SPLASH Mission

SPLASH Mission: The ‘Steamboat Floating Classroom’ is an educational 501(c)(3) non-profit and provides an exciting and unique location for creative, environment-based learning on a real steamboat. While on board, students of all ages engage in clean-water ecology and gain an appreciation of steamboat technology, the history of the steamboat era, and the history of the Lambertville-New Hope area.  

Population served. The steamboat is used to educate (l) school classes, scout troops, 4-H clubs, summer camps and related educational groups, (2) disadvantaged and handicapped groups, (3) bus tours of senior citizens, religious and business groups, environmental and historical groups and (4) school teachers who come to the steamboat for a seminar in environmental education for state credit. The educational theme of this project is the role of the river in the lives of the 17,000,000 people in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania who drink water from the Delaware River (6% of the U.S. population).  

Description. Passengers will enjoy a 50-foot stern wheeler that is large enough to hold up to 35 passengers and to allow water quality experiments as well as discussions, role playing and musical events. We expect this program to grow into a popular element in regional efforts to build public understanding and commitment to environmental conservation, public health, historic preservation, and sustainable community development.