Foundation for Ohio River Education

The FORE team has been busy this spring, bringing field experience to students across the region! We were recently out at Banklick Creek in Pioneer Park with a group of sophomores from Lloyd High School in Erlanger, KY.

As part of the Ohio River Academy, these students were able to get hands-on experience with water chemistry testing and macroinvertebrate collection — wading into the creek to find the tiny aquatic critters that serve as natural indicators of stream health.

Learn more about Ohio River Academy: https://riverlearning.org/fore-receives-bosch-community-fund-grant-to-power-ohio-river-academy/.

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At a time when our rivers, watersheds, and natural world need champions more than ever, environmental educators are planting the seeds of stewardship in the next generation. The knowledge and connection to nature that educators spark today will shape the decisions that protect our environment for generations to come.

To every FORE educator — past and present — thank you. Whether you've guided students on the River REACH floating classroom, led a community event or presentation, trained fellow teachers, or spent countless hours helping people of all ages fall in love with the Ohio River, your work matters deeply. We are so grateful for everything you do! 💙

Learn more about FORE's programs: riverlearning.org.

The FORE team recently attended the Louisville Regional Science and Engineering Fair — and had a wonderful time! 🔬

We set up a table with ORSANCO/FORE resources and microscopes featuring Ohio River plankton samples, presented a keynote to students and parents, and led a Plankton Primer workshop. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our work and connect with curious, budding scientists.

Thank you to the Louisville Regional Science & Engineering Fair - LRSEF for having us!

Photo credit: Louisville Regional Science & Engineering Fair

We are deeply grateful to the Bosch Community Fund for their investment in the future of our region's waterways — and the students who will protect them.

Thanks to their support, FORE launched the Ohio River Academy, a year-long immersive STEM program connecting high school students to aquatic science, river stewardship, and real-world career pathways.

Academy students don't just learn about the Ohio River — they study it. They test water quality in local streams, explore the river aboard our floating classroom, and turn their discoveries into guided research projects backed by real Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) data. Along the way, they work alongside scientists and maritime industry leaders, gaining firsthand insight into careers in river monitoring, environmental stewardship, and transportation.

Schools across the tri-state region collaborate to share findings, examine regional trends, and tackle environmental challenges together — building a network of informed, engaged young scientists and stewards.

Thank you, Bosch USA , for helping us turn watershed education into workforce readiness.

🔗 Learn more at https://riverlearning.org/fore-receives-bosch-community-fund-grant-to-power-ohio-river-academy/.

As the winter season settles over the Ohio River Valley, making its fierce entrance on the annual , we are reaching out at a moment when Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) Foundation for Ohio River Education needs your support the most.

Today, we are reflecting on how deeply our lives are tied to this river and how much your generosity helps us bring the story of the Ohio River to life. Your support protects our shared waters and the vital freshwater resources that provide drinking water, recreation, economic strength, and ecological richness across the Basin.

We are thinking of every student who learned water quality chemistry for the first time and discovered the wonders living beneath our waterline. We are thinking of every volunteer who used our resources to keep their local shoreline clean. We are thinking of every classroom that collected real data and connected with students in other communities. And we are thinking of every family who saw native Ohio River fish up close and understood, perhaps for the first time, why this river is worth protecting. These moments inspire the stewardship needed to safeguard the main source of drinking water in our region.

These moments matter, and they happen because of supporters like you.

But today, as Giving Tuesday ushers in the winter season, we are facing a critical funding need. We cannot continue these programs or reach the thousands of students, families, and communities we serve without your help.

If you believe in science, stewardship, education, and the future of our shared waters, please consider making a gift today.

Donate: riverlearning.org/getinvolved/makeadonation or checks can be mailed to: 5735 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230

Our students need you.
Our programs need you.
Our communities need you.
Our river health and shared waters need you.
And we need you.

If you cannot give today, you can still make a powerful impact by sharing this post. Your share helps us reach others who believe in clean water, science education, and stewardship of the Ohio River.

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans 🇺🇸
Our office is closed today in observance of Veterans Day. Today we pause to honor and thank all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Your courage, sacrifice, and commitment protect the freedoms we cherish every day. We encourage everyone to take time to personally thank a veteran, visit a local memorial, or support a veteran-focused organization that makes a difference in their lives.

We're so excited to be in September's issue of Cincinnati Family Magazine! Visit the link below and read all about "The Secret Life of the Ohio River"!

Thank you Cincinnati Family Magazine for featuring us and the Ohio River this month!

For more information about our programs, visit riverlearning.org

The Secret Life of the Ohio River: Why It Matters and How Kids Can Help - Cincinnati Family Magazine The Secret Life of the Ohio River: Why It Matters and How Kids Can Help by the Foundation for Ohio River Education

🧤🌊 Ohio River Sweep litter cleanups are in full swing this August with over 10 chances to make a difference!

With shirts, bags, and gloves supplied, we’re teaming up across the Ohio River Basin to clean up the river we all share. From shorelines to stream banks, every piece of trash we remove helps protect wildlife and water quality. 💪🌿

Find a Sweep near you and be part of the movement. Let’s show the Ohio River some love! 💧💙

Host, join, or donate to the Ohio River Sweep on orsanco.org/river-sweep

🌊 Discover, explore, and connect with the Ohio River like never before🌊

This August, join us at festivals and Ohio River Sweeps for hands-on learning, river science, and fun for all ages!

📍Check out our calendar at riverlearning.org/calendar for more information

Join us at Cottell Park on Saturday, August 2nd from 1-4pm for Kidchella 🎸🎸

Hosted by Cincinnati Family Magazine, this FREE family fun will have kids rocking out to live music with giveaways, touch-a-truck, princesses, dinosaurs, mini-horses, circus performers and so much more!

For more information, visit cincinnatifamilymagazine.com/kidchella-2025

We can't wait to see you there!