Homeschool Day at Paradise Creek Nature Park

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