Before attending the Harbor School, Tanasia Swift, Harbor School Alumni Class of 2008, already had a deep fascination and foundational understanding of marine science. Today, she channels that passion into a personal mission: bridging the gap between diverse communities and the world beneath the waves.
Read MoreIsabella Torres, Harbor School Alumni Class of 2018, a self-proclaimed “shell collector,” initially planned to pursue the arts in high school. That changed when she encountered an open laptop displaying photos of scuba-diving students at a high school fair. Learning that these students attended New York Harbor School on Governors Island immediately sparked her interest, and she decided to apply.
Read MoreTo Marc Melendez, Harbor School Alumni Class of 2012, New York Harbor––and his work with Billion Oyster Project––is where he discovered a sense of purpose and connection.
“New York Harbor can create opportunities,” Marc says. “It helped me find a place where I could belong.”
Read MoreA Staten Island local, Casey Fogarty, Harbor School Alumni Class of 2017, describes himself as the “behind-the-scenes guy” at Billion Oyster Project, ensuring that “everything is running smoothly.” His time at Harbor School was central to his decision to work with us:
Read MoreManaging the collection and recycling process of oyster shells across New York City for our restoration work isn’t (and doesn’t even sound) easy. From the restaurant to the reef, each step is a crucial cog in our effort to turn a single half-shell on your plate into a new home for 20 juvenile oysters, and divert what would otherwise be waste (2.5 million pounds of it and counting) from our city’s landfills. The shell transfer station is one of those hidden cogs — where shells picked up around the city accumulate for a month before we transport them to Governors Island.
Read MoreCelebrating 10 Years of ReBuilding a Clean, Abundant & Accessible New Yew Harbor that’s Well-Known, Well-Loved & Well-Cared For
Read MoreOrganized by Alexandra Barker, Aquacultural Adaptation features the work of Alexandra Barker’s 3rd year Masters of Architecture students at Pratt Institute. The exhibit includes a compilation of work from various students from Fall of 2019 to Fall of 2023 .
Read More21 alumni from the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School have returned to their roots — joining the team here at Billion Oyster Project as temporary or full-time staff.
Read MoreThe Community Water Quality Testing Program (CWQT) was started by the New York City Water Trail Association, in collaboration with Billion Oyster Project, and Hudson River Park's River Project. The program operates with support from Two Trees Management. Other partners this year include the Sarah Lawrence Center for the Urban River, SUNY Maritime's Marine Environmental Science program, the Bronx River Alliance, Queens College, Newtown Creek Alliance, the Interstate Environmental Commission, and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. Check back every Friday (May through October) for a NY Harbor water quality update from Billion Oyster Project staff and CWQT program volunteers.
Read MoreCheck out 11 ways that you can join us in and around New York Harbor — or support local efforts to connect with New York City nature.
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