On a recent field trip to the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal Interpretive Center in Summitville, fourth and fifth grade students from Emma C. Chase Elementary School stepped back in time to learn about one of the region’s most important historical landmarks.
The D&H Canal, once a vital transportation route for coal and other goods in the 19th century, played a key role in the economic development of the Hudson Valley and beyond. At the Interpretive Center, students explored exhibits showcasing the canal’s construction, its impact on local communities, and the technology that powered the canal boats—many of which were pulled by mules along the towpath.
Prior to the trip, Chase teacher Patti Andersen challenged her students to craft a boat using just a sheet of aluminum foil to demonstrate how canal boats would tow goods long distances. Using their STEM skills and ingenuity, the students worked in teams to create various boat designs. Afterwards they tested their crafts’ seaworthiness by placing the boat into a tub of water, while Ms. Andersen stacked pennies into the boats. One boat managed to carry a whopping 208 pennies!
On their field trip, students learned about the life of a canal worker and the challenges faced during that era through interactive displays, hands-on activities led by Sean Moore, Senior Visitor Experience Associate at the center, and Fiona Feltman, Sullivan County’s Assistant Recreation Director, They examined tools, maps, and models, and participated in a guided tour of the nearby towpath and canal remnants, bringing history to life in a vivid and memorable way. By exploring local history firsthand, students gained a deeper understanding of their region’s heritage – while also discovering a local path perfect for bird watching, fishing and just enjoying the beautiful landscape of Sullivan County.
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