Hands-on program that allows teachers and students to care for and monitor live oysters right in their own classroom.
An Oyster Research Tank (ORT) is an indoor tank with about 10-20 live oysters that allows students to explore this unique organism in their classroom. Students collaboratively set up ideal conditions for the tank, and monitor oyster growth over time. They can collect data, design an experiment or use oysters as the anchoring phenomenon to explore a range of concepts.
Oyster Research Tanks are for any classroom teacher or informal educator who works with students. Trained teachers or informal educators receive two 6-gallon tanks, all maintenance materials, live oysters and access to our free curriculum. This can be a great complement to the in-water Oyster Research Station (ORS) program!
Live Billion Oyster Project oysters are only available to educators in the 5 boroughs, due to permitting regulations.
The Oyster Research Tank (ORT) program is one of BOP's most popular educational initiatives and serves as an indoor complement to the Oyster Research Station (ORS) program. Participants in the ORT program set up an oyster tank in their classroom, and monitor their tank for water chemistry parameters such as ammonia levels and dissolved oxygen for their effects on oyster mortality and growth. An ORT can also serve as a frame for inquiry-based learning and authentic research via a number of different scientific methods, including: observational study (e.g. of animal behavior), experimental study (e.g. by varying tank parameters in comparison with control tank conditions), and engineering design (e.g. to optimize a tank's biological filter).
In this session, teachers can expect to:
Important Note: The ORT Training consists of 2 sessions, the training itself and a separate time to pick up oysters for your tank. Oyster pickups are held throughout the school year, about every other month, and will be communicated after completion of the in-person training session.
Fees & Registration: The $200 flat fee covers training, tank and supplies and Billion Oyster Project oysters. FREE for all Title 1 schools — inquire about the discount code.
Cancellations: Please contact us at educate@billionoysterproject.org, with as much notice as possible, if you need to cancel your ticket or reservation. We will make every effort to issue a refund to paying customers who cancel more than 24 hours before the training. No-shows will not receive a refund.cancels an event due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. No-shows will not receive a refund.
Forms, protocols, and guides for this program — everything you need before, during, and after your training.
Billion Oyster Project is only permitted to provide oysters to teachers within New York City. However, anyone is eligible to participate in the ORT program. Non-NYC participants often get their oysters from a local grocery store or seafood market, fish monger or oyster farmer.
At the end of the school year, Billion Oyster Project collects oysters kept in tanks, and adds those oysters to our Soundview Reef restoration project. By keeping oysters in the tank, you and your students are contributing to our restoration efforts! Check out the video of the 2025 oysters being placed on the Soundview Reef!
You are welcome to keep your oysters over the summer, but due to permit regulations may not put them back into the marine environment independently.
A thriving reef cluster, building habitat for generations
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