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Paradise Creek Nature Park Field Trips

About Paradise Creek Nature Park​

At Paradise Creek Nature Park, visitors can explore forested trails and restored wetlands—all within an active industrial harbor. This 40-acre site serves as a living example of shoreline restoration along the Elizabeth River. It features an 11-acre wetland restored by the Virginia Port Authority in 2012 and 29 acres of revitalized forest and wildflower meadows. Ongoing efforts focus on native plant restoration, hands-on education, and volunteer programs that support one of Portsmouth’s largest and most unique public parks.

Explore our river, forest, and wetlands with your class!

Paradise Creek Nature Park field trips are offered for grades Pre-K through 12. Students learn about the native plants and animals, explore how the park demonstrates resilience to sea level rise and flooding, and brainstorm ways that they can help.
Thank you for making this program possible: The Blocker Foundation, Beazley Foundation, Roaring Brook Family Foundation, Elizabeth River Garden Club, Robert F. Schumann Foundation, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, TC Energy, Southeastern VA Community Foundation, Bank of America Richard & Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust
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Field Trips

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Park Educators

Sarah McBride

School outreach coordinator

Sarah has a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology from Old Dominion University. She worked as an environmental consultant for 10 years before staying home to raise two daughters. She has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with their schools as the Green Team/Outdoor Classroom leader, and now that they are older and back in school, she is very excited to share her passion for our local environment with many other school children in the region. Feel free to contact her about environmental action projects for schools or field trips at Paradise Creek Nature Park!

Jamie Ramsey

Youth Resilience Educator

Jamie graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2015 with a B.A. in Education and Studio Art. She has taught for nine years in K12 classrooms and is excited to use her skills with the environmental education team at ERP. In her free time, she enjoys doing various art projects and hanging out with her two dogs.

Shelby Lough

seasonal educator

Shelby graduated from Garrett College with an A.A.S in Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology in 2013. Over the years she has accomplished a variety of field work for the state of Maryland including time with the Department of Natural Resources in the Forest Service, Park Service, and with the Department of Agriculture in the Forest Pest Management branch. She also became a certified wildlife rehabilitator through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries during her volunteered time with the Richmond Wildlife Center. Shelby is eager to share and inspire a love for nature.

Alex Laplace

seasonal educator

Alex graduated from University of Virginia in 2025 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a Minor in Data Science. He has a strong enthusiasm for all things related to aquatic ecosystems and how to protect and restore them. He has contributed GIS analysis and data management skills for The Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Alex also loves playing music, he’s a certified scuba diver, and is fascinated with all river critters.

Crystal Wynne

seasonal educator

Crystal graduated from George Mason University in 2025 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Conservation Studies; currently pursuing a master’s in Environmental Science at Louisiana State University. While earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a Guest Engagement Educator at the Virginia Aquarium. A native from Virginia Beach, she has always loved learning about the environment and loves being outside in nature, hiking, and searching for salamanders. She is very excited to be part of the team as a seasonal educator.

River Academy Lecture Hall Request

Thank you for your interest in the Elizabeth River Project’s River Academy Lecture Hall. We’re delighted that our site is in high demand. As the River Academy Lecture Hall is operated by a small non-profit with a big environmental mission, please help us make sure your event is a great fit.

Please fill this form out at least 30 days in advance of the event.

NOTE: This form does not confirm your reservation, reservations are confirmed upon ERP receipt of signed contract and paid deposit.

Event Type(Required)
*Rates include up to 3 hours for meetings on weekdays and weeknights, and 6 hours for events on the weekends, including setup and takedown. Additional time will be billed at 20% per hour
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Our maximum capacity is 50 for theater or presentation style events and 30 for classroom style.
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Take Down Time
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Set Up Preferences(Required)
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Audio/Visual Needs(Required)
Check all that apply
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved(Required)
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We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved

If given the go-ahead for our event, sponsor organization agrees to these River Academy Lecture Hall policies:

Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(Required)
Yes, we will adhere to start and end times (15-minute leeway) and will return the space to the condition in which you found it.(Required)

Additionally, sponsor organization agrees to these administrative/liability requirements:

  • ERP maintains insurance for its activities at the River Academy Lecture Hall. Sponsoring organizations should ensure that they have appropriate insurance coverage as well.
  • Weapons are prohibited.
  • Open flames generally are prohibited (special permission only).
  • Outdoor guests will be required to exit the Park during thunder, lightning, high winds or any circumstance deemed hazardous by ERP.
  • Waiver of Claims: Sponsoring organizations agree to release, waive all claims, discharge, and covenant not to sue Elizabeth River Project, its officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from liability from any and all claims resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in the event and related tours, due to the negligence of sponsor, sponsor's employees, or event participants.
  • Notice of Claims: Sponsor agrees to provide immediate notice to ERP if any participant either files, or threatens to file, a claim arising from or related to the event, so that ERP can notify its insurance carriers.
  • COVID Statement: Participants will monitor their own health prior to reporting to any Elizabeth River Project event/activity. If any signs or symptoms of infection are present, the individual must not report to the event.
  • Photo Release: Photos of the event may be shared as part of grant reporting or posted on Elizabeth River Project website/social media unless otherwise specified by the sponsor organization.
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Ryan Resilience Lab Event Request

Thank you for your interest in the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab. We’re delighted that our site is in high demand. As the Ryan Resilience Lab is operated by a small non-profit with a big environmental mission, please help us make sure your event is a great fit.

Please fill this form out at least 30 days in advance of the event.

NOTE: This form does not confirm your reservation, reservations are confirmed upon ERP receipt of signed contract and paid deposit.

Event Type(Required)
*Rates include up to 3 hours for meetings on weekdays and weeknights, and 6 hours for events on the weekends, including setup and takedown. Additional time will be billed at 20% per hour
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Our maximum for indoor seated events is 85 theater style and 45 classroom style. For standing receptions, the maximum is 100 indoors or 125 indoor-outdoor.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Start Time(Required)
:
End Time(Required)
:
Set Up Time
:
Take Down Time
:
Set Up Preferences(Required)
Check all that apply
Audio/Visual Needs(Required)
Check all that apply
We would like to offer attendees the option to tour the Ryan lab(Required)
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved(Required)
This field is hidden when viewing the form
We would like the Elizabeth River Project to make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding the mission and ways to get involved

If given the go-ahead for our event, sponsor organization agrees to these Ryan Lab policies:

Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(Required)
Yes, we will adhere to start and end times (15-minute leeway) and will return the space to the condition in which you found it.(Required)

Additionally, sponsor organization agrees to these administrative/liability requirements:

  • ERP maintains insurance for its activities at the Ryan Lab. Sponsoring organizations should ensure that they have appropriate insurance coverage as well.
  • Weapons are prohibited.
  • Open flames generally are prohibited (special permission only).
  • Outdoor guests will be required to exit the Learning Park during thunder, lightning, high winds or any circumstance deemed hazardous by ERP.
  • Waiver of Claims: Sponsoring organizations agree to release, waive all claims, discharge, and covenant not to sue Elizabeth River Project, its officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from liability from any and all claims resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in the event and related tours, due to the negligence of sponsor, sponsor's employees, or event participants.
  • Notice of Claims: Sponsor agrees to provide immediate notice to ERP if any participant either files, or threatens to file, a claim arising from or related to the event, so that ERP can notify its insurance carriers.
  • COVID Statement: Participants will monitor their own health prior to reporting to any Elizabeth River Project event/activity. If any signs or symptoms of infection are present, the individual must not report to the event.
  • Photo Release: Photos of the event may be shared as part of grant reporting or posted on Elizabeth River Project website/social media unless otherwise specified by the sponsor organization.
MM slash DD slash YYYY

Youth Water Monitoring Results

Entry Data

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Sample Data

Bacteria

Observations

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