** Starting Fall 2027 **
Your Students Can Explore Long Island Sound on the R/V Brewer
Long Island Sound is the Best Classroom
SoundWaters new research vessel, the R/V Brewer, will turn Long Island Sound into a million-acre classroom, where students can test the waters of Long Island Sound, haul in a trawl net full of different amazing animals and begin to make their own observations and conclusions about the health of our greatest natural resource.
Designed specially to teach on Long Island Sound, the R/V Brewer features multiple teaching spaces, including an on-board lab, giving your students the opportunity to deploy sophisticated equipment. The boat can host class sizes up to 30 students, including teachers. Your students will be divided into smaller group and rotate through a series of stations to facilitate an authentic, hands-on research experience for each student.
Safety and Education: Three Decades Teaching on the Water
SoundWaters has been teaching students – over 300,000 of them – on boats on Long Island Sound for over three decades. Our full-time, professional education team will inspire your students with a hands-on marine science experience they will remember for years. Our U.S. Coast Guard-certified captain and crew will ensure your students are comfortable and safe aboard our new Coast Guard-certified vessel, the R/V Brewer.
“I have been impressed by how my students – from core level to AP– all get excited by getting out of the classroom and learning on Long Island Sound. Whether it’s on the Schooner or at the Harbor Center, they are doing science they’ve never tried before and they’re enjoying it.” – Aimee Reutzel, AP Environmental Science and AP Biology, Danbury H.S.
Trip Costs
Field study on Long Island Sound is a uniquely valuable tool in developing students’ science literacy and passion for the natural world. We recognize that school budgets vary and are committed to making learning on the R/V Brewer accessible for all schools and students.
$2,000 SoundWaters cost for a two-hour trip on the R/V Brewer
$1,500 Full cost to schools for a two-hour education sail*
$1,125 Cost to schools with 25% students on free/reduced lunch
$750 Cost to schools with 50% students on free/reduced lunch
$150 Cost to schools 75% or more students on free/reduced lunch
* All schools receive a $500 credit towards their cost through the generosity of SoundWaters donors.
Curricula Options
“Our students come to SoundWaters with different experiences and ways of engaging with learning, and hands-on learning outdoors is a great leveler. They all test water samples, they all use microscopes, they all hold marine animals—and because it is new, real, and tangible, every student has an opportunity to connect and be curious.” – Heather Chila, High School Asst. Principal, Great Oaks Bridgeport
Select Your Grade Level
High School Middle School
Middle School
Watershed Expedition
Water Quality Analysis
Students will help deploy a 6-bottle rosette sampler. This type of array models real in-field and on-board scientific research. If the attached CTD and deck unit are purchased, students will be able to see the gradients of temperature and conductivity in real time. Several tests including temperature, salinity, CO2, NO3 and Turbidity testing will be conducted. Students will gain understanding of different water quality parameters and how these parameters come together to create a clearer picture for environmental monitoring.
Trawling
Students will conduct trawls aboard the R/V with the goal of counting and measuring animals that come on board. The unique relations of animals in Long Island Sound to climate change, thermal tolerance, and redistribution will be discussed. Fish tagging can be performed while on board to deepen the learning and value of the trawl. Tagging and monitoring protocol will be discussed for deeper understanding of conservation principles.
Plankton Analysis
Students will conduct plankton analysis aboard R/V Brewer. A manta trawl net will be towed behind the boat, capturing samples students will then analyze. If we utilize handheld plankton nets for a greater interactive experience, students will lower these small nets over the railing of the R/V. The samples will be brought into the wet lab and students will observe and identify plankton captured in the net, discovering which species of phyto- and zoo-plankton are observed in the surface waters of Long Island Sound, and in what abundance. Plankton will also be visualized through the use of a larger screen connected to a microscope.
High School
Select Your Experience
Science on the Sound– A comprehensive introduction to oceanography, biology, and human-impact
Trawling
Students will conduct trawls aboard the R/V with the goal of counting and measuring animals that come on board. The unique relations of animals in Long Island Sound to climate change, thermal tolerance, and redistribution will be discussed. Fish tagging can be performed while on board to deepen the learning and value of the trawl. Tagging and monitoring protocol will be discussed for deeper understanding of conservation principles.
Plankton Analysis
Students will conduct plankton analysis aboard R/V Brewer. A manta trawl net will be towed behind the boat, capturing samples students will then analyze. If we utilize handheld plankton nets for a greater interactive experience, students will lower these small nets over the railing of the R/V. The samples will be brought into the wet lab and students will observe and identify plankton captured in the net, discovering which species of phyto- and zoo-plankton are observed in the surface waters of Long Island Sound, and in what abundance. Plankton will also be visualized through the use of a larger screen connected to a microscope.
Water Quality Analysis
Students will help deploy a 6-bottle rosette sampler. This type of array models real in-field and on-board scientific research. If the attached CTD and deck unit are purchased, students will be able to see the gradients of temperature and conductivity in real time. Several tests including temperature, salinity, CO2, NO3 and Turbidity testing will be conducted. Students will gain understanding of different water quality parameters and how these parameters come together to create a clearer picture for environmental monitoring.
Want to learn more? Have questions? Check out the FAQs or complete the form below and we’ll start a conversation.
What Do Teachers Think?
“Our students are deeply engaged in the study of marine sciences, and SoundWaters is our ultimate pathway to researching the Long Island Sound. This new floating laboratory will provide an incredible hands-on experience for them and, I believe, will make our marine science program even more appealing.”
“SoundWaters has been our environmental science partner for decades. From elementary through AP Environmental Science, our teachers build their curriculum around our field study with your education team. Getting our students out of the classroom for real-life experiences on the Sound creates powerful learning for our students.”
“I have been impressed by how my students – from core level to AP– all get excited by getting out of the classroom and learning on Long Island Sound. Whether it’s on the Schooner or at the Harbor Center, they are doing science they’ve never tried before and they’re enjoying it.”
“SoundWaters breaks down the barriers of the traditional classroom and gives every student the opportunity to learn through experience. They all test water samples, they all use microscopes, they all encounter marine animals—and through these shared experiences, their curiosity comes alive.
Our students come to SoundWaters with different experiences and ways of engaging with learning, and hands-on learning outdoors is a great leveler. They all test water samples, they all use microscopes, they all hold marine animals—and because it is new, real, and tangible, every student has an opportunity to connect and be curious.”
Want to learn more? Check out the FAQ.
Is the R/V Brewer for all ages?
The R/V Brewer is designed and outfit to teach upper level science, primarily to middle and high school students and college students. The vessel’s deck layout is not ideally suited for for elementary students. The Schooner SoundWaters is an ideal learning experience for elementary school students.
What is the capacity of the R/V Brewer?
The R/V Brewer can accommodate 30 students, teachers and chaperones.
Where do we board the R/V Brewer
To minimize travel time for schools, the R/V Brewer is designed to access most coastal communities on Long Island Sound. Your school should be able to meet the vessel at the coastal community closest to your school.
What is the itinerary for our trip?
NEED A SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR AN R/V TRIP.
What will you teach on the new vessel?
In an era of a changing climate and the growing problem of microplastics, we have the ideal classroom in Long Island Sound to help students understand the science behind these very big subjects that will impact their futures. Students will use sophisticated equipment to collect and test water quality and compare it to historical data to see the changes over time. They will conduct trawls to bring up animals from the depths to learn their anatomy and the characteristics that make them uniquely adaptable or threatened by changing conditions. The on-board curriculum will align with State science standards to amplify classroom learning and create a rich and memorable educational environment.
What is the cost to bring my students on the R/V Brewer?
The cost to SoundWaters of a two-hour trip is $2,000. Thanks to SoundWaters donors, every school will receive an automatic $500 credit towards their trip. We recognize that school budgets vary and we are committed to making learning on the R/V Brewer accessible for all schools so further financial aid is available to schools based on need. Contact SoundWaters Director of Education, Christina Genz, at cgenz@soundwaters.org to discuss your school’s eligibility for financial aid.
$2,000 SoundWaters cost for a two-hour trip on the R/V Brewer
$1,500 Full cost to schools for a two-hour education sail
$1,125 Cost to schools with 25% students on free/reduces lunch
$750 Cost to schools with 50% students on free/reduced lunch
$125 Cost to schools 75% or more students on free/reduced lunch
How do I get my students onboard?
If you are a teacher and want your students to learn on Long Island Sound on the R/V Brewer, we want to talk with you. Complete the form below and we will can start a conversation. The new vessel will be on the water mid-2027 and we expect available dates to fill quickly so the sooner you contact us, the better the chances you and your students will be aboard.
What happens in the event of poor weather or rough seas?
All programs are rain or shine, unless severe weather conditions are expected. R/V Brewer hosts heated and air-conditioned indoor lab space, and partial cover on the aft deck for wet conditions.
How far in advance should I book a trip for my class on the R/V Brewer?
Trips are scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis. School trips will begin September 2027, and booking is now live.
Are there restrooms and shelter on board?
R/V Brewer is equipped with an enclosed, climate-controlled lab space and bathroom.
Do students need prior boating experience to participate?
No prior experience is required! Vessel crew and educators provide a comprehensive safety briefing before leaving the dock, and life jackets will be worn on board.
What should students wear/bring on board?
Layered clothing (it is often significantly cooler and windier on the water than on shore), a windproof or rainproof outer shell, closed-toe non-slip shoes, sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat), and a reusable water bottle.
Want to get your students on-board? Start Here.
What They’re Saying
“SoundWaters was my first serious exposure to the environment and Long Island Sound. When I look back and wonder why I care about the environment, it’s because of SoundWaters.That experience planted a seed of environmental stewardship.”
– Aaron Hilliard,
SoundWaters Alumnus,
Firefighter, Hackensack, NJ
