Who Polluted the River? A Hands-On Lesson with Local Girl Scouts
This past Sunday, June 1st, a Larchmont Girl Scout troop participated in Cornell Cooperative Extension’s engaging class, “Who Polluted the River?”—a hands-on environmental education program focused on the history and pollution of the Hudson River.
Instructor Stephen Soltish began by sharing the river’s centuries-long history, including its many names and the evolving ways people have interacted with it. From early agriculture to industrialization and modern-day runoff, each era left its mark on the river.
To bring the lesson to life, Stephen used a large tin bucket to simulate the river. The scouts added:
- 🌿 Leaves and branches (natural debris)
- 🌽 Corn and wool (early agriculture)
- 🏺 Clay (pottery waste)
- 🧴 Shampoo & conditioner (urban runoff)
- 🍬 Colored sprinkles (microplastics)
- đź«’ Olive oil (car pollution)
As the water became dirtier with each step, the girls were both amused and intrigued.
Then came the challenge: clean it up.
With strainers, disposable trays, funnels, coffee filters, gravel, sand, and activated carbon, the girls filtered the water themselves. Watching it drip through their layered filters and come out cleaner gave them a tangible understanding of water purification—and the impact pollution has on our environment.
They were fascinated, engaged, and proud of their efforts.
We ended the session with a sweet moment: each girl holding a peony flower for a group photo outside in the sunshine. A beautiful end to a meaningful lesson.