Riverquest to Stay Afloat, Keep Focus On Stem Programs
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
31 August 2016
By Natasha Lindstrom
Back on course after floundering financially, the 90-foot floating
science lab that docks outside Carnegie Science Center will return
to cruise Pittsburgh's rivers this fall with expanded educational
and recreational offerings.
Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. President and CEO August Carlino
announced Wednesday that his board has completed the acquisition
of RiverQuest, a nonprofit that's provided river-based education
to more than 100,000 students over two decades.
The acquisition comes two years after Rivers of Steel announced it
was pursuing a merger or arrangement to sustain RiverQuest's
assets and service to the region.
“The end result is the preservation of a world-class environmental
science, technology, engineering and mathematics program on what
many consider one of the most advanced green energy boats in the
nation,” said Carlino, who initiated merger talks after reading
about RiverQuest's April 2104 dire straits in the Tribune-Review.
New programs will build on RiverQuest's focus on STEM — science,
technology, engineering and math — by adding an “H” for history
and heritage, with plans to market the “H-STEM program” to
elementary, middle and high schools as well as colleges across
Western Pennsylvania, Carlino said. The boat will be available for
tourist packages as well as private charters, corporate events,
weddings and other gatherings.
Rivers of Steel is a Homestead-based nonprofit that aims to
preserve Western Pennsylvania's natural, historical and
recreational resources. It manages one of 49 national heritage
areas and a state heritage area. Its major projects include the
Carrie Furnaces in Rankin, The Bost Building in Homestead and the
Battle of Homestead site at The Waterfront.
Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at
412-380-8514 or nlindstrom@tribweb.com.