Delaware River Steamboat Floating Classroom

A trip on the steamboat is fun. Steam engines and paddlewheels have a rhythm, power, and excitement that are bound to amaze and capture the attention of anyone. Passengers can talk with the Captain, Engineer, and Mate about the boat, the water, and the surrounding watersheds and communities. This is a rare opportunity for environmental education and historical appreciation in its natural context. Most trips are charter groups. Find your group from the list below.

Families

You can organize a neighborhood or social group to raise $695 (e.g. 37 people at $19 each) and you are ready for a real steamboat trip. Get to know your neighbors. Get to know your river. Scroll through the other categories below for more ideas (note Special Events below that have individual ticket sales).

Schools

School Grades K-12: Professionally qualified staff will assist teachers and group leaders to develop instructional activities appropriate for all academic subjects and group goals. Assistance will include the development of activities for use both before and after the boat trip. Activities are geared to core curriculum standards. Lesson plans that include a field trip on the steamboat will be available for programs in river ecology, water science and local history. Teachers are encouraged to custom design a biology lesson plan for professional development credit by taking a project WET seminar on the steamboat (see Teacher Prep. below), or adapt one of our pre-packaged activities. Either way, the teacher is the key to success, and will play an active role in the program. Students are encouraged to study the topic before the field trip. They can then carry out experiments on the boat, and further analyze the data back in the classroom. The required ratio of adults to students is 1/5. Topics are listed under Step 2.

Home school groups: Field trips are an integral part of home schooling. Use the web to find a like-minded sub-set of home schoolers. Then enlist an organizer to put together a steamboat trip as described above for K-12 activities.

Specialized schools: Specially challenged students are welcome on the steamboat with adequate supervision. Call for further discussion.

Youth groups

Youth Groups, Scouts, 4-H Clubs, summer camps, religious groups and more: Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Cub Scout, Brownies, 4-H clubs and others interested in special topics, such as a particular merit badge or club requirement, should contact us. Ask for our list of steamboat activities that are matched to merit badges. Most trips have a former Scout and 4-H leader on board. Parents that car-pool are encouraged to join the boat trip for the experience and to lower the cost per person. The more the merrier, up to 49. Required: 1 adult per 5-10 children, depending on the age level.

College

College classes: Liberal arts, science or engineering classes are welcome. See the list of topics in Step 2 for ideas, or have your class help us create a new topic as a learning experience! Trips available spring, summer and fall.

Parties

Parties, graduations, reunions and birthdays: Hire a singer, hire George Washington or Mark Twain, and bring fancy refreshments. There are many ways to surprise and delight your special guests. Or just sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. Sometimes we spot a heron, swan or hawk and always swallows and ducks. The Steamboat has loudspeakers for announcements or your choice of music. We also offer educational activities and historical narrations as described in Step 2.

Fundraisers

Fundraisers for non-profit organizations: Bring a non-profit group that wants to raise funds and have fun in the process. Charge 49 people $30 each, pay $695 for the boat, crew and insurance, and keep the rest ($775). Or, charge $50 each and provide food and entertainment on board, and you could make well over $1,000 for your organization. See ideas below.

Adult groups

Adult organizations (clubs, associations and business groups): We provide adults with any of the science or history activities described in Step 2. In addition, some groups eat in a local restaurant (there are dozens from which to choose). Some groups have sandwiches and h’orderves catered on the boat, and some bring favorite foods such as ice cream and cake from home. A cheese and veggie platter, followed by strawberries, ice cream and champagne is simple and a big hit. The steamboat can also stop at the dock of the exotic ice cream store in New Hope. One can a hire guitar-playing troubadour, a Dixieland band, murder mystery actors, a storyteller or a George Washington or Mark Twain impersonator. Arrange for a book author, Bucks County expert, on-board artist, river poet or local historian. Or, just soak up the sun and river while talking with friends. Call us to brainstorm. Remember to have a backup plan in the event of rain or flood. We can help with that plan too.

Special events

Elder Hostel: This event is still in the planning stages. Check back later.

River Sojourn: You can canoe sections of the Delaware River from the Poconos to the river estuary in seven days in June, with camp-overs and educational talks along the way. Or, just come for a day trip when the sojourn travels from Frenchtown to New Hope, and then take a steamboat ride to Lambertville. Details at www.state.nj.us/drbc/sojourn.htm.

Shad Festival: This is one weekend when individuals and families can buy tickets for a steamboat ride without arranging a group. Just come to the Shad Festival and find our booth (blue canopy with STEAMBOAT CLASSROOM sign). Festival details can be found at www.lambertville.org.