The River REACH Program

River REACH stands for River Research, Education, and Adventure CHarters. The River REACH program connects students to the Ohio River through hands-on, voyages of discovery aboard Queen City Riverboats! While on-board, students test water quality using the same methods and equipment as scientists who monitor and protect our river. They also see firsthand how they depend on the river while discovering beauty and wildlife that surrounds them in the most unexpected places! The overall experience gives students a sense of place in their watershed and an understanding of the challenges that need to be addressed in protecting a resource that literally runs through the lives of millions of people.

The River REACH program engages students in applied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines through hands-on water quality monitoring, habitat assessments, and studies of aquatic organisms, including fish and macroinvertebrates, that are used to study the health of the river system.

The River REACH curriculum has been developed by a team of scientists and educators from local agencies, schools, and universities to meet science standards in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. The high school component of this curriculum was awarded "Outstanding Project" by the Ohio EPA!

Fact Sheet

Elementary and Middle School Program

The River REACH elementary and middle school program is a four-hour experience that consists of both on-water and land-based activities. The on-water portion of the program will take place aboard a Queen City Riverboat. The land-based component will take place at Queen City Riverboats headquarters in Dayton, Kentucky.

Activities most closely correlate with 4th and 5th grade standards in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. However, the general content can be easily adapted and “stepped-up” for 6-8th grade classes!

To ensure students get the most out of their River REACH experience, FORE is coordinating with Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and SD1 to provide students in Hamilton County and Northern Kentucky with interactive, pre-voyage Enviroscape presentations in the classroom! These presentations are also offered by FORE if your school is located outside of Hamilton County or Northern Kentucky.

FORE is currently accepting applications for River REACH Programs in Spring of 2013! Check out the following links for more information about programs, logistics and scheduling!

River REACH Elementary/Middle School Program Description

River REACH Elementary/Middle Cruise General Information

River REACH Elementary/Middle Program Application in Microsoft Word

River REACH Elementary/Middle Program Application in PDF

High School Program

The River REACH high school curriculum is designed to educate students about water quality issues, including water monitoring, watersheds, land use, navigation, and water pollution. The program teaches students to collect and analyze data and how to combine these skills with critical thinking to solve water quality issues in their community. The program also enhances environmental education programs within the Ohio River basin by providing an extensive pre- and post-voyage classroom curriculum, while providing excellent professional development and field training opportunities for the teacher.

The focal point of the program an interactive voyage aboard a Queen City Riverboat where students will collect water samples and conduct habitat observations. Additional lab stations will be set up on land where students can continue chemical and biological analyses and work in teams to assess the overall health of their monitoring sites.

Teachers new to the program must attend a Curriculum Training Workshop in order to implement the pre-voyage activities in their classroom. The training goes from 9 am – 4 pm on day one, and 9 pm - 12 pm on day two. The training includes water quality testing at a local stream where all participating teachers become certified through ORSANCO’s Riverwatchers volunteer monitoring program. The training also includes hands-on instruction and materials for teachers to teach pre-voyage activities in the classroom.

Teachers who may not be able to devote enough classroom time to our traditional high school curriculum do have the option selecting a Middle School program format that does not require them to attend a Curriculum Training Workshop.

The following links contain additional information about the High School River REACH program, as well as a program application for the 2013 season.

River REACH High School Program Description

River REACH High School Cruise General Information

River REACH High School Program Application in Microsoft Word

River REACH High School Program Application in PDF

For more information about our programs, please contact Heather Mayfield at 513-231-7719, or at hmayfield@orsanco.org.

Already Booked a Trip ?

Here is a list of important documents you will need to prepare yourself and your students.

Permission Slip and Medical Waiver

Pre-voyage Checklist for Teachers

Pre-Voyage Information for Parents

Directions to Queen City Riverboats

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