It is the source of life. It fills us, surrounds us and sustains us. Our very existence depends on it. Since its beginning, human civilization has been shaped by its relation to the Earth’s waters. In turn, New York has been built upon its harbor and estuary. In order to understand how human agriculture, transportation, industry and social development are inexorably linked to the waters of New York Harbor students must first understand the science and life of this estuarine environment. This course provides the structure for students to explore in depth the bodies of water they are accustomed to literally only seeing on the surface.

As the freshman course for New York Harbor School and as an introduction to the New York harbor and estuary, the following course will focus on a scientific, cultural and historical introduction to the New York harbor and the various water bodies that make up the estuary.

Students will visit different sections of the estuary, meeting different environmentalists, boat builders and other who work on the water, studying specific scientific concepts and comparing and contrasting the water bodies in terms of their physical make-up, their water life and their environmental issues.