Jul 07 Tuesday
When you turn on the faucet to brush your teeth or wash your hands, have you ever wondered where that water comes from—and what happens before it reaches your home?
If you live in the City of Ithaca, your drinking water likely begins its journey in Six Mile Creek, which drains a 46-square-mile watershed. From there, the water is treated at the City’s Drinking Water Plant before being delivered to homes, schools, and businesses.
Join CSI for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Six Mile Creek Water Treatment Plant, led by Laboratory Director and Watershed Coordinator Roxanna Johnston. Participants will explore how raw creek water is collected, treated, and distributed as safe drinking water. The tour introduces key water quality concepts and builds a deeper understanding of how we manage and protect this essential resource.
This 2-hour program includes a guided tour of the Six Mile Creek Water Treatment Plant and a short walk to Six Mile Creek. Participants will explore how drinking water is sourced, treated, and distributed through a combination of on-site observation, explanation, and discussion. The experience includes both outdoor and indoor components and is primarily tour-based, with opportunities for questions and engagement throughout.
About CSI: The Community Science Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and NYSDOH-certified water testing laboratory (ELAP #11790) dedicated to inspiring and empowering communities to safeguard water resources through volunteer monitoring, certified laboratory analyses, and education. For more information, visit our website: www.communityscience.org.
Accommodations: We are committed to making this program accessible and inclusive. Please contact us in advance to discuss specific needs or accommodations.
Jul 08 Wednesday
Join us to explore the fascinating fossils you can find in your own backyard! Discover the dinosaurs that once roamed our region and learn what their ancient world looked like. We’ll also introduce you to some of our animal ambassadors, modern-day relatives of those distant dinos!
Registration is appreciated
Jul 14 Tuesday
Who lives under the rocks in the creeks and streams that run through our parks and backyards—and what can they tell us about water quality and ecosystem health? Join CSI at Buttermilk Falls State Park as we explore and compare aquatic life found under the rocks in Buttermilk Creek. This family-friendly, hands-on program invites participants to wade into the stream in search of benthic macroinvertebrates—small, spineless organisms visible without a microscope that live at the bottom of the creek. We will collect and identify these organisms and learn how they are used to assess water quality and overall ecosystem health. Participants interested in following scientific protocols will also have the opportunity to assist in collecting an official sample after the main program has concluded.
This 1.5-hour program takes place entirely outdoors along Buttermilk Creek within Buttermilk Falls State Park. The experience is highly hands-on and involves wading into shallow stream areas to collect and examine aquatic organisms. Caregivers must be able and willing to enter the creek alongside their child and actively participate in the in-stream portion of the program.
About CSI: CSI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and NYSDOH-certified water testing laboratory (ELAP #11790) dedicated to inspiring and empowering communities to safeguard water resources through volunteer monitoring, certified laboratory analyses, and education. For more information, visit our website: www.communityscience.org.
Jul 20 Monday
Join CSI for a guided tour of the Cayuga Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant, led by facility staff. Participants will learn what wastewater is, how it is collected and conveyed to the treatment plant, and how it is processed before being safely released back into Cayuga Lake. The tour introduces key water quality concepts and connects themes explored in other Journey of Water programs, offering insight into the systems that protect and maintain local water resources.
This 2-hour program is a guided walking tour of the Cayuga Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant. Participants will move through multiple areas of the facility alongside plant staff, with stops for explanation, observation, and discussion. The experience includes both indoor and outdoor components and provides an overview of how wastewater is collected, treated, and returned to the environment. The tour involves continuous walking and standing, with limited seating available throughout the program.
Jul 25 Saturday
Participants will explore the southern end of the Cayuga Lake watershed at Sapsucker Woods, learning how wetlands function as natural filters that help remove pollutants, toxins, and sediments from the water. The program includes close observation of the diverse plants and animals that inhabit this ecosystem, highlighting its ecological importance. Following guided exploration, participants will engage in a hands-on activity to design and build simple water filtration systems using provided materials, applying concepts of filtration and testing the effectiveness of different approaches.
Hands-on and interactive, involving building demonstration water filters, observation, and group discussion. No prior experience needed.
Jul 29 Wednesday
For the 19th consecutive year, CSI’s JoW program will partner with Discover Cayuga Lake to collect and analyze water samples from Cayuga Lake. Participants will learn field sampling techniques using professional-grade equipment and will assist in analyzing select water quality parameters aboard the vessel. The program also includes the collection of plankton samples using a plankton net, which will be examined under microscopes to observe and identify microscopic aquatic organisms. Following the cruise, samples will be analyzed in CSI’s state-certified laboratory, and resulting data will be incorporated into CSI’s online water quality database, contributing to long-term monitoring efforts and strengthening understanding of Cayuga Lake’s ecological health. This program offers a hands-on opportunity for participants of all ages to engage directly in real-world water quality science while enjoying a beautiful lake cruise!
All program activities will take place on board the vessel. Once the boat departs the dock, it will not return until the scheduled end of the program, except in cases of inclement weather or emergency.
Aug 08 Saturday
Participants will explore the northern end of the Cayuga Lake watershed, focusing on the wetlands of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and their role as natural filters that help remove pollutants, toxins, and sediments from the water. The program includes close observation of the diverse plants and animals that inhabit this ecosystem, emphasizing its ecological significance. Following guided exploration, participants will engage in a hands-on activity to design and build simple water filtration systems using provided materials, applying concepts of filtration and testing the effectiveness of different approaches.
Aug 12 Wednesday
What animals migrate? The answer may surprise you!
Join us for a fun and informative program all about the species that migrate and the reasons behind their incredible journeys. We’ll meet some of our animal ambassadors who could migrate in the wild, then take a short walk through our pollinator garden and around the pond to look for migrating butterflies or birds.
Feel free to bring your own binoculars if you’d like to do some birdwatching!
Participants will explore connections between land use and water quality through a visit to Laughing Goat Fiber Farm in the southwestern portion of the Cayuga Lake watershed (Town of Ithaca). This working farm raises angora and cashmere goats, alpacas, and sheep to produce specialty fiber yarns and finished goods. During the experience, participants will observe how the farm manages animals and land and consider how agricultural practices can influence surrounding waterways and overall watershed health.
The visit includes a guided farm tour followed by a facilitated, hands-on learning activity. After the tour, participants will gather in a shaded area to engage with an Enviroscape watershed model to explore how topography, runoff, and human activities interact and influence water movement and water quality within a watershed system.
Aug 19 Wednesday
Join CSI for a guided tour of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant, led by facility staff. Participants will learn what wastewater is, how it is collected and conveyed to the treatment plant, and how it is processed before being safely released back into Cayuga Lake. The tour introduces key water quality concepts and connects themes explored in other Journey of Water programs, offering insight into the systems that protect and maintain local water resources.
This 2-hour program is a guided walking tour of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant. Participants will move through multiple areas of the facility alongside plant staff, with stops for explanation, observation, and discussion. The experience includes both indoor and outdoor components and provides an overview of how wastewater is collected, treated, and returned to the environment. The tour involves continuous walking and standing, with limited seating available throughout the program.
