NYC Ferry vessels will serve as floating classrooms beginning in April 2027 under a partnership aimed at bringing more than 10,000 New York City public school students onto New York Harbor annually.
The initiative brings together Billion Oyster Project, NYC Ferry, the New York City Economic Development Corp. and Hornblower Group. The program will use ferry vessels during off-peak weekday hours for 90-minute educational trips covering marine science, oyster restoration and the city’s working waterfront.
Billion Oyster Project educators will lead the trips, introducing K-12 students to marine ecology, water quality, climate resilience and waterfront careers. The nonprofit describes the program as a way to expand access to the harbor while connecting classroom lessons with the waterways surrounding the city.
The operating plan calls for up to two trips per school day between Labor Day and Memorial Day, accommodating as many as 300 students and teachers daily. Classes will be able to board at any of the ferry system’s 25 landings, with lessons tailored to the route.
For the ferry system, the partnership puts existing vessels and shoreside infrastructure to additional use between commuter peaks. For Billion Oyster Project, it provides access to boats without the expense of purchasing and operating a dedicated education vessel.
The nonprofit initially considered acquiring its own boat but determined the cost would be too high. A teacher at New York Harbor School suggested partnering with NYC Ferry, whose ridership declines after the morning rush.
Under the agreement, Billion Oyster Project will serve as NYC Ferry’s marine restoration and education partner. Its educators will use hands-on activities and experiments to teach students about harbor ecosystems and the role oyster reefs play in restoration efforts.
The organization’s broader mission is to restore 1 billion oysters to New York Harbor. Its existing education work includes classroom workshops, curriculum development and a partnership with New York Harbor School, a maritime public high school on Governors Island. Those efforts have reached more than 66,000 students, according to the nonprofit.
The floating classroom program extends that work onto the water, giving students a closer look at both the harbor’s natural environment and its commercial activity. Organizers said the trips are also intended to introduce students to the people and occupations that keep the waterfront operating.
