Catawba Riverkeeper
Floating Classroom
All aboard the Floating Classroom!
Catawba Riverkeeper is proud to inspire the next generation of riverkeepers and river stewards aboard the Lake Norman Floating Classroom.
This 12 ft. x 40 ft. commercial boat can ferry up to 30 passengers around Lake Norman, the largest lake in the Catawba River Basin and in the state of North Carolina.
Equipped with microscopes, water quality monitoring tools, binoculars, and safety gear, the Floating Classroom is ready to host your next hands-on field trip, veterans tour, or public watershed science sunset cruise.
Scroll down for more information on all the ways you can experience Lake Norman from the deck of the Floating Classroom.
Let the adventure begin!
Find the Floating Classroom program for you!
Click on the photo to navigate to that program.
Field Trips
Book a Field Trip for your group!
Homeschool & Flexible Learning
Join flexible learning students out on the water!
Trips for Veterans
Free tours available monthly for US Veterans
Watershed Science Sunset Tours
Bring your family and friends for an evening of fun and learning
Field Trips on the Floating Classroom
Give your students an unforgettable hands-on experiential learning opportunity aboard Catawba Riverkeeper’s Floating Classroom! Our on-the-water environmental education program provides students in grades K-12 with lessons on water quality, ecology, wildlife, and environmental stewardship, catered to their grade-level standards.
These 2-hour field trips are offered every day of the week, Monday-Friday.
The 12'x40' Floating Classroom commercial boat can hold a maximum capacity of 30 participants, including teachers and chaperones.
Field trip groups will begin their journey at Stutts Marina (571 Stutts Road, Mooresville, NC 28117).
$800/trip
Scholarships are available for groups that qualify.
Up To 30 Participants
Lake Norman
Stutts Marina
571 Stutts Road
Mooresville, NC
Available
Monday - Friday
Click the "Book Your Trip" button above to purchase your group's Floating Classroom Field Trip! (Please note that the booking page offers two time frames: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. Once you have booked your trip, we can work with you to adjust the timing for that morning or afternoon to best suit your group's needs. Each field trip is 2 hours long.)
After you book your trip, we'll reach out to discuss your field trip schedule, program content, group size, and answer any questions you may have. If you have any questions about scholarship opportunities for this program, please reach out to floatingclassroom@catawbariverkeeper.org before booking your field trip.
We can't wait to explore Lake Norman with you and your students!
Not ready to book yet? Contact our Floating Classroom Coordinator at floatingclassroom@catawbariverkeeper.org to learn more about the program.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Homeschool & Flexible Learning Field Trips
Don't miss this incredible learning opportunity on Lake Norman!
Catawba Riverkeeper invites homeschool families, co-ops, online students, and other flexible learners to join us aboard the Floating Classroom for a hands-on exploration of North Carolina’s largest lake.
Homeschool and Flexible Learning Tour are open to the public and can be booked by clicking the "Buy Tickets" button below. These field trips are available on the first Tuesday of every month at 12:00 PM. Tours run last 2 hours (times vary based on sunset), and depart from Stutts Marina (571 Stutts Road) in Mooresville, NC.
Children or groups of children must be accompanied by an adult.
1st Tuesday of the Month
12:00 PM
Lake Norman
Stutts Marina
$28/person
OPEN TO UNITED STATES VETERANS
Trips for Veterans
Get out on the water with your favorite folks!
Catawba Riverkeeper is proud to offer free Floating Classroom tours for U.S. veterans and the family members, friends, or support people who join them.
Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful lake views while our Catawba Riverkeeper team shares stories about Lake Norman, the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, local wildlife, water quality, and the history of the waterways that connect our communities. Binoculars are available for wildlife watching, and guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments aboard.
These tours are our small way of saying thank you for your service while creating an opportunity to spend time on the water with the people who matter to you. Reserve your spot on the boat using the button below.
1st Tuesday of the Month
9:00 AM
Lake Norman
Stutts Marina
FREE
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Watershed Science Sunset Tours
Join Catawba Riverkeeper for a sunset cruise on North Carolina’s largest reservoir!
Enjoy the wind in your hair and gorgeous sunset views while you learn about water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and the history of Lake Norman and the Catawba-Wateree River Basin from our 12'x40' commercial boat.
Watershed Science Sunset Tours are open to the public and can be booked by clicking the "Buy Tickets" button below. Tours run weekly, last 2 hours (times vary based on sunset), and depart from Stutts Marina (571 Stutts Road) in Mooresville, NC.
Participants may choose to bring their own refreshments (including beer and wine!) on the boat. Binoculars are available for birdwatching.
Weekly Trips
Times Vary
Lake Norman
Stutts Marina
$45/person
For questions or additional information on the Floating Classroom, please contact us at floatingclassroom@catawbariverkeeper.org.
Want to support the next generation of Riverkeepers? Consider donating to the Floating Classroom program to help provide scholarship opportunities for students throughout the region. Donations will also help cover the costs of additional education supplies and safety equipment. Click the button below to give the gift of experiential environmental education!
Thank you, Floating Classroom sponsors!
Support Our Foundation
Let's protect the Catawba River!
The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is working towards clean, plentiful water now and for generations to come.
