North Tonawanda Dept. of Youth, Recreation & Parks
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Sustainable Community Programs @ NT Botanical Gardens

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This program brings students to both the NT Water Treatment Plant, Botanical garden and Manhattan Street Bioretention project for learning experiences focused on water quality and environmental sustainability.  Student will learn a multitude of things included watershed health, green infrastructure design, native plants, biodiversity, wildlife and habitat conservation, and much much more!  Each session offers a different opportunity to learn about some very cool things!  Take a look below at the classes offered

The following classes are intended for 7-12 grade  Bring water, a snack, and be sure to dress appropriately for exploring outdoors.

Water Quality Sampling and Living Shorelines – Wednesday July 28, 3-5pm.
Students will tour the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with high school teacher and water industry professional Colleen Makar. In this session, students will use the LaMotte Green water monitoring kit to sample and test water quality in Tonawanda Creek, explore the Living Shoreline project, discuss upcoming Green Infrastructure projects, participate in a hands-on planting or plant care project, and discuss environmental science careers. 

Clean Rivers, Clean Drinking Water- Wed esday August 18, 12:30-2:30pm
Students will tour the North Tonawanda Water Treatment Plant (830 River Road) with Chief Operator David Conti. In this session, students will discuss impacts to local water quality, strategies for protecting water quality, water treatment plant operation, drinking water and public health, water quality sampling methods, and water industry careers. Minimum age 12 to attend.

Waterkeeper Kayaking Adventure – Thursday September 16, 4-6pm.
Students will meet at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden and kayak Tonawanda Creek/the Erie Canal with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. Waterkeeper will provide boats, paddles, safety gear and paddling instruction with an American Canoe Association certified kayak instructor. During the tour, Waterkeeper staff will discuss water quality impacts to Tonawanda Creek, strategies for protecting our local water quality, waterway history and wildlife, and careers in environmental science and education. Minimum age 12 to attend.

Green Infrastructure: Engineering for Clean Water – Tuesday September 28, 4-6pm. Students will explore the Manhattan Street Bioretention Project with SUNY ECC assistant professor and National Green Infrastructure Certification Program Instructor-Trainer Robbyn Drake. In this session, students will learn how the rain gardens clean polluted stormwater runoff, discuss different types of Green Infrastructure used to protect water quality, participate in planting the rain gardens, use the LaMotte Green water monitoring kit to test water quality, and learn about Green Infrastructure careers. Minimum age 12 to attend.

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The following classes are "Family Programs" designed for students entering Grades 4-12. Students under age 8 must be accompanied by a parent. Bring water, a snack, and be sure to dress appropriately for exploring outdoors.

Water Quality Sampling and Living Shorelines – Tuesday July 20, 2-4pm. S
tudents will tour the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with high school teacher and water industry professional Colleen Makar. In this session, students will use the LaMotte Green water monitoring kit to sample and test water quality in Tonawanda Creek, explore the Living Shoreline project on site, discuss upcoming Green Infrastructure projects at the Garden, participate in a planting project at the Garden, and discuss environmental science career paths. 

Living with Native Wildlife – Wednesday August 4, 10am-Noon.
Students will explore the native wildlife of the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with educator Scott Lembitz of Sunrise Expeditions. In this session, students will learn to identify native wildlife sign, explore animal biology and ecological relationships, learn to recognize key elements of wildlife habitat, play animal food web games, and discuss careers in wildlife biology and conservation.

Fishing Fun, Fishing Safe – Thursday August 19, 10am-Noon.
Students will explore fishing and fish consumption safety at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with the staff of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. In this session, students will explore fishing gear and techniques, learn to identify local fish species, explore healthy shoreline habitat, discuss water quality impacts on fish and human health, discuss safe and healthy fish consumption, play educational games, and discuss careers in resource conservation.

Alien Invaders! – Saturday September 11, 10am-Noon.
Students will learn all about invasive plant and animal species at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with the staff of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. In this session, students will learn to identify invasive species at the Garden, discuss impacts of invaders on native ecological communities, play food web games, engage in a hands-on plant care project at the Garden, and discuss careers in conservation.

How to Be a Birder – Saturday September 25, 10am-Noon.
Students will explore the avian life of the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with educator Scott Lembitz of Sunrise Expeditions. In this session, students will learn to use birding tools such as binoculars and field guides, learn to identify common birds of North Tonawanda, explore avian biology and ecological relationships at the Garden, learn to recognize key elements of bird habitat, play educational games, and discuss careers in ornithology and conservation.

Planting Stormwater Wetlands – October 9, 10am-Noon.
Students will work on a wetlands restoration project at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with SUNY ECC assistant professor and National Green Infrastructure Certification Program Instructor-Trainer Robbyn Drake. In this session, students will plant native species in a stormwater wetland, learn how stormwater wetlands protect water quality, use the LaMotte Green water monitoring kit to sample and test water quality in Tonawanda Creek, explore the Living Shoreline project and discuss environmental careers. 

Going Native – Wednesday, November 10, 9 - 11 am.
Did you know that pollen from some plants is like giving junk food to the bees? Save the planet – go native! Explore the native plant life of the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with educator Scott Lembitz of Sunrise Ecology. Learn how to spot a native plant, find out its ecological relationships, engage in hands-on plant care and discuss plant biology. You can become a pollinator steward.
 
Go Wild – Wednesday, November 24, 9 - 11 am.
What’s that moving underneath the flowers? A millipede? A roly poly? Explore native wildlife of the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden with educator Scott Lembitz of Sunrise Ecology. Learn to identify native wildlife signs, explore animal biology and ecological relationships, learn to recognize key elements of wildlife habitat, play animal food web games, and learn about careers in wildlife biology and conservation.


For questions contact program organizer Robbyn Drake at robbyndrake@gmail.com or by phone at (716) 523-8694.

* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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