Every month since September, ten Academy of Technology and Design students have been working in conjunction with the NJ/NY Baykeepers on an oyster restoration project at Liberty State Park. Under the guidance of park naturalists, Lori and Sarah Beth and County Prep advisor, Ms. Cynthia Rose the students share the responsibility of maintaining and monitoring their own oyster float. Projects such as this will hopefully help increase the oyster population which has drastically declined due to pollution and over-harvesting. These bivalves help filter the water of the New Jersey harbor thus improving the health of the Hudson Raritan Estuary.

The students have also been involved in monthly marsh and beach cleanups. Liberty State Park provides them with gloves and bags that are used while combing the marshes and beaches of the park. They collect and classify litter and the results are sent to Clean Water Action, an organization of 1.2 million members working to empower people to take action to protect America's waters, build healthy communities and to make democracy work for all of us. The volume and type of litter collected draws attention to recreational fishing litter which is one of the most dangerous and deadly to marine life. Birds and fish can get trapped in the lines and nets which can then entangle, cut, strangle and drown marine creatures. To help curtail this problem the students installed two fishing line recycling containers at the park in November.

Projects of this nature help support the Baykeepers’ mission to protect, preserve, and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary.