Killer Snails at the Environmental Education Expo with Hudson River Park!

Last night, the Killer Snails team had the joy of tabling at the Environmental Education Expo with Hudson River Park—and what an inspiring day it was.

From the moment the expo opened, the energy was electric. Educators, families, and students stopped by our table to learn more about WaterWays, our immersive science experience for grades 3–5 that invites students to step into the role of ecologists investigating real-world environmental challenges.

Augmented Reality = Instant Engagement

One of the biggest highlights of the day? Watching students light up as they tried the augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Several students eagerly picked up devices to:

• Explore a shark up close

• Investigate how plastic travels through storm drains

• Examine waterfront ecosystems in 360°

Within seconds, they weren’t just observing—they were asking questions, making predictions, and pointing out details to one another. “Wait—look at that!” was a phrase we heard over and over again.

The AR components sparked exactly what we hope to see in classrooms: curiosity, collaboration, and authentic scientific thinking.

Connecting Classroom Science to the Real World

It was especially meaningful to share WaterWays at an event hosted by Hudson River Park, one of our valued partners. WaterWays was developed in collaboration with Hudson River Park, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, ensuring that students encounter real scientists, authentic environmental issues, and place-based learning.

Seeing students make the connection between what they were exploring on screen and the actual waterfront just steps away was powerful. The questions they asked about pollution, marine life, and water systems showed how eager young learners are to understand—and protect—their environment.

A Day of Inspiration

The Environmental Education Expo reminded us why we do this work. When students are given the tools to explore, question, and interact with science in meaningful ways, engagement follows naturally.

To everyone who stopped by our table—thank you. We can’t wait to see where your scientific curiosity leads next.