For me, being born and raised on Long Island meant several things: New York would always be "The City," I would never find better pizza or bagels, and water is a big part of my life. Growing up, I enjoyed my family's boat and jet skis, but when I made the decision to go to college in Ithaca, those things became much less accessible. I was skeptical about Cayuga Lake, having grown up with the Great South Bay and Atlantic Ocean at my doorstep, but I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon Tiohero Tours' Floating Classroom at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, which fulfilled my seafaring desires while stimulating my inner scholar.
The Floating Classroom is the brainchild of limnologist Bill Foster '87, who hosts up to eight free, two-hour eco cruises each weekend to educate visitors about the lake and its inhabitants. Foster and his colleagues observe the lake's ecosystem, testing water clarity and quality as well as taking samples of water and plankton to see how the data changes over time, and to survey what lives in the lake at different points of the year. Two dozen participants travel aboard captain Dennis Montgomery's M/V Haendel, which is powered by biodiesel fuel rendered from grease discarded by local restaurants. Passengers collect the samples, which are processed in a small lab on the lower deck. The interactive tours, which run through the summer, offer a fun and interesting way to experience one of Ithaca's most important resources.