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Delta Environmental - Award Winning Programs
In 2019, the Finger Lakes STEM Hub recognized our Summer STEAM Program at Rochester Childfirst Network for its exemplary work, an example as a model and inspiration for others to incorporate STEM into their own programming.
Established in 1971, Delta Environmental has a long and successful history of evaluating local water resources and advocating for healthy water quality throughout Monroe County. What began as a small nonprofit focused on awarness and advocacy efforts has evolved into an educational organization that offers year round STEM/STEAM programs to children in grades K-12. Now serving more than 3,000 students at more than 20 schools, our programs include water experiments, science field trips on land and along the Erie Canal on the Sam Patch, visits to local waterways such as the Irondequoit Cree and the Genesee River, and special events. We also provide hands-on training to teachers and professionals in other fields, and outdoor professional development classes.
Our program director is an international expert who develops engaging, scientific programs that align with the Adopt-A-Stream curriculum. Under the leadership of Kaeti Stoss, Delta Environmental received the CEI Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award in 2017 for making significant contributions to the region’s environmental health.
Through Delta Environmental, students learn how to analyze the condition and health of water resources and gather significant data for entry at the Finger Lakes Institute, which can then be used among others to further their own research and programs. We also collaborate with a number of other organizations to engage participants in unique learning experiences. This includes our two annual events “Erie Canal Nerd Night Out” and “Erie Canal Family Cruise.” Both events, in collaboration with Corn Hill Navigation, invite individuals and families to take a ride with us for a historic and current lesson on this incredible water resource.
Water is a fundamental need for people and animals, and Delta Environmental is doing everything it can to make sure we learn to protect our water resources and quality for our families today and in the future.
We all play a role in protecting our water systems. Have you ever asked if the lake near your house is safe for swimming? Is the storm drain near your home clear of pollutants? We are all directly impacted by the quality (or lack thereof) our waterways. If you'd like to learn more about our work, volunteer opportunities, or how to become a program sponsor, send us an email at info@adopt-a-stream.org. -
Click to View Video of our Erie Canal Program
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Meet our Program Director
I saw the importance of aquatic ecology when I learned to fly fish as a young girl. My first experience with leading environmental education was as a counselor at Girl Scout Camp Pinewood in Arkport, NY. I led girls on backpacking and canoeing trips as I demystified the great outdoors. I attended School of the Arts in the RCSD, which is the reason for my passion of connecting urban students to their env
ironment. Too often, city residents see environmental issues as things that happen far away from the city and their lives.
I continued my focus on tangible ways of interacting and learning from my environment by majoring in Art History at the University of Rochester. I chose that major because more faculty in the Art History department worked in archaeology compared to faculty in other departments. I became a cultural resource management archaeologist in Western New York with Powers and Teremy, LLC, where my team surveyed local sites to preserve their historical heritage while allowing for new development.
After digging for a couple of years, I reconnected with my interest in science education at SUNY Brockport. After I received my teaching degree in Earth Science and Special Education, I started volunteering for Delta Environmental. I became program director once I completed my master’s degree at Mississippi State in the Teaching in the Geosciences program. I like to combine my interest in science with my passion for hands-on learning.
I am also the lead tacher for Chariot Learning where I teach math, verbal, and general academic skills for the ACT and SAT tests and develop Chariot Learning’s research-based curriculum. In addition to this, I also moderate games for MasterMinds (academic, team quiz-bowl competitions) and play in local trivia events.
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