Mahopac High students study the Hudson River
Maya Johnson is a dedicated education reporter with a degree from Vassar College. With 5 years of experience at local NPR affiliate WAMC, she focuses on the developments and challenges facing Poughkeepsie's educational institutions.
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VERPLANCK Mahopac High School students visited the Hudson River with peers from across the Hudson Valley for a joint environmental research project. Upon arriving at their destination along Verplanck’s waterfront, the teenagers investigated the river’s ecosystem through hands-on fieldwork. Students examined the river from several scientific perspectives. Using seine nets, they collected and found fish and other aquatic organisms. They also tested water samples for chemical indicators, including pH and salinity, and saw physical characteristics of the river environment. Together, these investigations helped students explore the relationships among water quality, habitat and the organisms that depend on the Hudson. The event brought together more than 5,000 students and educators at 90 sites, creating a snapshot of Hudson’s ecology from one day of coordinated observations. The field study was part of a larger collaborative effort coordinated by the New York State Department of Environ