Environmental Education, Stewardship Opportunities

Within DCR's site | Outside our site | EE Grant Programs

Within DCR's site, general

• A Virginian's Year-Round Guide to Yard Care: Tips and Techniques for Healthy Lawns and Gardens
• Adopt-A-Stream - community-based streamside clean-up and storm-drain stencil kit
• Clean Water Farm Awards - recognizing Virginia's most conscientious agricultural operations
• DCR Volunteerism Opportunities - be a Natural Heritage Program intern or help park visitors
• Erosion and Sediment Control Certification - building responsibly
• Greenways - vital open spaces
• Natural Heritage Program - learn about rare plants, animals, natural communities, native plants, invasive species, nearby preserves, etc.
• Nutrient Management Certification - when waste isn't waste
• Outdoor Adventures - workshops, courses and getaways in Virginia's state parks
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) - learn more about the state's 47 soil and water conservation districts and the important work they do
• State Parks and Natural Areas - great settings to learn about the environment
• Stewardship Virginia. April 1-May 31 and Sept. 1-Oct. 31. Stewardship Virginia is a statewide initiative held twice annually to help citizens with projects that enhance and conserve Virginia's natural and cultural resources.
• Watershed Connections - a 10-minute video primer on watersheds in Virginia.
• Youth Conservation Corps - get paid to get your hands dirty, learn about natural resources

Within DCR site, for teachers

• Amazing Stuff - educational water fact sheet (Click here)
• DCR Conservation Education Resources - list of the agency's environmental programs, publications and other goodies for teachers
• Enviroscape model - all field offices; click here for regions' service areas and contact information
• Groundwater model -Abingdon, Clarksville, Suffolk and Warrenton have groundwater models available; click here for regions' service areas and contact information
• H2O IQ - educational quiz about water characteristics, resources (Click here)
• Project Underground - groundwater, cave and karst-related activities curriculum guide
• Raindrops - award-winning activity booklet about conservation for students
• Virginia State Parks: Your Backyard Classroom - history and natural resource-related activities curriculum guide designed for field trips to Virginia State Parks
• Watershed Map - A handy letter-size color map of Virginia's 14 major watersheds

Other useful environmental education sites, general

• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay - learn about the alliance
• Baybackpack - for educators who want to teach abou the Chesapeake Bay and the bay region
• The Bridge - marine education
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation - learn about the bay
• Chesapeake Club - get in touch with your inner Chesapeake
• CHESSIE - Chesapeake Bay education
• Commonwealth of Knowledge - lesson plans and more
• Environmental Protection Agency - water-related activities for kids
• Let's Be Water Smart - water conservation education, James City County
• River of Words - watershed-related art and writing competition
• Save Our Streams - citizen volunteer water quality monitoring program
• Stewardship Virginia - program rewarding volunteers who protect natural resources
• Virginia Naturally - state initiative to encourage lifelong environmental education
• Virginia Outdoor Writers Association - sponsors writing contests for youths
• Wildlife Mapping - volunteer recording of wildlife observations for database

Other useful environmental education sites, for teachers

• Environmental Concerns - Wonders of Wetlands (WOW!) and Planning of Wetlands (POW!) curricula
• Envirothon - student competition, training
• Project Learning Tree - forestry-related activities curriculum guide
• Project Underground (national) - caves and karst awareness; National Speleological Society website
• Project Wet - water-related activities curriculum guide
• Project WILD - wildlife-related activities curriculum guide
• School Yard Habitats - program for creating wildlife habitats on school grounds
• Virginia Naturally Exemplary Schools Program - school recognition program
• W.A.V.E.S. - Chesapeake Bay-related activities curriculum guide

Grant programs

• Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund - Chesapeake Bay education
  projects sponsored by schools, environmental organizations, localities, etc.
• Virginia Environmental Endowment - environmental education grants - http://www.vee.org
• Virginia Resource Use Education Council Classroom Grants - watershed education and restoration projects; only schools can apply

Learning together, working together

DCR and other agencies work together to teach kids and adults alike how to make a difference. Below are links to pages within and outside this site that could help you learn more.