Our Hudson River Classroom at Hudson Montessori School

One of the most significant benefits of our school's location in Jersey City is that the Hudson River and Liberty State Park are literally in our backyard—both serving as extended classrooms for our students in grades 1 through 8. Our students study the estuary and river, regularly monitor and record scientific parameters, and participate in regular beach and riverbank cleanup activities to support healthy waterways. 

Our Students' Hands-on Activities: Science, Conservation, and Discovery

From the Day in the Life of the Hudson River event in the fall to the American Eel Field Day in the spring, our students are local experts on the health of the Hudson River. Recently, our Middle School students released trout hatchlings that they raised in a closely monitored tank in their classroom for several months into Seeley's Pond in Watchung Reservation. This ongoing project is a hands-on environmental science study of aquatic ecosystems and coldwater conservation efforts.

Raising American Eel Awareness

Hudson Montessori School, in collaboration with the Hudson River Foundation and the NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, recently held a unique, family-friendly experience, "American Eel Field Day," open to the Jersey City community at Liberty State Park. The school and conservation organizations retrieved eel mops (manufactured eel habitats) from underwater stations to record animal activity and replenished the old habitats with newer student-made ones. The presence of eels is a sign of a healthy Hudson River, and although the mops did not have any eels, they were full of other life, including mud crabs, shrimp, and mini jellyfish. At the end of the event, the conservationists also released live American eels on display for the community back into the Hudson River.

Billion Oyster Project

Hudson Montessori School has collaborated with the Billion Oyster Project for several years to support the repopulation of oysters in New York Harbor. Pollution and overfishing caused the oyster population to dwindle to dangerously low levels. The Billion Oyster Project hopes to install one billion oysters by 2035 with the community's help. Our school's involvement in this crucial project is a testament to our commitment to environmental conservation. Our students from Upper Elementary to Middle School will participate in the Billion Oyster Project Symposium at Governors Island on May 30, 2025, showcasing their student-led projects in art, engineering, scientific research, and environmental advocacy aimed at promoting the sustainability of the New York Harbor waterway. Click to see the award results.

Hudson Montessori School uses an interdisciplinary, theme-based learning approach to education, grounded in the Montessori philosophy and methodology, to foster a love of learning in its students. Its STEM-certified campus is the only one of its kind in New Jersey, featuring STEM-certified teachers who meet the highest standards set by the National Institute for STEM Education. The school serves children aged 2 to eighth grade and welcomes parents to attend a school tour to learn more.