Student Reflections: Hudson River Ecology Course
We had another successful year teaching our Hudson River Ecology Course (HREC) in July! This one-week, college-level introductory course is one of Sarah Lawrence College’s Pre-College Programs. Open to rising high school juniors, seniors, and incoming college students- this opportunity provides academic curricula that is uniquely focused on studying the local ecology through field science experiences.
Curious what students say about the program?
Mia Barghout (summer 2026 HREC participant) shares her experiences and reflections:
The Hudson River’s location right outside CURB allows students to explore the Hudson River Estuary and collect data over the week. Days start at 9:30 AM and end at 1:00 PM. Mornings often consist of lessons and indoor activities. Afternoons are usually spent outside, collecting data to help enforce the concepts learned earlier in the day. From sampling water to collecting marsh samples, the Hudson River serves as the classroom throughout the course.
I found the daily data collection a key part in making the course such a valuable experience. My favorite activity was collecting plankton and examining them under a microscope. Each student went into the Hudson to collect a water sample and were later given a microscope to examine the samples with a partner. The best part was everyone discovering different types of plankton and sharing the findings with others. The collaboration throughout the week, whether it was for indoor or outdoor activities, made the experience memorable and so much more enjoyable.
I was intrigued to sign up for the ecology course because I had been researching and writing about local environmental issues for a while through my internship with The Environmental Magazine. I was looking to learn more about the scientific processes and dynamics behind local environmental issues. Something that really has shocked me is the impact of rainstorms on the sewage systems and the resulting amount of pollution that’s exerted into the Hudson. This course gave me insight into environmental issues that I hadn’t been aware of. As a result, I’m encouraged to continue writing and highlighting some of these important environmental issues I learned about.