Third Graders Study Aquatic Ecosystems with the Billion Oyster Project

Third grade scientists took their learning beyond the classroom during a field trip to Valentino Pier in Red Hook, where they explored the life thriving in the local estuary. As citizen scientists, students collected real data for the Billion Oyster Project (BOP) — a citywide initiative working to restore oyster reefs in New York Harbor.

At Berkeley Carroll’s own Oyster Restoration Station, students counted and measured oysters to help BOP assess progress toward its goal of restoring one billion oysters to the harbor. Along the way, they learned how oyster reefs provide essential habitats for marine species and protect the city’s shorelines from flooding and erosion.

The fieldwork connects directly to the third grade’s study of aquatic ecosystems and New York City’s urban water cycle, giving students a firsthand look at how science and community action can make a real difference.

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