Hackensack River Quest

grade band: middle school

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Heroes Needed!

WE NEED HEALTHY WATERSHEDS BECAUSE WE NEED CLEAN WATER TO LIVE

We all live in a watershed -- the land that drains into the rivers and creeks that criss-cross our landscape. Our decisions and actions on land directly affect the health of our water and the life that depends on it.

The Hackensack River Watershed is a unique urban watershed that spans New York and New Jersey just south of New York City. This watershed boasts a rich history and a vibrant ecosystem, but still needs our help.

Will you help the Hackensack River and its watershed?

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The Problem

The Hackensack River Watershed has a rich history of human settlement and productivity, which greatly impacted the health of the river and its surrounding wetlands. The health of the river and wetlands are making an incredible comeback, but there are still challenges.

How Can You Help?

In this Quest, students will uncover the importance of healthy watersheds for healthy communities, and explore some of the challenges facing the Hackensack River watershed. Through their inquiry, students are challenged to design a project that will make a meaningful positive impact on the health of the river and watershed.

Small grant funds are available to help with the material costs of projects for classes that register for the Quest and submit feedback and data at various checkpoints.