Calling all Homeschool families!

Join Elizabeth River Project staff for a guided field trip at Paradise Creek Nature Park this fall! Learn about how you can help restore the Elizabeth River watershed through hands-on field investigation stations including: a tour of the park's resilient features, water quality testing, native plant and animal identification, a bird walk to the pedestrian bridge and more!

WHEN: Thursday, October 8th, 10-11:30am

WHERE: Meet in front of the Beazley River Academy building at Paradise Creek Nature Park, 1141 Victory Blvd. Portsmouth, VA.

COST: $15 per student/pay what you can to support equitable access to our river programming. No charge for adults.

AGE: Program is geared towards ages 4 and up. Adult chaperones must stay onsite during program.

Students in grades 3 through 12 rotate through four learning stations performing hands-on activities that include:

Exploring and observing the park’s resilient features including native plants that benefit the park’s wildlife and birds
Learning to use binoculars on a bird walk to identify common birds at the park
Using a dichotomous key to identify common native animals and plants
Testing water quality using scientific tools, recording results, and learning how climate change and sea level rise impact results

High school activities are adapted to include:

Higher level water quality testing- dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus
Measuring various sized trees to determine how much carbon is being stored and discuss how trees help us to be resilient to environmental challenges

Students PreK-2nd grade will become junior ornithologists:

Exploring bird feathers, eggs, nests, foods, and life cycles to learn what makes a bird a bird
Practicing bird identification by sight, sound, and silhouette through hands-on games and observation activities
Collecting insects and discovering their connection to bird habitats and ecosystems
Taking a guided bird-watching hike through Paradise Creek Nature Park’s forest, meadow, and wetland habitats to spot birds in the wild

For questions or more info contact: Sarah McBride: smcbride@elizabethriver.org

Contact the host of Homeschool Day at Paradise Creek Nature Park