ESOPUS MEADOWS PRESERVE, NY – Clearwater is offering a limited number of FREE Tideline education programs for classroom students at its new facility in the village of Ulster Park, near Kingston. Tideline is a land-based program that incorporates many of the elements of the education programs offered aboard the Clearwater sloop, but has the added flexibility afforded by cooperative use of Scenic Hudson‘s park facilities in Ulster Park.
The Esopus Meadows Preserve in Ulster Park is a riverfront park with 2 miles of trails, excellent fishing, and many opportunities for students to explore the Hudson 
River estuary. A brand new, 24-by-36-foot pavilion offers weather protection for student lunchtimes and – as always, with Clearwater programs – musical accompaniment.
The Tideline program enables learning about the river through all the major disciplines: History, Science, Math, ELA, plus Music. Clearwater’s hands-on experiential approach effectively reaches all learning styles. Students evaluate the health of the river via first-hand interactions with the living environment, as they catch, identify, and classify fish and invertebrates. They learn how to predict the future of the river by looking at its historical uses and its role as the birthplace of the environmental movement. Students connect the ecology, beauty, and environmental challenges of the river to their own lives. They inevitably gain realization that the river belongs to them.
Each Tideline program consists of four learning stations, one elective learning station, an introduction to the local area, lunchtime, music, and moments to reflect on the majesty of our river. Before a classroom trip, a CD of a PowerPoint presentation, “Discover the Hudson,” is supplied for preparation. Programs can be tailored to individual curricula, from watershed issues to team-building.
The program is linked to NYS Learning Standards and integrates typical curriculum in science and social studies. Each Tideline session can accomodate up to 65 students.
Classroom educators should contact program coordinator Eli Schloss (Eli@Clearwater.org) for more information about the programs and about the upcoming free opportunities.
PLEASE NOTE: Two other free opportunities for students and their families on upcoming Saturday afternoons at Esopus Meadows Preserve are offered in connection with the Hudson River Valley Ramble, taking place September 5-27 in the region. They are:
Clearwater’s “Sunset Seine and Sing”
Saturday, September 12, 5:00 PM
Esopus Meadows Preserve
Clearwater invites families to join us during the “magic hour” of sunset to seine the river, listen to some music, and enjoy a picnic dinner. We will offer a one-hour seining (fishing with a net) and fish identification program, followed by Clearwater musicians and sing-a-long. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy under the new pavilion. Contact Eli Schloss for more information:Eli@Clearwater.org
Esopus Meadows “Walk and Wade”
Saturday, September 19, 3:00 PM
Esopus Meadows Preserve
Hike with Clearwater educators from the mouth to near the source of the Klyne-Esopus Kill and explore how water has shaped the land over the last 20,000 years. Then, take to the water in chest waders and help us catch fish and examine their life cycles, their challenges, and their beauty. Moderate one-hour hike, followed by one-hour seine and fish interpretation program. Contact Eli Schloss for more information: Eli@Clearwater.org.
