GIVE
GIVE

LEARNING IS BEAUTIFUL

Climb Aboard for Fun, Friends and Science

Our education programs and classroom field trips offer a fun way for kids to learn about a serious subject – the health and future of the Elizabeth River. A day on the water helps instill a lifelong appreciation for our hometown river and its importance to our environment, our maritime economy and our coastal way of life. Besides, the kids have such a great time, they forget they’re learning!

Click here to check out our education programs!

The Learning Barge

Powered by sun and wind, The Learning Barge is the world's first floating wetland classroom, offering fun, hands-on lessons in ecology, resilience and environmental sustainability. Can’t visit? We’ll come to you with the new Learning Barge on Wheels!
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Youth Projects & Resilience Expo

Every year, local kids take a deep dive into the region’s most pressing environmental issues – everything from sea level rise to carbon emissions – and present their findings at the Annual Youth Resilience Expo. You can, too!
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Youth Water Monitoring

Our River Citizen Water Monitors roll up their sleeves to test the river’s water quality. They alert us to any new problems while learning how human actions impact the river's health.
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Teacher REsources

Our self-paced, virtual programs help teachers bring river education into their classrooms. It’s a great way to teach your future river stewards everything from science to personal responsibility.
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Nature Explorers

At Paradise Creek Nature Park, our Nature Explorers program is filled with games, eco-art projects and lesson-filled outdoor adventures for homeschoolers from preschool to 2nd grade.
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Youth Conservation Internships

This 8-week program at Paradise Creek Nature Park connects Portsmouth High students with valuable employment skills in horticulture, landscape design and outdoor leadership education.
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Online Education Database

Use our online database to find videos, research reports, news stories and more. Now you can learn about the river on your desktop, your phone, or anywhere you go!
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Paradise Creek Nature Park Field Trips

School Field Trips to Paradise Creek Nature Park offered for grades PreK-12! Students will learn about the native plants and animals at the park and about how the park demonstrates resilience to sea level rise and flooding while brainstorming ways that they can help
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Click here to check out our education programs!

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
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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.
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Start Time(Required)
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End Time(Required)
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Set Up Time
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Take Down Time
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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)
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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 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.
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Youth Water Monitoring Results

Entry Data

Name(Required)
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Time(Required)
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Sample Data

Bacteria

Observations

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    Add any field observation photos here