Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

Your Backyard Classrooms

Hands-on field investigation improves comprehension. Virginia's state parks and natural areas are perfect places for such learning.

Virginia’s State Parks and Natural Areas… Your Backyard Classrooms is a set of K-12 science and social studies lesson plans tailored for use in parks and natural areas. The lessons provide easy, fun and exciting ways for teachers to teach students about nature, history and culture. These are also activities for scouts, homeschoolers and groups looking to enhance their understanding of what makes state parks special.

Each lesson plan

Is correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning.
Has clearly stated objectives.
Has background information and step-by-step instructions.
Has pre- and post-visit components.
Includes a list of additional suggestions and resources.

Teachers interested can start by finding nearby state parks and natural area preserves.

Lesson plans

Bats
The student learns about bats through role-play activity that covers the relationship that exists between insectivorous bats and their food source; demonstrate a simple form of echolocation; and recognize that physical adaptations allow animals to respond to life needs. Grades 3 – 10.
Camouflage
Students will investigate variations in color patterns, body form and movement that allow for camouflage by observing animals in relation to environmental settings and by inferring explanations for camouflage success. Grades K – 7.
Changing of the Green
Students will investigate changes in plant composition of quadrats of earlier and latter succession by: predicting relative abundance of plants; distinguishing between herbaceous and woody plans; quantifying plants within a given space; and comparing actual ratios of plants. Grades 6 – 12.
The Civil War in the Chesapeake Bay
Students will understand the role of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in naval and land battles of the Civil War. Grades 4 – 12.
Endangered Populations
Students will investigate changes in population levels by modeling the behavior of a species confronted with impediments to survival. Grades 3 – 6.
Fairystones Students will learn about rocks, minerals and metamorphism by: using the example of the mineral staurolite (fairystone); working together in teams to collect, assemble, and present information; and applying what they learn in the classroom (information) to what is found in the field (data) and what it means (interpretation). Grades K, 4, 5, 6, 8.
A Forest Grows
Students will investigate variation in seed structure and methods of dispersal by: observing seeds’ physical appearances and evidence of trees’ reproductive strategies and inferring possible relationships among types of deeds, seed dispersal methods and location of seedlings. Grades 3 – 10.
Going, Going...
Students will investigate equilibrium in erosion and deposition by: predicting effects of moving water on soil; modeling an erosion simulation; observing results of a test; inferring causes and effects; planning for personal action to save soil; and hypothesizing about erosion variables. Grades 2 – 9.
Habitat Hunt
Students will investigate variations among habitats by: predicting patterns in relationships; planning an investigation; observing biotic and abiotic factors; measuring environmental parameters; collecting data; and drawing conclusions and communicating results. Grades 6 – 12.
Habitat for Monarchs
An organism’s habitat contains the things it needs to survive. There are many kinds of plants and animals in habitats. In this activity students will learn about the anatomy of flowers and butterflies. Students will learn that a habitat contains things that organisms need to survive. They will learn how pollen is transferred among plants and will research native plants and learn about the benefits of native plants by using reference materials. Students will also create a record of the different plants and animals they observe in this habitat. Grades K – 5.
Little Limnologists
The Greek word “limne” means pool or freshwater marshy lake, thus a “little limnologist” is a small person who studies bodies of fresh water. This lesson plan's easy-to-follow directions help your students investigate pond life and, just like professional limnologists, publish the findings. Grades 3-6.
A Lot of Rot
Students will locate and examine plant decomposition; identify some of the organisms that live in and around decaying logs; and understand that a rotting log is a habitat that serves a vital function in the forest and supports a wide variety of life. Grades 3 – 10.
Marsh March
Students will investigate the natural organization of a wetland and the interrelationships between the wetland and the surrounding environment by: planning a study; observing wetlands; and inferring cause and effect relationships. Grades 4 – 12.
Mining
Students will learn about mining in Virginia by: investigating the uses of natural resources; exploring the economics of mining; and discussing costs and benefits associated with the finite nature of mineral resources and considerations associated it their extraction. Grades K – 10.
Native or Not
Everyone knows tigers, elephants and ostriches don't roam North America (except in zoos or wild animal parks). Many people don’t realize that there are less-obvious but equally exotic animals in our midst. Scores of plant species from other continents have also become established here, with the aid of humans. Grades 4-10.
Red Clay
Students will investigate the formation of soil and learn about its composition and properties. They will examine firsthand the process of weathering and erosion. They will do this by: working in teams to collect, assemble and present (orally and in writing) scientific information; making and recording field observations, including the use of map skills and technology; collecting samples for classroom study; and synthesizing their findings with those of other groups. Grades 5 – 10.
Sand-Shakes and Mud-Pies
Students will investigate natural patterns of sediment organization by: observing samples; predicting locations of various types of sediments; identifying independent variables; designing descriptive data collection criteria; collecting samples; graphing and quantifying data; and analyzing data. Grades 4 – 12.
Telling Tides
Students will investigate tidal patterns by: determining the times and water heights of low and high tides at a designated reference station for a particular day using a tide chart; calculate the tidal differences between the reference station and any other location; and compare the effects of moon phases on tidal height. Grades 6 – 12.
Water Motion and Commotion
Students will investigate possible interrelationships between water motion and dispersion of a hypothetical pollutant by: estimating, measuring and calculating basic characteristics of waves and currents; predicting the movement of a simulated oil spill; and observing and predicting the impact of a spill on biota, the landscape and human activities.
Grades 6 – 12.
Water - Way to Get Around
Boats of all kinds have been key players in the Chesapeake Bay’s history. In this activity, students use a dichotomous key to learn about some types of boats used on the bay. They also build models of the boats and float them at a local park. Grades 4-8.
Wetland in a Pan
Students will investigate the interrelationships among precipitation, runoff and wetlands by modeling and observing flood buffering and filtering effects of wetlands in a demonstrated simulation by creating an upland and a wetland in a pan. Grades K – 9.
Wetland Walk
Students will investigate the natural organization of a wetland and the interrelationships between the wetland and the surrounding environment by: planning a study; observing a wetland; and inferring cause and effect relationships. Grades K – 12.
Where Does It Come From? Where Does It Go?
This lesson plan covers litter and the damage it causes. Grades K – 6.
Wild Foods
Students will observe and understand the different food preferences and feeding strategies of animals by; collaborating to collect, assemble and present (orally and in written form) observational information; recording field observations; investigating different animal groups; determining how animal adaptations are related to food preferences; and hypothesizing how animals could be affected by (and may themselves affect) their environment. Grades 3 – 10.