As the department stores tout their “Back to School” sales and teachers begin filling out their plan books, Virginia State Parks is gearing up for the 2010 OUTREACH PROGRAM season. If you know a teacher, please forward this information to them.
Outreach programs are park programs that we package and present at schools. We can do programs on adaptation, migration, metamorphosis, watersheds, environmental literacy & storytelling, nature journaling, and many more. Most of our programs are SOL-based so outreach programs can be used to introduce a topic, reinforce concepts, or review subjects. In other words, we are available throughout the school year.
One of our favorite things to do is to do an outreach program in conjunction with a field trip to the park. These layered program really help kids retain the concepts and information.
Outreach programs can be tailored to your needs. We can conduct a two-hour classroom specific program or do “stations” where an entire grade can rotate through touch tables and activities.
Our fees are very reasonable…usually less than $3.00 per child. Many schools rely on the PTAto pay these fees. Sometimes, we have grant funding available that can help underwrite these costs as well.
The best thing to do is to contact the park near you by calling and asking for the “Park Interpreter” or “Park Naturalist.” Some parks get booked up early, so call now to get on the schedule for Fall programs.
We even offer a Professional Development Program called “Virginia State Parks…Your Backyard Classroom” for teachers. The “Your Backyard Classroom”introduces teachers to outdoor education concepts, how to use the State Parks for field trips, and includes a lesson plan book with all kind of outdoor activities cross-referenced with the SOLs.
Please give us a call and get on the schedule!We can bring the outdoors in!!
Coastal Parks Interpretive Office numbers are:
First Landing State Park, Interpretive Programs Office 757-412-2306
False Cape State Park, Park Naturalist 757-426-3657
Chippokes Plantation State Park, Park Interrpeters 757-294-3625
Kiptopeke State Park, Chief Ranger of Interpretation, 757-331-2267
York River State Park, Chief Ranger of Interpretation, 757-566-3036
Coastal Parks District Programs Office/Visitor ServicesSpecialist757-412-2307