Schooner Inc Awarded Watershed Fund Grant

Schooner Inc received a grant from The Watershed Fund for a series of programs to teach students in grades 5-7 at the Barnard Environmental Magnet School about Long Island Sound and its watershed.

The programs consist of a classroom component to introduce students to watershed principles and environmental issues followed by a shore visit to see how these concepts work in the real world. The programs culminate with a trip on the Quinnipiack, Schooner Inc’s 91-foot schooner, for a view of the ecosystem from the open water. The programs will enable the students to understand the importance of watershed systems, the impact humans have on the environment and how they, as individuals, can make a difference.

During the shore visit to Lighthouse Point Park, students will study several different types of habitats-rocky intertidal zone, sandy beach, saltmarsh—for water quality and the animals and plants found in each type of habitat. Students on the Quinnipiack will study water quality and the animals found in the open water to make comparisons with the data collected at the shore.

“You can learn a lot in the classroom but the time students spend outdoors is invaluable,” said Kristen Andrews, Director of Education at Schooner Inc. “The students can see firsthand the different habitats that fit together to create a whole ecosystem and they can see many of the human activities that have a negative impact on Long Island Sound and its watershed. It’s a more powerful message than just reading about it in the classroom.”

The Watershed Fund, created by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, is dedicated to protecting water quality throughout the region by acquiring ecologically significant watershed land and by educating citizens as to how they can help preserve the environment. Since 1999, The Watershed Fund has partnered with local land trusts, municipalities, community groups and state agencies on projects to protect the region’s drinking water.