Students Get a Boat's-Eye View of the Meadowlands

The following was submitted by students in the environmental science class at Belleville High School, who recently went on a canoe trip organized by Gabrielle Bennet-Meany, a parent of Belleville public school students who works for the Meadowlands Environmental Commission.

The students, many of whom had never been in a canoe before, learned about the ecology of the regions famed wetlands -- and also discovered that keeping a boat afloat is no mean feat. A few students also gained an appreciation for the importance of sunscreen. Included here are their candid reactions to the experience.  

On June 1 and 2, Mr. Gaccione's Environmental Science classes at Belleville High School took a canoe trip through the Meadowlands and Mill Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River.  Thanks to the enthusiasm, knowledge, and leadership of Gabby Bennett Meany and her staff of the Meadowlands Environmental Commission, the trip was a great success.  A day prior to the canoe trip, Ms. Meany stopped by Belleville High School to introduce herself to Mr. Gaccione’s classes and brief them on what to expect.

When we arrived, Gabby and her crew had all the canoes ready to be launched.  A lesson on water safety was followed by paddling instructions and we were off on our adventure.  For many students, this was their first attempt to paddle a canoe, and it showed.  All that Gabby prepared us for in the classroom came to life as we experienced the Meadowlands first hand.  Most of the students were very good at easing through the twists and turns of Mill Creek and others just seemed to have an affinity for the Phragmites, a common reed, in which they repeatedly became trapped.  When Gabby called for a “lock-up” all the canoes came together to test water quality, and discuss the following; the importance of wetland restoration projects, the ecological benefits of wetlands, nutrient filtration, water quality enhancements, aquatic nurseries, migratory rest areas, aesthetics and recreation.

We stopped for lunch on an area called "the field" directly next to an ancient Atlantic White Cedar forest loaded with herons, egrets and Ring-billed gulls.  The day was filled with laughs, teamwork and education.  We took the trail around the cedar forest as Gabby and I led discussions of indicator species, restoration projects, and invasive species.

Here are some of the thoughts from the 2011 Environmental Science  Canoe Trip:

Joseph Cordasco  “The trip blurred the line between fun and education.  Possibly the best

     class trip ever schedule!”

Yamilka Negron: “I loved it soooo much! I wish I could’ve gone again…it was freaking awesome. My shoes got muddy and I had to throw them out but it was worth it.   LOL!”

Michael Cayli:  “The canoe trip was an awesome adventure.  Not only did we get to have a blast with our friends, we rowed side by side through the Meadowlands.  It allowed us to better understand this unique environment.  Very neat stuff.

Anonymous: The canoeing trip at the Meadowlands was a new experience but enjoyable. Despite the wind the trip was overall peaceful.”

Marvin Torres: “The trip was really good.  A really good experience being in the water for a few hours just rolling.  At the end of the trip it was fun, everyone jumped in the water -- even my two teachers.”

Marc Corino:  “Words cannot explain the fun I had on this trip. There was not one moment I got bored or wanted to go home. This trip was an experience you will most likely only get once, and I'm glad I was one to experience it.”

Jenny Guzman: “Dear Gacc, this was the BEST trip ever. I will go today again if I could!  It was soooo much fun.  Please give me all the information, so I can go back there with my friends and family.  This trip was AWESOME –best trip during my high school career, love Jen.”

Ashley Brijmdnan: “This was the best trip ever!  Until I got thrown into the river…but I would love to go on this trip again!  Owls can survive in water, by the way!”

Derrick Cortes: “Definitely one of the most disgusting trips I have ever been on.  I will never take it back though, the mud was well worth it.”

Briana Ciffoen: “This is my second year going on the canoe trip and it was a blast!!  I love nature and the outdoors, this trip is perfect.  Mr. Gaccione is the best Science/Environmental teacher I have ever had, I hope he can keep planning this trip for many more years!”

Danny Amadeo: “The canoe trip was dirty.  It was talked up to be a lot more than it actually was.  The rowing route was not the best route and the location wasn’t the best place.  At one point we were actually rowing in poop, but the trip was overall OK.”

John David Rossi: “Awesome, craziest class trip I ever went on!  I loved it!”

Gopi Patel: “The canoe trip with Gaccione was literally the best trip I’ve ever been on.  The only thing I would tell you is to go on it and experience it yourself.”

Andrew Roberts: “I loved attending the canoe trip.  It was a great experience, and a good workout. I hope to attend another canoe trip.”

Vincenza Cordasco: “I’ve been on a lot of trips for school.  The Maury Show, Six Flags, restaurants, and tons of other school trips were great memories.  BUT, I can’t wait to go canoeing again next year because it was the best trip I’ve ever been on.”

Bik: “I thought this trip was great.  You could say it was definitely one of the best trips ever!  It was a really great experience.”

Yaw Ashring: “The trip was good. It was a lot of fun even though my boat flipped and it was all because of Reynol.”

Julie Lorenz: “Let me put it to you this way:  The canoe trip was the best trip I’ve ever gone on.  You will feel some things you didn’t know you could feel.  BUT, it would have been about 100,000 times worse if Gaccione wasn’t there.  And from now on, sun screen is my best friend.”

Aldo Mogro: “The trip was very fun, I enjoyed every minute of it, from the rowing, flipping over, jumping in the water and trying to swim back to the dock.  My partner was Jhasmine so that was fun as it is, then she was splashing me with water and caused the canoe to flip which was a relief from the hot weather.”

Jhasmine Guy: “This trip was very disgusting.  We swam in water that smelled like poop, but it was fun and a very good experience.  I’ve learned to never flip a canoe ever again.”

Reynol Ferrer: “It was a great trip and experience until my partner flipped the canoe.”