Join Rowen Schmidt, a wetland delineator with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for an immersive exploration of the wetlands! Discover the fascinating ecology of the Tidewater Region’s salt marshes and gain hands-on experience learning about how climate, geology, and other factors shape these vital ecosystems.

This is a unique opportunity to get your hands dirty—literally! Participants will be provided gloves and are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes or boots, as a muddy adventure awaits.

Rowen Schmidt is a wetland delineator with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where they work with the Clean Water Act. They have led environmental education programs since 2017 and enjoy working at the intersection of science, policy, and public resources.

Workshop One: Hydrology - June 21 @ 10am: This workshop is all about understanding hydrology—how water moves and changes over time. We'll explore signs of water, such as surface water, flooding, wet soil, and other clues that show where water has been.We'll explore the park's wetland area to see these signs up close. Then, we’ll move away from the water to discover how the signs of water change further from it.

Workshop Two: Hydrophytic Vegetation - July 19 @ 10am: In this workshop, you'll learn about plants that grow in wet areas and how they've adapted to live in these conditions over time. Throughout the park, we'll visit different spots—some wet and some dry. You'll help survey all kinds of plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, and small plants, to see if they have any water-related adaptations.

Workshop Two: Hydric Soil - August 16 @ 10am: Explore a unique type of soil that forms in areas with long-term water presence. Waterlogged conditions remove oxygen from the soil, leading to fascinating changes. By examining these changes, you’ll learn about indicators of hydric soils. With tools like soil probes and shovels, we’ll investigate wet soils, looking for distinctive clues like manganese nodules or redox patterns. We’ll also compare these findings to drier areas, study soil types like sandy and loamy, and test how soil reacts during specific experiments.

Don't miss this chance to connect with nature, broaden your ecological knowledge, and uncover the hidden wonders of wetlands.

Dates: Saturdays - June 21st, July 19th, August 16th Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Target Audience: Ages 16 and up. Participants aged 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

Cost:

Full Series - Discounted Workshop Bundle (All 3 classes):
- Elizabeth River Project Members: $75
- Non-members: $100
Individual Class:
- Elizabeth River Project Members: $30
- Non-members: $40

Not yet an Elizabeth River Project member? The non-profit Elizabeth River Project has worked since 1993 to restore the environmental health of the urban Elizabeth River, once presumed dead. Our work is made possible by membership support. Do something beautiful - Join us today.