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Quick and Dirty Tips and Tricks for a Successful Day in the Life!

Plan ahead to avoid common mistakes and misconceptions

Day in the Life

of the Hudson River and Harbor

Updated 10/25

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1. DITL Preparation

  1. Communication is Key!
    • Teachers and partners need to be in touch with each other in order to have clear expectations of the day.

2. Take it slow & less is more! For the things you do include be sure the students know ‘why’ and ‘what it means’.

    • Doing a few things well is more rewarding than doing many things chaotically. And be sure to discuss with students why each parameter is being sampled and what your findings will mean!

3. In-class preparation makes a WORLD of difference

    • Preparing your students with the materials and activities we have online will create a more effective and meaningful outcome. Our website has resources!!

4. Check out your sample site beforehand & get site permits

    • Familiarity with the site is a must in order to have a seamless & safe DITL experience. Make sure that you have obtained permission or permits where applicable. Permits must be filed at least 30 days in advance! Talk to us!!

5. Test your equipment to be sure it works, & plan back-up Activities

    • Reagents expire equipment needs to be checked in advance! Some stations or equipment may take longer than others. Instead of having all the students gathered around one instrument, keep them occupied with other activities (i.e. physical river site description and sketch, weather and wind and cloud cover data, creative-silent journaling to observe nature)

In-Classroom Activities on Lesson Plans Page

DITL English & Spanish Vocab

On Lesson Plans Page

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2. Data Submission

  1. Please send us your data
    • Your data is contributing towards a long term dataset to further understanding the Hudson River. You and your students’ data is a crucial component and apart of ongoing research! Send it as soon after the event as possible! Once you move past it you will forget details.

2. Units! Units! Units!

    • Record your units! We are good at data interpretation but we need your clues!

3. Tips for when you submit!

    • Use the 2025 recording sheet for the correct google link for this year’s submission.
    • In the google form include the results closest to 11AM
    • You will be asked to upload the full data packet as a final step (pdf).
    • Be sure to wait for the data to fully upload when you hit submit. It will tell you when it is completed. Otherwise we don’t get any of it 🙁

DITL Interactive Database (Overtime)

On Data Page

Your data contributes toward data that tells a story of the Hudson River!

DITL Interactive Database (Across River)

On Data Page

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3a. Salinity: Freshwater Sites

High & Low Range Quantabs

1. Take a picture of your Quantab bottle conversion chart and submit with data.

    • EACH Quantab bottle has a different scale so the conversion charts are not transferable from bottle to bottle.

2. DO NOT touch the bottom of the Quantab strip with your fingers.

    • Quantabs are extremely sensitive to traces of salt. If you have salt on your fingers, you can cause a false reading.

3. Only the tip of the Quantab should touch the sample

    • Do not submerge the entire quantab into the water sample. The capillary action will force the water up the scale on its own. Avoid water touching the top yellow band or it will not work!

4. Record your data in PPM Chloride (ppm Cl-)

    • Quantab units are a conversion tool to get to ppm Cl- (3rd column on the conversion chart). There is a space to record both but please include the ppm Cl- . Check to record if High Range or Low Range tabs were used.

Only the Quantab tip in the water

For Step by Step Directions Check Resources Page

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3b. Salinity: Marine Sites

Hydrometer & Refractometer

1. Record which technique you use!

    • They measure salinity in different ways! Hydrometers measure salinity based on density while refractometers measures the light refraction of the salt in the solution.

2. Hydrometers and Refractometers measure in ‘parts per thousand’ (PPT), not ‘parts per million’ (PPM)

    • These tools are for saltier sections of the Hudson. Remember that ocean water is 35 ppt!

3. Read the hydrometer when on a steady surface.

    • The needle of the hydrometer bounces with motion. The hydrometer needs to be on a steady surface to get an accurate reading & read at the tip of the point.

4. Step into a sunny spot to read the refractometer.

    • Refractometers measure the refraction of light; therefore, there needs to be a light source. So step out from under that shady tree and tip it up

For Step by Step Directions Check Resources Page

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4. Fish

1. PLEASE Take pictures of your fish species!

    • Fish identification is CHALLENGING and can sometimes take a village of scientists to determine the species. We want to be sure we have accurate data so please take pictures of each species and send them with the data!

2. How do I take pictures of my fish properly?

    • Ah yes, glad you asked! There is a standardized way to take pictures of fish. Hold the fish flat on your hand with the fish facing to the left (as if it is swimming to the left). Make sure all fins and special features are showing. Try to include a common item or ruler in the picture for scale. However we also like fish in a tank showing their fin extensions!

3. Double check your fish identification!

    • There are a couple FREE and easy to use resources that you can use in the field on your phone!
    • The Online Clearwater Fish Key: an online dichotomous key to use in the field!
    • INaturalist & Seek: Downloadable apps on your smart phone. All you have to do is take a picture of the fish, upload it into the app, and click “what did you see?” to view suggestions. With a good picture, this app is pretty accurate!

4. When in doubt, send your fish pictures/questions to us!

    • We have an extensive network of scientists that love fish! We are more than happy to help you figure out your species.

Text fish pictures to Chris Bowser: 845-802-4030

Photo Tools for Fish ID Check Fish, Crab, Macro Resources Page

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5. Photos & Photo Consent Form

1. PLEASE take pictures of the day!

    • The photos that you share with us bring the event to life! We love seeing the awe and excitement of your students as they hold a fish for the first time or smell a sulfur rich sediment core - phew!

2. Each student needs to complete the ‘Photo Consent Form’. These forms need to be in your possession or sent back to us

    • The photos are shared on our Day in the Life Website and will be added to your data sheets. We cannot make these pictures public unless we have permission from the student’s legal guardian.

Photo Consent Form

On Teacher Resources Page