College Programs

Colleges and universities can charter a 2 or 3 hour Education Sail or arrange for a specialized education program to enhance undergraduate and graduate courses, laboratories and research projects.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

River Ecology Program

A three hour program, developed and presented by Voyager crew introduces students to the inter-relationships of a river ecosystem. Through sampling, observation and analysis, students study water chemistry, plankton, macroinvertebrates, and native bird and fish species. This field expedition travels on all three rivers, collecting and comparing results, from which students can draw their own conclusions.

Design your own program

Bring your own experts/equipment
Set up research projects
Set course of travel
Select sampling sites
Select content concentration areas

The following disciplines lend themselves to study on the rivers. ECOLOGY — Use the river as a living lab as you sample and examine native flora and fauna. CHEMISTRY — Analyze river water from various sites and depths to study data relationships and trends. BIOLOGY — Replace a traditional biology lab with a three hour River Ecology Program. EDUCATION — Demonstrate an inquiry based, hands-on science program to teachers in training. ARCHITECTURE — Design a river tour to examine the changing Pittsburgh landscape. ENGINEERING — Apply engineering principles to a river or bridge study.

EQUIPMENT

Pittsburgh Voyager's floating classrooms are outfitted with scientific and other program equipment to facilitate learning and research. The program equipment includes, but is not limited to,: compound and dissecting microscopes, video microscope, kemmerers, petite ponar bottom sampler, plankton nets, sieve buckets, secchi disks, dissolved oxygen meter, turbidimeter, current meter, pH probe, Hach water quality testing kits, ID guides, binoculars, river charts, collection of preserved fish and macroinvertebrates. The boat is equipped with a weather station, hand winch, depth sounder, radar, sound system, refrigerator, sink, eye wash station, bathroom, and standard 110 volt electrical supply.

Seasons available ... March through November

Time Offered — Weekends; Weekdays after 2:00 pm, select Daytime hours.

MUST SCHEDULE PROGRAMS AT LEAST ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE

Program Capacity: 35 adults

To schedule a program or for more information call (412) 231-2876 or 412 231-2712 or email to: jjordan@pittsburghvoyager.org