are on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. 
  • July 7: Geological History of the Susquehanna: Interactive, hands-on program looking at rocks and rock formations of the Susquehanna River basin and historical impacts on the flow. With Andrew Rockhound and friends.
  • July 14: Plastics and the Susquehanna: Program will provide a deep dive into some of the local studies that have been done on microplastics connected to the river and some potential solutions for the issues. Includes a hands-on project for each family to build a take-home waterway microplastic sampling device to help the association gather more data on this emerging contaminant. 
  • Aug. 11: Bats of the Susquehanna watershed: PA Game Commission educators Kelly Pollock and Jake Smith will offer interactive presentations about the importance of bats to our river, with an overview of species and some of the main threats they face.
  • Aug. 25: Muskrats and mammals: PA Game Commission biologist Tom Keller will offer a presentation on one level of the boat about muskrats and concerns over their numbers declining, what may be causing it and what we can do to help reverse things before it is too late. The other level of the boat will offer an overview of aquatic mammal species. 
  • Sept. 1: Animal tracking 101. We partner with Camp Susque volunteer educator Stephanie Knauss for an interactive program about animal tracking. One level of the boat will be focused on tips to better ID common animal tracks we find in our watershed and the other level will include an activity focused on plaster casting of tracks that can be taken home. 
  • Sept. 15: Building better buffers. Penn State Extension educator Cat Pugh will be reviewing the benefits of riparian buffers when it comes to protecting waterways from erosion and pollution concerns. She will offer tips and suggestions on how to build a better buffer. Meanwhile, on the other level, Susquehanna University Freshwater Research Institute director Matt Wilson will share an interactive presentation on the concept of live staking, what species he and his students have found that work best for streambank stabilization and how you can get involved in live staking projects.
  • Sept. 29: Voice for the vulnerable. Program will focus on species that are endangered, threatened or otherwise more vulnerable in our watershed and common issues that have led to that status. One level of presentation will include an overview of PA's endangered and threatened species and the other will cover creative advocacy efforts and projects with hands-on opportunity to get involved in providing a voice for these species.
  • Oct. 6: Salinity concerns and freshwater mussels. Presenters from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission will offer a program on their work assessing how road salts have impacted waterways over time and what can be done to change the trends. Meanwhile, on the other level, the PA Fish and Boat Commission will offer a program on the importance of freshwater mussels as waterway filters, issues they are facing and how the American eel plays a part in the process.
  • Oct. 20: Logging history and assessing fall foliage. On the lower level, Rowan Crisp of the PA Lumber Heritage will give a brief overview of PA's forest and logging history, focusing on how the waterways (especially the West Branch Susquehanna), supported the industry. Meanwhile, on the upper level, Curtis Sherwood, of DCNR, will introduce participants to the mountain views along the Susquehanna River and explain how to interpret fall color patterns on the landscape. We will look at how different tree species, elevation, and slope position influence where colors appear on the mountains and what those patterns tell us about local forest ecology.

    Registration for 2026 Floating Classrooms

    ** Please note that the registration is a TWO-PART process. Registering below is the first step, but then you need to purchase the tickets using the form below that. If you have any issues with the ticket purchase or have questions about the process, please send us an email.

Make sure to purchase your tickets below ...

Floating Classroom 07/07/26: Geological history of the Susquehanna with Andrew Rockhound

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

Learn about the geology and rock formations of the past interacted with the history of the Susquehanna River with popular presenter and president of the Central PA Rock and Mineral Club Andrew Rockhound and colleagues. We will be looking at common rocks of the watershed as well as the historic impacts. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 07/14/26: Plastics and the Susquehanna River

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

Program will provide a deep dive into some of the local studies that have been done on microplastics connected to the river and some potential solutions for the issues. Includes a hands-on project for each family to build a take-home waterway microplastic sampling device to help the association gather more data on this emerging contaminant. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 08/11/26: Bats of the Susquehanna watershed

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

PA Game Commission educators Kelly Pollock and Jake Smith will offer interactive presentations about the importance of bats to our river, with an overview of species and some of the main threats they face. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 08/25/26: Muskrats and other aquatic mammals

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

PA Game Commission biologist Tom Keller will offer a presentation on one level of the boat about muskrats and concerns over their numbers declining, what may be causing it and what we can do to help reverse things before it is too late. The other level of the boat will offer an overview of aquatic mammal species. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 09/01/26: Animal Tracking 101

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

We partner with Camp Susque volunteer educator Stephanie Knauss for an interactive program about animal tracking. One level of the boat will be focused on tips to better ID common animal tracks we find in our watershed and the other level will include an activity focused on plaster casting of tracks that can be taken home.. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 09/15/26: Building Better Buffers

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

Penn State Extension educator Cat Pugh will be reviewing the benefits of riparian buffers when it comes to protecting waterways from erosion and pollution concerns. She will offer tips and suggestions on how to build a better buffer. Meanwhile, on the other level, Susquehanna University Freshwater Research Institute director Matt Wilson will share an interactive presentation on the concept of live staking, what species he and his students have found that work best for streambank stabilization and how you can get involved in live staking projects. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 09/29/26: Voice for the Vulnerable

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

Program will focus on species that are endangered, threatened or otherwise more vulnerable in our watershed and common issues that have led to that status. One level of presentation will include an overview of PA’s endangered and threatened species and the other will cover creative advocacy efforts and projects. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 10/06/26: Freshwater mussels & salinity studies

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

The PA Fish and Boat Commission will be running an interactive program on freshwater mussels with a focus on their importance to the watershed and issues they face. Meanwhile, on the other level, The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will be doing an interactive presentation on road salt/salinity studies and our waterways.  Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

Floating Classroom 10/20/26: Logging history & fall foliage

$0.00 - $10.00

Only a few left!

On the lower level, Rowan Crisp of the PA Lumber Heritage will give a brief overview of PA's forest and logging history, focusing on how the waterways (especially the West Branch Susquehanna), supported the industry. Meanwhile, on the upper level, Curtis Sherwood, of DCNR, will introduce participants to the mountain views along the Susquehanna River and explain how to interpret fall color patterns on the landscape. We will look at how different tree species, elevation, and slope position influence where colors appear on the mountains and what those patterns tell us about local forest ecology. Program runs from 10-11 a.m.
Purchase tickets

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. 14, 2025: Trees and Trout
Sept. 30, 2025: Wilderness survival & Leave No Trace
Sept. 23, 2025: Hawkwatch and birding tech
Sept. 9, 2025: Riparian Buffers
Aug. 19, 2025: Scatology 101
Aug. 5, 2025: Owls of the Watershed
July 29, 2025: Ducks: Dabblers vs. Divers
July 8, 2025: Fish Kill Conundrum (Water Chemistry)

Oct. 8, 2024: Butterflies and seed bombs
Sept. 24: Turtles
Sept. 10, 2024: Casting, fish species & Chesapeake logperch
August 19: Invasive plants and bees
August 6, 2024: Hellbenders and awareness
July 16: Louisiana Waterthrush and birding
July 9, 2024: 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

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​570-768-6300

BY BECOMING A SUSQUEHANNA NEIGHBOR TODAY.
​FROM CLEAN WATER FLOW THRIVING COMMUNITIES.

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