Project Flow Summer Program

Project Flow, now in its fourth year,  is a six-week summer experience during which students explore water in an experiential and interdisciplinary way as artists, historians, scientists and social activists. It is a partnership program between the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center and Germantown Friends School.  The Program is based at the Interpretive Center but features many fun field trips in and on the waterways around Philadelphia.

Project Flow invites rising ninth-graders in the Philadelphia area from both public and private school to apply.   There is no fee for attending but there is a competitive application process and space is limited.

Download Application Form

In the summer of 2012,  students captured their thoughts and feelings about water and water-related issues in photographs and writing. Every week for one year they are sharing this work on a tumblr site: http://projectflow2012.tumblr.com/about

 Sample Field Trips:

Wissahickon Valley hike- observing the confluence (stream to creek to river)
of Cresheim Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and Schuylkill River
Awbury Arboretum and Weaver’s Way tour
PWD Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant (Sewage Treatment Plant)
PWD Belmont Drinking Water Treatment Plant
Canoeing the Schuylkill River at East Falls
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Independence Seaport Museum
Brandywine River Museum
Hagley Museum and Library
Saylor’s Grove (constructed wetland)
Delaware Water Gap camping
Jersey Shore (Atlantic City) Day at the Beach

 Sample Projects:

Block Printing
Re-imagining the past and future
Science Labs (hands-on understanding)
Knowledge of how to effectively test H 2 O
Nature Study
Writing Workshops
Photography
Ceramics
Canoeing
Kayaking
Hiking
Biking

The Program

We believe in the following best educational practices:
… students should be encouraged to  “read the world”
… students learn best when they have hands on projects and experiences
… students and teachers are collaborators
… students learn from an interdisciplinary stance
…students should be working in a diverse group
…students should be creating something together that goes beyond themselves,
and educates the public and their communities

What is water?
How does water flow through the systems of the world (human, natural)?
How did humans alter the flow of water?
How do we balance health – Human/River?
What is the life and landscape of a river’s flow?
How do we give back to the flow?
How do we manage the flow?
How do we mismanage the flow?
How is water the flow of life?
What is water worth?
What do we do now?