From Waterwheels to Waterways: Engineering Design and Environmental Science in the Lowell Mills
A 3-Day Hybrid Summer Professional Development Institute for Grades 6-12 Educators
In this 3-day hybrid institute, participants will explore the living laboratory of Lowell and the Merrimack River Watershed through a combination of in-person and online inquiry-based, minds-on, hands-on experiences. The confluence of two rivers – the Concord and Merrimack – is significant as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. During our time in Lowell, with our partners from the Tsongas Industrial History Center and Lowell National Historical Park, participants will explore the history of the Lowell Mills as well as the engineering design that allowed the flow of the city’s two rivers to power mill production. We’ll tour the canal system by boat to gain a first-hand understanding of this vital part of powering the Lowell Mills. Guest speaker Dr. Chad Montrie, from UMass Lowell’s History Department, and City of Lowell DPW Staff will help us understand the impacts of this industrialization on the health of local communities and waterways as well as to see how the watershed is recovering from its more toxic, industrial past. As a culminating experience, you will work with a team of fellow educators to design and build a model mill-and-canal system and see how water’s potential energy is transformed into the kinetic energy that powered Lowell’s machines.
Location: 2 half-days online via Zoom (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET), and 2 in-person days in Lowell, MA (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET)
Dates and Times:
Virtual: Mondays, July 13th and 20th, 2026 (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET)
In-Person: Thursday and Friday, July 16th and 17th, 2026 (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET)
Cost: $375 per educator; $325 per educator if attending in a team of 3 or more educators
Collaborating Partners: Tsongas Industrial History Center; Lowell National Historical Park
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit:
21 PDPs available without graduate credit.
45 PDPs available with optional graduate credit: 2 graduate credits available from Cambridge College/Bay Path University or Bridgewater State University for $150. Additional work required for graduate credit.
Please Note: Housing is not provided by the Wade Institute for any Summer Professional Development Institute programs
Tsongas Industrial History Center
Lowell National Historical Park