THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
At Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5, students dive into hands-on science with water testing and microscopic study to reveal how healthy the East River really is—and how plastics threaten its delicate ecosystem.
At Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5, students dive into hands-on science with water testing and microscopic study to reveal how healthy the East River really is—and how plastics threaten its delicate ecosystem.
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Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Brooklyn Bridge Park · Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Bridge Park, stretching along the East River waterfront in Brooklyn, New York, offers more than urban green space—it’s a dynamic outdoor classroom for students eager to engage with the environment in real time. Among its standout educational programs, "Plankton and Plastics (Gr. 4-12)" invites students from grades 4 through 12 to step into the role of citizen scientists as they investigate the health of the river’s ecosystem. Set at Pier 5, this fully outdoor experience combines hands-on water quality testing with microscopic examination, shedding light on marine life vitality and human impact alike.
Participants gain practical skills testing temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH levels, essential indicators of water health. With water samples under the microscope, they spot plankton—the river’s microscopic foundation—while also identifying plastic pollutants that threaten aquatic life. This local, inquiry-driven approach connects young learners directly to the East River's complex urban ecosystem, offering context to environmental challenges and science standards alike.
Brooklyn Bridge Park stands out as a resource within the dense urban fabric of New York City, a place where students observe how natural systems endure and adapt amid a heavily industrialized waterway. The park’s innovative educational model serves over 10,000 students annually, leveraging public waterfront access as a living laboratory that blends recreation, historical waterfront infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.
This program is not just about data collection—it’s about inspiring environmental awareness where it counts, right in the heart of Brooklyn’s waterfront. Whether you’re local or visiting, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a gateway to understanding urban ecology that’s as meaningful as it is accessible. For educators and families looking to turn a day at the park into an active lesson on ecology and pollution, "Plankton and Plastics" delivers a unique combination of science education and outdoor engagement.
easy.
60 minutes.
Suitable for all fitness levels; primarily standing and observational activity.
The program is designed for students in grades 4 through 12.
Yes, chaperones are required to accompany student groups during the program.
Programs may be canceled due to severe weather; rescheduling or refunds are offered when possible.
Each session accommodates up to 35 students.
No prior skills are needed; the program is hands-on and taught by educators.
The program is held outdoors at Pier 5, right along Brooklyn Bridge Park's waterfront.
Brooklyn Bridge Park sits on a revitalized industrial waterfront once dominated by shipping piers and warehouses.
The park promotes sustainability by educating youth on waterway health and encouraging plastic pollution reduction.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a waterfront public park in Brooklyn, New York that programs fitness, environmental education, arts, and community events along the East River. The park hosts partner-led fitness classes including Zumba with Dodge YMCA, Pilates with Dodge YMCA, Amp'd with Chelsea Piers Fitness, and Sunset Yoga with Abhaya Yoga. These outdoor classes accommodate a range of abilities and typically ask participants to bring a mat when noted. Educational programs and school field trips are a core offering. Hands-on lessons include Go Fish! Seining the East River (Gr. 9-12), The Awesome Oyster (Gr. 1-8), Plankton and Plastics (Gr. 4-12), Habitats and their Inhabitants (PreK-5), Between the Tides (Gr. 1-4), Everything Rocks! (Gr. 2-4), Water Flows: Embracing Climate Solutions for our City (Gr. 5-12), and seasonal offerings such as Trees of Brooklyn Bridge Park (PreK-3). Several programs run on a waitlist and advance registration is required for select tours. Public engagement events include Community Science Fishing Clinic, Youth Soccer League registration, Waterfront Walks, Kinfolk Tech: Dreaming with the Archives Tour, Art Under the Bridge, and bilingual family bird walks. Docent-led walks start at Jane's Carousel for certain tours and explore the park’s design, ecology, and history. Brooklyn Bridge Park partners with organizations such as the Dodge YMCA and Chelsea Piers Fitness, and relies on trained docents and expert anglers to lead activities. Many events are free; equipment or space may be limited, with registration and waitlists used when necessary. Schedules, locations, and registration details are posted on the park website.
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