The SPLASH Story
The SPLASH Steamboat Floating Classroom is a Mississippi-style paddle wheel steamboat the main mission for which is to increase environmental awareness and inspire stewardship of the beautiful Delaware River watershed. SPLASH, which stands for Student Participation in Learning Aquatic Science and History, offers students of all ages a unique, hands-on learning experience while sailing the wild and scenic Delaware River--the source of drinking water for more than 15 million people.
Our Floating Classroom
Our classes focus on STEM activities in the environmental sciences, introducing students to the biology of the American Shad, water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, birding, and watershed stewardship. Other classes explore the historical significance of the Lambertville-New Hope Area--from Washington crossing the Delaware, to the Industrial Revolution when locomotives and mule-drawn canal barges were commonplace, to the Impressionists of the New Hope School--SPLASH sits at an important historical hub on the river.
How You Can Help
As a 501c3 non-profit, our operating expenses are met by passage fares, small grants from local companies and organizations, and the time contributed by our faithful team of volunteers. Many of our passengers come from under-served groups in New Jersey and are unable to pay the steamboat fare. The demand for our program “Environmental Education for Under-served Communities” has grown steadily over recent years, and this year there will be 12 new trips for which we are underfunded. Our target goal of $4,000 would subsidize these 12 trips, and our stretch goal for $8,000 would help subsidize the same number of trips in 2018.
Why it Matters
I am a scientist and SPLASH educator, and have lived next to the Delaware River for nearly 20 years. SPLASH inspired me to help develop the science curriculum for our classes and has opened my eyes to the importance of protecting our River by practicing good stewardship. There is no better place to teach people about loving and protecting our watershed than right on the River on the SPLASH Steamboat!