When the Catawba Riverkeeper’s floating classroom head out on Lake Norman, it’s not just a joy ride. It’s an educational experience that aims to teach students of all ages about our river system and how to protect it. Capt. Ronnie Caldwell, the program’s coordinator, said it’s something the Catawba Riverkeeper has been working on for years. They got the boat, trained their educators on North Carolina educational standards, and developed a few hands-on environmental science classes for K-12 students.