Youth
Resilience
Projects

Kids of All Ages are Helping Restore the Elizabeth River

Youth Resilience Projects are submitted annually and students are recognized for their hard work.
Kids of all ages and abilities work by themselves or in groups to address some of the river’s biggest challenges, like flooding, sea level rise, habitat restoration, and water quality.

All kinds of environmental projects.
For every kind of kid.

  • Composting
  • Erosion Control
  • Flood Control & Drainage
  • Habitat Restoration
  • Invasive Plant Removal
  • Native Trees & Plants
  • Oyster Gardens
  • Pollinator Gardens
  • Rainwater Gardens
  • Recycling & Waste Reduction
  • Renewable Energy
  • Water Quality Testing

Our Impact Since 2019

74
Resilient River star schools
158
PROJECTS COMPLETED
12,814
Students & Counting

Youth Resilience Projects 2025

Congratulations to the 33 schools and groups that completed Youth Resilience Projects this year! We had over 4,000 students work on environmental action projects this year, including oyster gardening, composting, restoring eroded shorelines and adding almost 100 native plants to schoolyard habitats.

We are so proud of every student and teacher who helped to improve the health of our watershed this year. All schools will receive beautiful recycled glass awards and certificates to recognize their efforts. You are all truly shining stars!

2025 Youth Resilience Project Videos

We’re so excited to showcase our 2025 Youth Resilience Project Participants! Watch their video submissions to see how they’re tackling local environmental challenges.

2025 Resilient River Star School Accomplishments

1,000+ Wetland Grasses Planted
1000+ lbs of plastic film recycled
6 recycling containers implemented
92 native plants and trees planted
18,000 oysters grown
1000+ pounds of waste kept out of a landfill by composting
4400 worms used in composting
10 Habitats enhancing items to increase biodiversity

Congratulations to ALL the 2025 Resilient River Star Students and Schools

  • Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
  • Blair Middle School
  • Brighton Elementary School
  • Camp E.W. Young
  • Christopher Academy
  • Churchland Academy Elementary School
  • Churchland Elementary School
  • Churchland Primary and Intermediate School
  • Cradock Elementary School
  • Granby High School
  • Hickory Elementary School
  • Hodges Manor Elementary School
  • Horizons Hampton Roads
  • Kent Family Academy
  • Lakeview Elementary School
  • Maury High School Garden Club
  • Midway Manor Youth Program
  • Nauticus Youth Action Council
  • Norfolk Academy
  • Norfolk Christian Schools
  • Ocean View Elementary School
  • Park View Elementary School
  • PPS Oyster Project
  • Pugh Homeschool
  • Sail Nauticus
  • Simonsdale Elementary School
  • St. John The Apostle Catholic School
  • St. Patrick Catholic School
  • Tarrallton Elementary School
  • The New E3 School
  • Victory Elementary School
  • Waterview Elementary School
  • Westhaven Elementary School

Get Ready for Youth Resilience Projects 2026!

Students tackle some of the river’s most important challenges to understand it better and help it heal. Get your student or group started on a Youth Resilience Project today! Grant funding may be available for project supplies.

Project submission date for 2026 is coming soon. All projects will be recognized as Resilient River Star Schools and shared on our website!

Name(Required)
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Youth Resilience Projects and Resilient River Star School Funding made possible by: 

The Blocker Foundation, Beazley Foundation, Roaring Brook Family Foundation, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, and TC Energy.

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.
(To restore the health of the Elizabeth River by working with our neighbors, businesses, and governments.)
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Set Up Preferences(Required)
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Audio/Visual Needs(Required)
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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, we will join the Elizabeth River Project as a dues-paying organization at a level commensurate with our size and the nature of our operations.
Please see member benefits for further information: https://elizabethriver.org/donor-circles/

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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Sample Data

Bacteria

Observations

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    Add any field observation photos here