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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

Jamie Ramsey

Youth Resilience Educator

Shelby Lough

seasonal educator

Brandise Little

seasonal educator

Crystal Wynne

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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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)
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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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