What Is The Floating Classroom?
In 2026, Catawba Riverkeeper re-launched the Floating Classroom on Lake Norman, bringing environmental education directly on the water. The floating classroom gives students and community members the opportunity to explore water quality, ecology, wildlife, and watershed stewardship while experiencing the Catawba River Basin.
Recognizing that many students have never before had the opportunity to experience the basin firsthand, Catawba Riverkeeper began planning a dedicated floating classroom. The goal was to create a mobile learning space where students and community members could explore Lake Norman while conducting scientific experiments designed to help participants understand the importance of monitoring and protecting our local waterways. After years of fundraising, designing educational programming, and outfitting the vessel with microscopes, water quality monitoring equipment, and safety gear, the project became a reality.
In 2026, the 12-by-40-foot commercial tri-toon Floating Classroom was officially completed and docked on Lake Norman, with educational programming launching in the spring of 2026. The classroom was designed to bring environmental science to life through interactive lessons on water quality, aquatic ecology, wildlife, watershed stewardship, and conservation. Today, it serves students in grades K–12, community groups, families, and organizations through field trips, public watershed science cruises, and private educational charters.
The Floating Classroom upholds one of the key pillars Catawba Riverkeeper relies upon to further realize its mission of preserving, protecting, and restoring the river basin: providing education and learning opportunities for people of all ages. By allowing participants to collect water samples, observe wildlife, and see the watershed in action, the program helps foster a deeper understanding of the Catawba River Basin and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.
What you’ll learn onboard
List of Services
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PH and Dissolved OxygenList Item 1
Use chemical reagents and scientific techniques to assess and understand the dynamics of acidity and oxygen fluctuation in a lake environment.
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Microorganisms and PhytoplanktonList Item 2
Learn to use scientific water sampling techniques to collect and identify microorganisms like phytoplankton and zooplankton.
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Food WebsList Item 3
Spot and identify wildlife through binoculars, discuss and explore food web ecology, and understand the complex interconnectedness of species relationships.
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Lake Norman & Catawba River History:List Item 4
Explore the historic and modern uses of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Once considered the “hardest working river in America,” come find out about its ongoing importance in the region.
For more information about Floating Classroom programs, visit www.catawbariverkeeper.org/floating-classroom.
To purchase tickets for a Watershed Science Sunset Tour, go to https://www.simpletix.com/e/watershed-science-sunset-tour-tickets-265116
