About RiverQuest (formerly Pittsburgh Voyager)

OVERVIEW AND HISTORY

RiverQuest is a non-profit educational organization that operates a river learning center for students, teachers and the community of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Voyager, Inc. was founded in 1991 by a group of parents who wanted use Pittsburgh's rivers as an experiential classroom to get children excited about science, mathematics and learning.

RiverQuest programs engage students of all ages in hands-on learning while exploring Pittsburgh's Three Rivers. At the center of RiverQuest's education program is a U.S. Navy vessel originally used to train midshipmen in navigation. After donation by the Navy, the vessel Discovery was refurbished and put into educational service again as a fully operational state-of-the-art floating classroom. A second retrofitted U.S. Navy vessel, Voyager, was retired from RiverQuest service in early 2007. A newly constructed educational vessel, Explorer, is under preparation to begin service in Pittsburgh upon its completion. Click here to learn more about the history of the RiverQuest fleet.

RiverQuest's educational philosophy is familiar: Tell me, I'll forget; Show me, I might remember; Involve me, I'll understand. RiverQuest offers educational services in two general categories that support this philosophy.

Formal Education Programs for students and teachers in elementary through high school provide innovative river-based experiential education programs that motivate students to learn, enhance school curricula by linking classroom theory to real-world applications, improve critical thinking and cooperative learning, and instill a new understanding and appreciation for the region's waterways. RiverQuest's Formal Education Programs include teacher training, a classroom preparatory and follow-up curriculum, and an in-depth field experience aboard a RiverQuest vessel. RiverQuest's Formal Education Program menu includes Environmental Science on the Three Rivers, Boats Bridges and Water, RiverTales, college programs and professional development workshops for teachers.

Public Programs and Summer Camps present educational and interpretive opportunities for the public to learn about and experience the natural beauty and rich history of Pittsburgh's waterways. These programs also strive to instill in the public a new understanding and appreciation of the rivers that will ultimately result in a new sense of stewardship towards them. Also included in this category of offerings are Adventure Voyages Education Charters and Scout Programs.

The heart and soul of RiverQuest's operations and its success is the staff, volunteers and community agencies that support its educational goals. A volunteer Board of Directors governs RiverQuest. The staff includes full-time, part-time and seasonal employees that work in Education and Outreach, Boat Operations, and Administration and Development.

RiverQuest Timeline:

2007

The vessel Voyager is retired from RiverQuest service. A newly constructed vessel, Explorer, is being readied for service in Pittsburgh.

2006

Pittsburgh Voyager changes its name to RiverQuest

2006

Discovery travels north to Kittanning on the Allegheny River to kick off Armstrong County Community River-Ventures programs, in conjunction with Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center and school and community leaders

2003

First annual Beaver County Community River-Ventures take the program northwest on the Ohio River onboard Scout, to the Beaver River and Brady's Run Park

2002

First annual Greene County Community River-Ventures take the program south on the Monongahela River onboard Scout, to Rice's Landing and Pumpkin Run Park

2001

Renovations to Scout completed.

1998

Discovery launched; pilot season for Boats, Bridges and Water School Program

1997

YP-676 (to be called "Discovery") journeys from New Orleans to Pittsburgh, pilot season for Summer Camp and Adventure Voyages, administrative offices moved from the South Side to the North Shore

1995

Dock completed, Voyager launched and pilot season for Environmental Science School Program

1994

First staff hired

1993

Pittsburgh Voyager obtains nonprofit status, receives key planning grants, YP-677 (to be called "Voyager") journeys from San Diego to Pittsburgh

1991

Pittsburgh Voyager is incorporated