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Paradise Creek Nature Park Field Trips

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.
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Field Trips

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Park Educators

Sarah-McBride

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.

Hugh Burns

Seasonal Educator

Hugh graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Scranton and joined the Air Force, where he served as a fighter pilot and instructor. In 2011, he was elected to the Conservation District in Williamsburg and served as Education Committee chairman. In 2013, he became the founding executive director of Williamsburg Community Growers, a 10.5-acre community garden, teaching farm, and environmental education center. Hugh enjoys nature up close on a run, a bike, or a paddle board and is excited to explore along as an Environmental Educator.

Brandise Little

seasonal educator

Brandise graduated from Norfolk State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Biology. She then graduated in 2022 with a M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Troy University. She began working as a seasonal educator for the Learning Barge in Fall 2019 and started at Paradise Creek Nature Park in the Fall of 2023. She is very excited to be back to educate the local community on environmental stewardship. 

Maggie Lane

seasonal educator

Maggie is passionate about restoring the relationship between land health and community health. Since moving to Virginia in 2014, she has worked as a registered nurse, postpartum doula, and yoga instructor. Over the last few years, she has worked within the community building programs and resources for perinatal families. She enjoys nature, reading, relaxing in a hammock, going on adventures, and hanging out with family.

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.

Our priority is to host groups with relevance to our mission: to restore the Elizabeth River through equitable collaboration with diverse communities, governments, and businesses. When space and staff support are available, we are happy to host such groups free of charge, but do request that you consider an organizational membership and allow us to offer the opportunity for individual memberships.

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

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

Yes, we will offer attendees the option to tour the Ryan Lab(Required)
Yes, Elizabeth River Project can make a 3-5 minute announcement at the start of the event regarding mission and ways to get involved(Required)
Yes, we will consider an organizational membership with Elizabeth River Project to support its mission of restoring the Elizabeth River(Required)
Yes, we agree to sustainable/responsible event practices(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

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Sample Data

Bacteria

Observations

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