Students explore the Chemung River from a multitude of perspectives: local nature and ecology, history, art and poetry with a culminating Riverfest Exhibition hosted at the Arnot Art Museum. Throughout the school year students are engaged in a variety of experiential field trips and take part in classroom activities designed to reinforce knowledge gained on their field trips.

Tanglewood Nature Center hosts students to discuss the animals and ecology of the Chemung River Valley, while the Cornell Cooperative Extension discusses the watershed of the Chemung River. Students visit the Arnot Art Museum to view paintings by Hudson River School artists, many of which depict regionally-local areas, and sketch at the Museum while learning beginning perspective.

Students later create their own watercolor landscape in the classroom with a visiting artist. A historian speaks with students, while a poet illustrates the connection between poetry and nature for students with the written word. At the end of the year the explorations of participants are made evident at an annual Riverfest Exhibition hosted by the Arnot Art Museum, showcasing art works inspired by their year-long journey.

The annual adventures of the Chemung River School Project address New York State Standards across the disciplinary board and support Common Core initiatives.