Fun & Learning“SPLASH the smiling steamboat” will take you on a 1 ½ to 2-hour voyage of fun and learning, featuring environmental science, history, and technology. See where Washington crossed the river to New Hope, where rafts ferried settlers, horses and wagons and where canal boats crossed attached to a cable. Wildlife flourishes here. Today the scenic Delaware River is a recreational haven for many, and provides drinking water for 17 million people. Every SPLASH trip includes a healthy dose of learning, touring, and a good time.
The Steamboat Floating Classroom provides an adventure in creative learning where students of all ages can study the science and history of the river and its impact on their health and environment. The overall goals are to strengthen academic skills and increase breadth of knowledge. Prior to boarding, all school groups start with water safety curriculum: Water Safety: How to be safe while boating on the river. Archimedes’ principle – that which permits a 15-ton steel Steamboat to float. Note: In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, children 12 and under wear lifejackets (provided) And SPLASH trips include "America’s first great Invention": This class is conducted by the Coast-Guard certified Engineer, who is operating the engine on your trip. The engineer will point out pistons, cams and levers. Models are used to demonstrate how the linear motion of the piston is converted to the rotary motion of the paddlewheel. What is the difference between fire-tube and water-tube boilers and what kind does Splash have? If you ask the engineer, “Who invented the steamboat, John Fitch or Robert Fulton?” you will get a boatload of information on the invention and its vital role in our nation’s history. School classes usually divide into three groups, one on each deck, to do small-group activities in rotation. Thus each student participates in 3 activities, each activity being 20 -30 minutes. The following 3 activities are part of a typical Splash trip. Classes will choose three of the following topics: > EDUCATIONAL TOPICS |
Educational Trips: What to ExpectClick here to find everything you need to plan your trip!
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Educational Groups We Work With
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, Scouts, 4-H Clubs, summer camps, religious groups and more: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 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. The more the merrier, up to 35. Required: 1 adult per 5-10 children, depending on the age level.
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.
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, Scouts, 4-H Clubs, summer camps, religious groups and more: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 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. The more the merrier, up to 35. Required: 1 adult per 5-10 children, depending on the age level.
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.