All aboard for Study Hull: A recap of our Floating Classroom season

September 06, 2023| Environment, Education

By: Michela Sales

After two years of being part of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Floating Classroom crew, I have the great privilege of writing the end-of-year summary for this past season. It is a melancholy feeling as the summer comes to an end, but my heart is light following a fun and exciting season of scientific exploration aboard the Floating Classroom. Throughout the summer, dedicated Foundation staff, crew, and educators had the honor of welcoming approximately 200 enthusiastic guests on board for public eco-cruises.

While cruising on New Jersey's largest lake, eco cruise participants had a boatload of fun engaging in hands-on learning experiences to dive deep into the fascinating world of lake ecology and the imperative need for clean water. Armed with scientific equipment, guests measured water clarity using Secchi disks, closely examined and identified various species of phytoplankton and zooplankton through a digital microscope, and employed meters to gauge critical factors like temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Along the way, we also shared stories about the history of Lake Hopatcong, including information about fishing records, famous local figures, and the legacy of the Morris Canal.

Eco cruises were offered to the public every Monday through July and August and launched from the scenic Hopatcong State Park. In addition to our regular cruises, we had the privilege of hosting several non-profit and professional groups, including SMILE of Hopatcong, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW), New Jersey Highlands Cluster, LEAD Morris, Life is better by the water – Billie Cove, Morris County Board of Commissioners, Morris County Sherrif’s office, and Congressman Tom Kean Jr. 

As we wrap up this incredible season, we want to keep the excitement alive for 2024. Tickets for our public cruises and group reservations for the 2024 summer season will be available next spring. Be sure to stay tuned for announcements on our website and in our e-newsletter. 

Thank you! 

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our exceptional educators and volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to spread the word about the importance of protecting our precious water resources. In addition, we extend our gratitude to our dedicated captains and crew members, whose unwavering commitment ensured the success of our season.

We’d also like to thank BASF, FirstEnergy Foundation, the Lake Hopatcong Elks, Princeton Hydro, and the James P. Verhalen Family Foundation for their support of the 2023 Floating Classroom season. To learn more about Floating Classroom sponsorship opportunities for 2024, please contact Caitlin Doran at caitlin@lakehopatcongfoundation.org. 

Finally, a very special thank you to: 

• Hopatcong State Park and the NJ State Park Service for their support and for providing docking space
• Camp Six property management (Live the Lake NJ) for their invaluable assistance in launching/removing the Classroom and for their generous donation of dock space 
• Lee’s County Park Marina for trailer and vessel storage
• Accurate Pest Control for donating spider treatment
• CWB Marine Service for vessel maintenance, winterization, and repairs
• Batten the Hatches for providing maintenance on the vessel’s side curtains
• JLB Painting for power washing service
• OHAUS Corporation for donating new pH meters

With the sun setting on this memorable season, we already can't wait to have you on board the Floating Classroom next year!