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: [email protected]