Virginia Field Trips Guide - Spring 2014

INCLUDES DCINCLUDES DCVolume 14 Number 3Volume 14 Number 3

Spring 2014Spring 2014

A guide to...A guide to...

INCLUDES DCVolume 14 Number 3

Spring 2014

A guide to...

www.VirginiaFieldTrips.comwww.VirginiaFieldTrips.comwww.VirginiaFieldTrips.com

Inside this issue...

Virginia Field TripsVirginia Field TripsVirginia Field TripsVirginia Field TripsCover Spotlight

see story on page 10

CHARLOTTESVILLE'SCHALLENGE COURSE at

TRIPLE C CAMP

Gigantic Marine Reptiles . . . . . . . . PG 5

Field Trip Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PG 6

New VA State Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . PG 8

Tree Knowledge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PG 16

Tips for a Successful Field Trip . . PG 19

Etiquette Manners . . . . . . . . . . . . PG 23

The Virginia Holocaust Museum, located in Rich-mond, Virginia, views its primary mission as edu-cating the worldwide community about the

historical and personal realities of the Holocaust.Through docent-led tours, commemorative pro-grams, lectures, films and other events, the Vir-ginia Holocaust Museum strives to educate thepublic and to promote tolerance towards all, re-gardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexualorientation or creed. The museum offers severalpermanent exhibitions that cover the atrocities ofthe Shoah, the sacrifices of its victims, the brav-ery of its heroes and the courage of the survivors.

Having worked with the Virginia General Assembly tomandate Holocaust education in Virginia’s public schools,the Museum recognizes its responsibility to train Virginia’steachers how to approach the Holocaust and moderngenocide through Teacher Education Institutes andother workshops. Additionally the museum providesthe community with a rich variety of materials housedin the Carole Weinstein Holocaust Research Library.The museum equally believes its goal to educate obli-gates it to mount an array of cultural programs open tothe public.

Additionally the museum offers many ways toreach classrooms including the Acceptance SuitcaseBook Loaner Program which provides classrooms withsets of books on a variety of topics. The Education De-partment of the Virginia Holocaust Museum is offering avariety of distance learning opportunities for studentsand teachers on the topics of the Holocaust and geno-cide. Visit the museum’s website and find an abundanceof educational resources including teacher’s manual,music lessons, lesson plans, dictionary, fact sheets, oralhistories, information on the Visual Arts Competition andmuch more.

The Museum’s commitment to Tolerance Through Ed-ucation, encapsulates its goal to combat intolerance, anti-Semitism, racism, prejudice, fear and hatred with

knowledge, understanding, compassion andacceptance. The Museum can accommodate upto 120 guests at one time and groups over 10are provided docents to guide them throughthe exhibits. To schedule a tour of the Museumplease fill out a Group Tour Reservation Format least three weeks prior to the desired datehere. (http://www.va-holocaust.com/content/group-tours) For addi-tional information or to speak with the

Director of Education - Megan Ferenczy call (804) 257-5400 ext. 234 or visit www.va-holocaust.com.

VIRGINIA FIELD TRIPS GUIDEis published three times a year by EC Publishing, Inc,

located in Abingdon, Virginia.

We welcome letters, story ideas and

photos from all over Virginia and Washington, DC

Spring 2014 Issue

Forward all correspondence to:

Echo Charlie Publishing, Inc.P.O. Box 845, Abingdon, Virginia 24212

Phone: 1-800-357-0121 • Fax (276) 739-0015

www.virginiafieldtrips.com

Keith RobinsonPublisher

[email protected]

Angela LiskEditor

[email protected]

Teresa ChristianArt Director

Want

more fre

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Virginia Field Trips – Spring 20142

Virginia Holocaust Museum

A

Nestled in the foothills of the BlueRidge mountains on 520 acres ofrolling hills and scenic woods incentral Virginia. Camp Friendshiphas been serving the communitysince 1966.

Ideal Venue for:• School & Youth Groups • Team Building• Small Businesses • Corporations • Non-profit Organizations • Church Groups • Family Reunions • Weddings • Leadership Workshops

Facilities Include:• Adventure Ropes Course • Team Initiative Challenges• SOL Aligned Educational Programs • Sports Fields • Horseback Riding • Tennis • Basketball • Mountain Biking • Walking Trails • Accommodation for 400 • Breakaway Rooms • Meals • Wi-Fi • Audio Visual Equipment • and Much More!

Virginia Field Trips – Spring 2014 3

Explore nine European villages filled with rides, deliciousfood, shows at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia!Step beyond the yellow line on four incredible roller

coasters and go home with a new behind-the-scenes perspective.Visit coaster maintenance areas and speak with mechanics abouteverything they do to keep these amazing scream machinesrolling. Specials of the tour include a ride on the Griffon® trol-ley to the top and admire the panoramic view from 205 feet inthe air, before the park opens. An educated guide will lead yourtour to the mechanical areas of the Griffon®, Alpengeist® andthe classic interlocking loops of the Loch Ness Monster®.You’ll have no problem keeping students interested as they willbe permitted to ride the Griffon®, Alpengeist®, Apollo’s Char-iot® and Loch Ness Monster® during the tour.

Not interested in the inner working of coaster? Then choose oneof the many animal exhibits including Eagle Ridge, HighlandStables, Jack Hanna’s Wild Reserve, Lorikeet Glen, Wolf Havenand Wolf Valley. Sign up for the Ultimate Animal Insider Tourand celebrate peoples connection with animals. “Ultimate”combines Animals Up-Close, Wolf Training Up-Close andClydesdales and Collies Up-Close into one fascinating and af-fordable package. Attend the “Secret life of Predators AnimalShow” and discover the secret lives of North America’s toppredators in this one-of-a-kind presentation.

Visit www.seaworldparks.com/en/SeaWorld_Teachers/Teacher-Resources and find Teacher’s Guides that have beendeveloped at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens to help educatorsteach students - in an active, hands-on way - about how peopleinteract with the environment and how we can best care forEarth’s resources. For additional information on Busch GardensWilliamsburg visit www.seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg or call (800) 343-7946.

Explore, Discover, Connect at

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Fun Facts:It is estimated that millions of trees inthe world are accidentally planted by

squirrels who bury nuts and then forgetwhere they hid them.


Norfolk provides the perfect interactive and experiential classroom for student groups of all ages. From teaching sustainability, engaging history and groundbreaking science to riveting theater and exquisite fine art, Norfolk takes hands-on learning to exciting new heights. Contact our sales team today to learn more.

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Bringing the Past to Life....at the Frontier Culture Museum

Located in Staunton, Virginia the mu-seum tells the story of the thousandsof people who migrated to colonial

America during the 1600s and 1700s fromcommunities in the hinterlands of England,Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. Regard-less of how they arrived, all became Ameri-cans and all contributed to the success of thecolonies. To tell the story of these early im-migrants and their American descendants,the Museum has moved or reproduced ex-amples of traditional rural buildings fromEngland, Germany, Ireland, West Africa,and America. The Museum engages the pub-lic at these exhibits with a combination of in-terpretive signage and living historydemonstrations. The Museum’s futureplans include the addition of number ofoutdoor exhibits that will include a work-ing grist mill and a mid-1800s Americanvillage.

The Frontier Culture Museum offerseducation programs to suit the needs of allages, from kindergarten to college and beyond. Each programis designed to complement classroom learning and to support a

range of Virginia Standards of Learning. Mostprograms are presented at our outdoor ex-hibits, but several can be brought directly toyour school and classroom. Hands-on activi-ties vary with the seasons, and weather con-ditions can impact the availability of someprograms. The Frontier Culture Museumalso provides outreach programs that areavailable in January, February and earlyMarch, and can be presented in a classroomsetting or as an assembly. The Museum’seducation team is prepared to work closelywith you to accomplish your learning goals.They cover topics such as Settling the

Backcountry, The “Soundtrack” to the Set-tling of America, Quest for the West, Mys-

tery in the Wilderness, From West Africato West of the Blue Ridge, Things FallApart: The Life of an Igbo Man, PhysicalEducation Program and Classroom in thePast.

For more detailed group rate infor-mation please contact Sarah Puckett at

(540) 332-7850, email [email protected] orvisit www.frontiermuseum.org.

The Frontier Culture

Museum offers education

programs to suit the

needs of all ages.


Conveniently located inCharlottesville, VA

• Perfect venue for schools, teams,professional development programs

• Safe, FUN programming tailored to your group

• Cabins, dining, andmeeting/teachingfacilities

• Low and High Ropes/Team Building Courseincluding a three-sided climbing tower and 500’ Zip Line

Charlottesville’s Challenge Course @ Triple C Campwww.tripleccamp.com • [email protected]

434.293.2529

Take your students on an adventure into the deep, dark pre-historic world of carnivorous marine reptiles, giganticflesh-eating fish, flying retiles with 3-foot skulls and

the biggest sea turtles to have ever lived. OpeningMay 24, 2014 at The Mariners’ Museum, SavageAncient Seas: Dinosaurs of the Deep features over20 large-scale, magnificent skele-tons and living replicas of ancientmarine reptiles, touch stations withreal bones and fossils, interactive touchscreens, and so much more! See the Tylosaur, thelargest marine lizard ever found in North Americaat 45-feet long.

The Mariners’ Museum is offering engagingsummer and fall programming for students duringthis limited-time exhibition that align with state andnational standards of learning in science. Students willtake on the role of paleontologists as they search for evi-dence of ancient creatures, compare these creatures to modernday inhabitants of the seas, and learn about the important rolepaleontologists play in discovering the monsters of the deep. Formore information about the exhibition and the student programs,

visit MarinersMuseum.org/Dinosaurs. To book your tour today,call (757) 591-7745 or email SchoolPrograms@MarinerMu-

seum.org. The Mariners’ Museum also of-

fers a wide array of educational pro-grams including the Age of Exploration, Clash

of Armor: The Battle of the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia,Slave Trade, The Chesapeake Bay, Pirates and much more.

Programs are for grades pre-K - 12 and are designed tomeet Virginia SOLs, National Stan-dards, and Common Core. The

Mariners’ Museum can even visit yourclassroom virtually through their award-winning InteractiveVideo Conferencing program. Additionally, the Museum offersprofessional development on a variety of subjects and providesmany teaching resources on the Museum’s website. For addi-

tional information on the Museum’s educational programs orto book your program today, visit

MarinersMuseum.org/Education, call (757) 591-7745 oremail [email protected].

Gigantic Marine Reptiles Invade The Mariners’ Museum this Spring

Want more free copies of this magazine?Call or email

Pack foods in tight, wa-terproof bags or con-tainers. Keep them in aninsulated cooler.

For an instant lanterncombine Mountain Dew, baking soda andperoxide together in the bottle. It will glow!

Cut up a straw and fill the pieces up with an-tibiotic ointment or toothpaste for single-use packets.

Add bundles of sage to the campfire tokeep mosquitoes away.

Empty coffee cans keep toilet paper dry.

DIY firestarter - Wad up your old dryer lintand stick it inside a toilet paper tube.

Use solar lights to prevent falling over tentlines at night.

•••••••

Amazing Summer Camping Tips


Teacher ResourcesTeacher Resources

Round Up For Education at The Woodrow

Wilson Presidential Library:

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library has createdthe Field Trip Grant to pay the cost of bus transporta-tion ($1.50 per mile up to $100.00) for public and pri-vate school field trips. See criteria and answer a fewquestions at http://www.woodrowwilson.org/educa-tion/field-trip-grants

Target Field Trip Grants

https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/grants/field-trip-grants

Aviation’s Teachers Grant Program - inte-

grating aviation into your teaching

http://www.doav.virginia.gov/teachers_grant.htm

Captain Planet Foundation Grants Pro-

gram Deadlines:

September 30th- typically for spring and summer projectsFebruary 28th- typically for fall and winter projectshttp://captainplanetfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/

National Science Teachers Association

Numerous 2014 Award Applications are open for submissionhttp://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

Improving Students’ Understanding of

Geometry

Grants for Grades PreK-8 Teachers For2014–2015, grants with a maximum of$4,000 each http://www.nctm.org/resources/con-tent.aspx?id=1324

ING Unsung Heroes

Deadline: April 30th of every year - Apply for 2014Maximum Grant: $25,000http://ing.us/about-ing/citizenship/childrens-educa-tion/ing-unsung-heroes

Kids in Need Foundation

Deadline: every yearMaximum Grant: $500http://www.kinf.org/grants

Keep Gym in School - NFL Network

Deadline: Apply for 2014Maximum Grant: $10,000http://www.keepgyminschool.com/pe-teacher-of-the-year/

Education Challenge Grant

Deadline: Apply for 2014Maximum Grant: $40,000http://www.esafoundation.org/challenge-grant.asp

American Honda Foundation

Deadline: Varioushttp://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf

State Farm Youth Advisory Board

http://www.statefarm.com/aboutus/community/grants/company/company.asp

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation

http://www.mhopus.org/Apply

National Book Foundation -

http://www.nationalbook.org/innovations_in_reading.html

Break down the walls of your

classroom with Field Trip Grants...

Please see Eligibility Requirements for all


I-mofrrotes uniinm2 -8I 81 - 96692TEXIIT

Visit the Nauticus inNorfolk, Virginia

and step aboardthe ‘The Battleship Wisconsin

(BB64)’ which is one of fourIowa-class ships, as well as

the largest and last battleshipsbuilt by the U.S. Navy. A self-

guided tour is included inNauticus admission. Admis-sion fees help preserve and

maintain the battleship for fu-ture generations!

Providing pre and post-visit materials, Nauticus offerseducational and hands-on pro-

grams allowing children andadults to experience the won-

ders of science and integratingVirginia’s Standards of Learn-ing (SOLs). Teachers are alsowelcome to engage in interac-tive workshops providing sci-

entific content so that theymay be better equipped to

teach the concepts to studentsand the materials to do simple

hands-on experiments in theclassroom. Kids may explorethe touch tank, shark lab andmany exhibits including AnEnduring Legacy: The U.S.

Navy & the 1907 JamestownExposition, Tsunami Ready,

Our Mighty Seaport and much more.

The National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration(NOAA) operates an Educa-tion Resource Center within

Nauticus and offers formal andinformal educators as well as

the general public to accessfree NOAA-supported curricu-lum and other free NOAA ed-

ucational materials such asworkbooks, posters and

videos. Group sales are avail-able and more informationmay be obtained by calling

(757) 664-1021, email [email protected] or visit

www.nauticus.org.


The need in the central Virginia area for a state park withaccess to the James River has been met....the PowhatanState Park is now open! The park is located in the north-

west corner of Powhatan County on the historic James River andhas a diverse wildlife habitat, from open fields to upland hard-wood forests. Guests can use the park’s car-top boat slide to getin the river as well as the canoe-in campground, multi-use trailsand wildlife observation areas still being developed. PowhatanState Park was the vision of many in the Powhatan County com-munity and several members of the general assembly. The parkwill continue to add day and overnight facilities events and pro-grams. For details call (804) 598-7148, email [email protected] or visit www.dcr.virginia.gov.

Download Virginia State Park App

The Official Guide for Virginia Department of Conservation& Recreation....search for“Pocket Ranger®” in either the

App Store or Google Play. Park goerscan access rich GPS features, such asAdvanced GPS Maps, Easy-to-cacheGPS Terrain Map tiles, Photo waypointfeature, Friend Finder feature, Built-in

compass and a poten-tially life-saving Alertfeature! Pocket Ranger® technology also pro-vides plenty of other standard features that makeexploring the great outdoors a breeze, includingthorough information on all State Parks, detailed,cacheable maps of park facilities, trails and

campgrounds, up-to-date news and so much more.

150th Anniversary of The Battle of

New Market Reenactment

The Battle of New Market Reenactment is a unique historical ex-perience taking place on the original 1864 battlefield and is theoldest annual battle reenactment in the nation! This year the

battle will take place on May 16-18, 2014 with advance tickets goingon sale after January 1, 2014 by calling (866) 515-1864. Experience aCivil War soldiers life and sutlers by visiting on-going demonstrationsand living history presentations prior to and after the battle each day.Travel back in history to the sights and sounds of the Civil War withSignal Corps, Artillery, Cavalry, Musket firing, Camp life, MedicalCorps, and much more. Battles begin Friday at 3:30pm, Saturday at2:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. For more information call (540) 740-3101, (866) 515-1864 or visit http://www2.vmi.edu/museum/nm/reen-actment/reen%20announce.htm.

A new Virginia State Park has been added!

www.frontiermuseum.org

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 25 YEARS


Charlottesville’s Challenge Course is an outdoor team building andhigh adventure program situated on the 35 wooded acre facility ofTriple C Camp. It is a fantastic outdoor classroom where students

and teachers can spend one or multiple days working together and learningabout themselves and others. The low and high ropes team build-ing course is an exhilarating series of safe, fun elementsutilized to collaborate with and experience skills liketeamwork, leadership, communication, creative problemsolving, respect, time management, and planning.

Charlottesville’s Challenge Course believes in a“challenge by choice” philosophy where participants areencouraged to step outside their comfort zone and challengethemselves to experience the unfamiliar. The skills cultivated during achallenge course program create an edge for success as young participantsprogress toward the intricacies of higher education, careers, and adulthood.Team building/ropes course and/or science/nature programming is customtailored to your curriculum and goals. Programs are offered year-roundthrough a variety of single-day programs (4, 6, and 8 hour) or multi-dayprograms with evening program options. For more information visitwww.tripleccamp.com and follow the “Challenge Course” links or call(434) 293-2529.

Challenge Your Class To MakeLearning An Adventure


The Outdoor Learning Center atHorizons offers a variety of pro-grams meant to expand and en-

hance classroom learning opportunitieswhile offering tremendous field-basedlearning in areas such as Geology, Environ-mental Studies, Biology, Archaeology, History,and Earth Science. Horizons also offers programs focusing onnon-traditional learning in areas such as communication, cooper-ation, decision-making, conflict resolution, self esteem, trust andcreativity.

Outdoor Learning Center’s newest activity option is locatedat the Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center (NROC). NROC, formerlyknow as the Nelson Rocks Preserve, is a privately-owned naturepreserve that encompasses 145 mountainous acres, including thedouble-fin Tuscarora Quartzite fins of Nelson Rocks. Home toincredible rock climbing, via ferrata climbing, a canopy tour, andmiles of breathtaking, awe-inspiring hiking trails NROC is sureto offer the dose of adventure that’s right for you. The Via Ferratais a ¾ mile-long, self-belayed climbing adventure with a perma-nently installed safety system to provide accessibility to thosewithout technical rock climbing skills. The Canopy Tour coversover 2 miles of varied terrain during which you will travel over amile in the air, from up to 80 feet above the ground, as you zipfrom treetop platform to treetop platform. Onsite tent camping,rustic cabins or a vacation house rental are available here (withnearby caving and whitewater rafting for a 2nd day activity), orwe can provide transportation to and from NROC if you chooseto lodge at the Outdoor Learning Center at Horizons. NROC is

about a 1.5 hour drive from the Outdoor LearningCenter at Horizons. Group discount available!

See our suggested SOL applications for acreative and inspiring earth Science/ Geol-ogy lesson plan for your next outdoor class-

room! For more information visithorizonsoutdoorlearningcenter.com or call call

(540)-896-7600.

Outdoor Learning Center

at Horizons

Want more free copies of this magazine?Call or email

Statewide Virginia State Parks www.dcr.virginia.gov/parksChantilly Ticonderoga Farms www.ticonderoga.comCharlottesville Triple C Camp www.tripleccamp.comClover Camp Motorsport www.campmotorsport.comColonial Heights Keystone Tractor Works Museum www.keystonetractorworks.comHarrisonburg Outdoor Learning Center at Horizons www.horizonsoutdoorlearningcenter.comLuray Luray Caverns www.luraycaverns.comNewport News The Mariners' Museum/The USS Monitor Center www.MarinersMuseum.orgNewport News Visit Newport News www.newport-news.orgNewport News Virginia Living Museum www.thevlm.org


LOCATION ATTRACTION WEBSITE

Dublin

Big Stone Gap

Ewing

Huddleston

Lynchburg

Max MeadowsWythevilleSaltville

Breaks

Shenandoah

New Marke

Stuart

NaturalBridge

6

7Millboro

8

28

26

1513

Gladstone

20Duffield 30

29

3

35

Austinville

Scottsburg

Mt. Jac

Massanutten

Staunton

Quicksburg

Independence

11 Mouth of Wilson

Abingdon

Harrisonburg

RoanokeBedford Appomattox

21Foster Falls

Marion14

CloverRandolph

C

31

The numbers insidethe indicate aVirginia State Park.Locate any park byusing the Map Legend on Page 20.

Virginia Field TripDestinations

Norfolk Nauticus www.nauticus.orgNorfolk Norfolk CVB www.visitnorfolktoday.comPalmyra Camp Friendship www.campfriendship.comRichmond Virginia Holocaust Museum www.va-holocaust.comShenandoah Caverns Shenandoah Caverns www.shenandoahcaverns.comStaunton Frontier Culture Museum www.frontiermuseum.orgWilliamsburg Busch Gardens Williamsburg www.seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburgWilliamsburg Jamestown Settlement www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement.htmWilliamsburg Yorktown Victory Center www.historyisfun.org/Yorktown-Victory-Center.htmWinchester Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum www.discoverymuseum.net


LOCATION ATTRACTION WEBSITE

Luray

Surry

Ashland

Cumberland

King William

Jamestown

ket

2

5

417

22

232433

2725

Rice

Bentonville

Winchester

Moseley

10

RICHMOND

NewportNews

16

KingGeorge

Fredericksburg

Stafford

CapeCharles

ackson

Delaplane

Clifton

Leesburg

19Midland

18

34 Montross

Woodbridge

VirginiaBeach

McGaheysville

Williamsburg

Spotsylvania

3632

Stratford

Greenbay

Manassas

9

Chester

1

Palmyra

Clarksville

Green BayHampton

Lorton

ColonialHeights

12

Yorktown

Chantilly

Washington, D.C.

Lancaster

Norfolk

Charlottesville

37

Featured

Field Tripsare found at

Virginia Field Trips website

www.virginiafieldtrips.com


*Offer valid to student groups of 15 or more. Please book 30 days prior to visit. Offer valid on regularly scheduled operating days Mar. 1 – Oct. 26, 2014 . Additional savings available when purchased with a meal. Restrictions apply. Prices, products and park schedule are subject to change. Please verify park schedule prior to booking. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

Twisting, turning, learning good funGet ready for one unforgettable class trip. With thrilling rides like the roller coaster Verbolten®, up-close encounters with amazing animals, inspiring shows and more,

your kids with our dynamic Launch Into Physics program, inspired by our coasters.

Book Today. Space Is Limited.Single-Day Admission

$45per person*

TO BOOK YOUR GROUP, CALL (800) 343-7946 OR VISIT BUSCHGARDENS.COM/BGWGROUP

As the morning sun began to shine through our cabin win-dow, I looked around and found my classmates waking upafter spending our first night at Camp

Friendship. We had been lookingforward to this field trip for weeks,so it wasn’t long before a sense ofexcitement filled the cabin – we hada whole day packed with fun activi-ties and we were eager to get going!

After a great breakfast in the din-ing hall, we set off into the woods tolearn how to identify different trees bytheir bark and leaves. It was fascinatingto discover just how much we rely ontrees and plants in our everyday lives.Our guide taught us how important it isto preserve our natural heritage and evengave us simple steps that can make a big impact. Wealso learned about river and stream ecology and got tosee some really cool organisms that live in these differ-ent ecosystems. I didn’t realize nature could be inter-esting and fun!

After lunch, it was time for us to expe-rience the adventure ropes course. At firstI was scared to climb the Pamper Pole,not to mention jump off the top, but ithelped that my classmates cheered meon as I climbed. After jumping off theplatform, I couldn’t wipe the huge grinoff my face. I felt so proud of myself!

We ended the day with dinnerand a warm campfire where we

shared stories and made deli-cious s’mores. My classmates

all agree – this was the best fieldtrip we’d ever been on! We can’t

wait to come back to Camp Friendship!Plan your trip to Camp Friendship and don’t

miss out on all the fun! For detailed informationcall (800) 873-3223 or visit www.campfriend-ship.com. See you at camp!

* American Camp Association (ACA) accreditedcamp.

Environmental Ed, Adventure and Fun -

a trip to Camp Friendship is second to none!

A note from a fellow camper....At Camp Friendship in Palmyra, Virginia:


Explorers of every age andability will discover anunderground world of

wonder at Shenandoah Cavernsin Virginia! The one-mile tourcircuit offers level walkwaysand no stairs in a comfortable56-degree temperature. Addi-tionally visitors will begin thetour by riding the elevator - theonly cavern system with elevatorservice! The Shenandoah Cav-erns family of attractions wel-comes all types of educationaland youth groups. All of the at-tractions offer outstanding fieldtrips and educational tours thatcombine an enjoyable experi-ence with an educational oppor-tunity in earth science, physicalscience, history and social stud-ies.

Start your journey at the cavern with soaring rooms likeLong View Hall, the famous “Breakfast Bacon” limestone forma-tions as well as a variety of unique, intricate and unexpected for-mations like Capitol Dome, Diamond Cascade and RainbowLake. The trip doesn’t end at the cave though, guests may alsotour the Yellow Barn to learn about agriculture or be immersed in

history at the American Celebration on Parade Exhibits. For ad-ditional information contact Debi Wine, Group Tour Sales Direc-tor and Events Coordinator with any questions and to reserve adate for your group tour at (888)-4CAVERN, (540) 477-3115 orvisit www.shenandoahcaverns.com.

Underground world of wonder at Shenandoah Caverns

Norfolk, Virginia is rich with historic attractions, world-classmuseums, and offers unique and fun adventures, all withinwalking distance or a short car or train ride through the down-town waterfront. Begin the tour with a very important aspect ofNorfolk - Naval History!

Step aboard the Battleship Wisconsin and explore one ofthe largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy.Transport to another era at Fort Norfolk, the last remaining of19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President GeorgeWashington. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum (inside theNauticus), voted “Best Small Museum in Hampton Roads”, isan accredited museum operated by the United States Navy, andcelebrates the 234 years history of the fleet. See the world’slargest Naval Station on the 45-minute Naval Station NorfolkTour for an exciting look at aircraft carriers, destroyers andother U.S. Navy vessels protecting our nation everyday.

Norfolk’s thriving arts community will welcome you intotheir studios, their galleries, and their performance venues.From the working artists’ studios located within downtown’sD’Art Center, to the beautiful Tiffany glass collection at theChrysler Museum of Art, to live performances at the Harrison

Opera house, Chrysler Hall, Wells Theatre, historic AttucksTheatre, Generic Theatre or NARO Art Cinema in Ghent,you’ll find a multitude of opportunities to enrich your creativespirit.

Civil War history as well as architecture, astronomy, horti-culture and much more may be found at various locationsthroughout Norfolk. Other great places include the HermitageFoundation Museum, Norfolk Southern Museum, Police/Fire-Rescue Museum, Norfolk State University Planetarium, Nor-folk Botanical Garden, St. Paul’s Church, The CannonballTrail, TowneBank Building, Norfolk History Museum at theWilloughby-Baylor House, the Virginia Zoo, American RoverTall Ship Cruises and much more. For additional informationcall (800) 368-3097 or visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

Norfolk...the heart of the Virginia Waterfront


Go Plant a Tree!There are many reasons we

should all go outside and plant a

tree but only a few mentioned

below.

Variety: There are about 20,000 tree species in

the world.

Trees Communicate: Some trees can “talk”

to each other. When willows are attacked by caterpil-

lars, they emit a chemical that alerts nearby willow of

the danger and makes their leaves difficult to digest.

Trees Produce Water: Trees can

induce rainfall by cooling the land and transpiring

water into the sky from their leaves. An acre of maple

trees can put as much as 20,000 gallons of water into

the air each day.

Trees Produce Oxygen: One large tree can

provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four peo-

ple.

Trees will live longer than you: Live oaks

can live to be over 500 years. Trees are the longest

living organisms on earth.

Trees make us happier: Studies have

shown that patients with views of trees out their win-

dows heal faster and with less complications.

Trees cool down hot days: Trees lower air

temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.

Trees block out noise: Trees cut down

noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.

Trees clean the air:In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much car-

bon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.

Trees provide medicine: Aspirin was origi-

nally developed from willow bark.

Fun Fact: If a birdhouse is hung on a tree branch, it does not

move up the tree as the tree grows.

In Hampton the “Emancipation Oak “

stands on the campus of Hampton Univer-

sity. Measuring nearly 100 feet in diame-

ter, the oak tree stands as a symbol of

freedom. During the Civil War thousands

of slaves gathered around this tree as the

Emancipation Proclamation was read.

See bald cypress trees in their natural

swamp habitat, accessible from the Bald

Cypress Trail at First Landing State Park.

Visit Occoneechee State Park in Clarksville,

VA to see 2000+ acres of mostly undeveloped

woodland.

Veterans Memorial Park located in Abingdon, Virginia

has recently been designated as an arboretum and is

growing trees planted in memory or in honor of U.S. mili-

tary veterans.

Great Falls National Park in Mclean, VA has an old

growth stand that has been studied and described by

scientists. White oaks there have been dated to the

1740’s.

Maymont Park and Arboretum in Richmond, VA is popu-

lated with thousands of stunning trees and shrubs, no-

table for their size and beauty, and for more than 200

exotic species imported by the Major Dooley in the early

20th century.

Where to see Awesome Trees:


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Discovered in 1878 and more than 4,000,000 centuries old,Luray Caverns, eastern America’s largest and most popu-lar caverns system. From well-lighted, paved walkways

travelers explore cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 storieshigh and pass through huge chambers filled with towering stonecolumns, shimmering draperies and crystal-clear pools. TheSmithsonian Institution report of July 13 and 14, 1880 comments“....it is safe to say that there is probably no other cave in theworld more completely and profusely decorated with stalactiteand stalagmite ornamentation than that of Luray.”

A feature on the one-hour toursis the haunting sounds of the GreatStalacpipe Organ, the world’slargest musical instrument. In addition, experience the historyof America at the Car & CarriageCaravan exhibit featuring over 140items relating to transportation including cars, carriages, coachesand costumes dating from 1725. The Luray Valley Museum alsooffers a collection of local, restored historic buildings creating asmall 19th century farming community including a museum ofShenandoah Valley showcasing artifacts from the 1750’s to the1920’s.

The attraction complex also includes a one acre ornamentalgarden -The Garden Maze- creating one of the largest hedgemazes in the Mid-Atlantic states along with a new challengingtwo level Ropes Adventure Park connecting a series of real andimaginary obstacles. Luray Caverns is 15 minutes from I-81 onU.S. 211 in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. For more informationcall (540) 743-6551 or visit www.LurayCaverns.com.

Luray Caverns

Clover, Virginia(434) 548-2999

STEM

cience

echnology

ngineering

ath

campmotorsport.com

Grades2-12


by Christine Lewis, education director at the Virginia Living Museum

“Wow! That ancient shark must have been as big as school bus!”exclaimed an excitedsixth grader as heheld up a seven-inch-long, five-million-year-old fossil sharktooth with serratededges as sharp as asteak knife. On thetable in front of himwere the full upperand lower jaws of amodern bull sharkwhose teeth lookedlike miniatures bycomparison. Studentsthrive in an environ-ment where their nat-ural curiosity isstimulated and theyhave the opportunityto explore and exper-iment. In VirginiaLiving Museum (VLM) paleontology programs theancient past comes to life as students calculate thesize and speed of a Virginia dinosaur based onmeasurements they take from a real fossilized di-nosaur trackway; or examine and compare Ice Agemammoth teeth with teeth from a modern mammalto draw conclusions about the diets of prehistoricanimals.

The (VLM) Virginia Living Museum in New-port News, Virginia has long been recognized as the premier nat-ural science education facility in Southeastern . The museumspecializes in developing hands-on, experiential programmingthat is inquiry based and stresses critical thinking skills and has asubstantial investment in scientific equipment for use in class-rooms, lab/ observatory and in the field. Having the opportunity

to look at living microscopic organisms at the pond site reallybrings home the importance of plankton in the pond’s food webs.

It is our goal to make science both understandable and fun -and consequently memorable for students. This requires a group

of creative profes-sional science educa-tors, a good measureof innovative think-ing about scienceteaching and learn-ing, and a lot of ef-fort. In addition tothe many live animalspecies on exhibit,museum programsalso incorporate awide array of liveprogram animalssuch as sea stars,bullfrogs, skunks,owls, and turtles thatare reserved only foruse in museum pro-grams. Students whoare studying preda-tor-prey relationships

have what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityto observe the razor sharp talons of a live screechowl up close and even touch its soft feathers.

The museum’s indoor/outdoor exhibits weredesigned to target Virginia’ science SOLs and rein-force concepts taught in museum programs.Throughout the exhibits students encounter livenative Virginia plants and animals in their naturalhabitats as they walk through mountain cove,

limestone cave and cypress swamp habitats. In four hands-onDiscovery Centers, students can pick up and investigate realspecimens.

For more information about the Virginia Living Museum andits education programs call (757) 595-1900 or visitwww.thevlm.org. Call (757) 595-9135 for group information.

Students get hooked on science atthe Virginia Living Museum

Fun

Facts:

When opossums are playing 'possum, they are not"playing." They actually pass out from sheer terror.

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs.


“ ethheIt

Few Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)topics are as dynamic, exciting, and engaging to studentsas those in motorsports! Camp Motorsport offers Motor-

sports -related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)educational activities and field trips for school groups grades 2-12, homeschool groups, teachers and youth organizations.

Located in Clover, Virginia, the camp provides unique

STEM learning in a hands-on, fun, real-life motorsports environ-ment, outside of the traditional classroom setting. The curriculumincludes scientific concepts related to driving a race car - such asfriction, traction, force, acceleration, deceleration, motion,torque, kinetic energy, etc. A wide range of topics are offered and

the camp’s team can also design specific activities for your groupbased on students needs and desiredlearning outcomes.

At Camp Motorsport, stu-dents are given opportunitiesto explore, understand, andapply abstract STEM con-

cepts in a fun setting usingapplied hands-on oninteractive experien-

tial teaching methods, including problemsolving, guided discovery, and peer-to-peer teaching/learning.The camp also offers programs for educators to learn to incorpo-rate motorsports STEM concepts in the classroom. Behind thewheel Go Kart driving and/or Off-Road driving activitiesmay also be included as part of the STEM field trip experi-ence!

Field trips can be one day or multi-day events and on-siteovernight accommodations/meal service is available. Additionalactivities available include team building, environmental educa-tion and a wide variety of recreational sports/games. For more in-formation visit www.campmotorsport.com, call (434) 548-2999or email [email protected].

* American Camp Association (ACA) accredited camp.

Speed up Learning at Camp Motorsport

* Consider teaming up with another teacher to help generateinterest and have planning support.

* Break down students into groups and plan different activitiesfor each group. Group calmer students with more excitableones.

* Kids need detailed instructions from their teachers and par-ents before the field trip - discuss behavioral expectations,what they will learn, the schedule and establish consequencesfor breaking the rules.

* Determine transportation rules and decide on the mode oftransportation. Have a contingency plan in case the bus is late -such as a fun mini-lesson with extra credit.

* Learn the rules for collecting money and get any necessarypermission forms for students.

* Debrief the field trip and discover the group impressions andwhat students learned.`

* Take your own basic first aid kit.

Tips for a successful Field Trip

Name Location Phone1) Bear Creek Lake State Park Cumberland (804) 492-44102) Belle Isle State Park Lancaster (804) 462-50303) Breaks Interstate State Park Breaks, Virginia (276) 865-44134) Caledon State Park King George (540) 663-38615) Chippokes Plantation State Park Surry, Virginia (757) 294-36256) Claytor Lake State Park Dublin, Virginia (540) 643-25007) Douthat State Park Millboro, Virginia (540) 862-81008) Fairy Stone State Park Stuart (276) 930-24249) False Cape State Park Virginia Beach (757) 426-712810) First Landing State Park Virginia Beach (757) 412-230011) Grayson Highlands State Park Mouth of Wilson (276) 579-709212) High Bridge Trail State Park Green Bay (434) 315-045713) Holliday Lake State Park Appomattox (434) 248-630814) Hungry Mother State Park Marion (276) 781-740015) James River State Park Gladstone (434) 933-435516) Kiptopeke State Park Cape Charles (757) 331-226717) Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania (540) 854-550318) Leesylvania State Park Woodbridge (703) 730-820519) Mason Neck State Park Lorton (703) 339-238520) Natural Tunnel State Park Duffield (276) 940-267421) New River Trail State Park Fosters Falls (276) 699-677822) Occoneechee State Park Clarksville (434) 374-221023) Pocahontas State Park Chesterfield (804) 796-425524) Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historic State Park Rice (434) 315-034925) Shenandoah River Raymond R. "Andy"

Guest Jr. State Park Bentonville (540) 622-684026) Shot Tower State Park Austinville (276) 699-179127) Sky Meadows State Park Delaplane (540) 592-355628) Smith Mountain Lake State Park Huddleston (540) 297-606629) Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park Big Stone Gap (276) 523-132230) Staunton River State Park Scottsburg (434) 572-462331) Staunton River Battlefield State Park Randolph (434) 454-431232) Tabb Monument State Park Amelia (800) 933-PARK33) Twin Lakes State Park Green Bay (434) 392-343534) Westmoreland State Park Montross (804) 493-882135) Wilderness Road State Park Ewing (276) 445-306536) York River State Park Williamsburg (757) 566-303637) Powhatan State Park Powhatan (804) 598-7148

Virginia State Parks

Find locations on centerfold map pages 12 and 13


Welcome to geology’shall of fame.

Baseball has one. Rock and roll has one. And although it took millions of years, the earth has one, too. And with well-lit, well-paved walkways stretching throughout, you can easily stroll through rooms 10 stories high, marvel at the enormous columns and crystal-clear pools, and of course, hear the world’s largest musical instrument, the Great Stalacpipe Organ. It’s time to discover the most cav-ernous caverns on the East Coast. It’s time to discover Luray. For a free brochure, call (888) 443-6551 or visit us online at LurayCaverns.com.


Hands-on learning for the entire family!

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm

www.discoverymuseum.net

19 W. Cork Street, Winchester VA 540-722-2020

History is an interactive learning adventure at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Vic-tory Center in Williamsburg, Virginia. Teachers and students alike can explore extensivemuseum galleries of the 17th & 18th-century and interact with costumed historical inter-

preters in outdoor re-created settings while learning the essentials of early American history. At Jamestown Settlement, a museum depicting the early years of America’s first permanent

English colony, students and teachers can explore museum galleries and outdoor re-creation’s of aPowhatan Indian village, three 1607ships and a colonial fort. A short driveaway, the Yorktown Victory Center, amuseum of the American Revolution,features gallery exhibits and re-cre-ation’s of a Continental Army encamp-ment and a 1780s farm.

The museums arewonderfullysuited forgroupguidedtours, hands-on historyprogramsand self-guided visits. Programs, such as“Powhatan Indian World” and “ColonialMedicine,” and tours, including the new“People, Plants and Animals” and “Rev-olution andthe New Na-tion,” are de-signed to meetVirginia Stan-dards ofLearning andmost state cur-riculum stan-dards for U.S. history and otherdisciplines. Programs and guided toursare for 15 or more students and requireadvance reservations at least three busi-

ness days prior to arrival. Allow extra time for the museum film, gift shop, meals and travel-relatednecessities.

Both museums are open 9am to 5pm daily year-round; closed on Christmas and New Year’sdays. Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31, about six miles southwest of Williams-burg, and adjacent to Historic Jamestowne. The Yorktown Victory Center is located on Route 1020in Yorktown, about 12 miles from Williamsburg, and near Yorktown Battlefield. For more informa-tion, contact Group Reservations at (757) 253-4939/toll-free (888) 868-7593, or visit www.history-isfun.org. Find a variety of curriculum materials and multimedia teacher resources online.

An Interactive Learning Adventureawaits at the Jamestown Settlement

and Yorktown Victory Center

Fun Facts:

First novel everwritten on a type-writer: TomSawyer.

A duck's quackdoesn't echo, andno one knows why.

"I am." is theshortest completesentence in theEnglish language.

An ostrich's eye isbigger that it'sbrain.

The first toilet everseen on televisionwas on "Leave ItTo Beaver".


Newport News, Virginia covers all the basics including his-tory, art, theatre, natural heritage and much more! If it’shistory that you crave then take a stroll around Endview

Plantation, completely restored to its 1862 appearance and once aConfederate hospital before being occupied by Union forces until1864. Lee Hall Mansion offers visitors a step back to the mid-Vic-torian period with its authentically furnished rooms. The NewsomeHouse Museum & Cultural Center was once home to J. ThomasNewsome, whose residence served as the hub of the local blackcommunity from which he led the fight for social justice withinVirginia. Additionally the James A. Fields House stands to offer aglimpse into the life of the African-American community in New-port News during the 1900s.

Military buffs and veterans will be amazed by the wagons,trucks, airplanes, helicopters, locomotives, tugboats and experi-mental craft such as the “flying jeep” on display at the U.S. ArmyTransportation Museum! Additionally, American military historyunfolds at the Virginia War Museum with collections of artifacts,weapons, vehicles, uniforms and posters trace the development ofthe US military from 1775 to the present.

The every-changing world of art comes to life in NewportNews at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center where children can createpersonal masterpieces in the interactive Hands On For Kidsgallery. The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center houses the EllaFitzgerald Theater, 276-seat venue that honors the “First Lady ofSong as well as two exhibit galleries featuring the works of local,national and international artists.

Minutes from Williamsburg and a short drive to VirginiaBeach, Newport News visitors can experience a unique combina-tion of the past and present. Other great places to visit in NewportNews include the Virginia Living Museum, The Mariners’ Mu-seum/USS Monitor Center, Ferguson Center for the Arts, PeninsulaCommunity Theatre, Peninsula SPCA & Petting Zoo and manymore. To schedule your group contact Barb Kleiss, Group Market-ing Manager at (757) 926-1442, email [email protected] or visitwww.newport-news.org.

Newport News

Experience the evolution of agriculture at Keystone Tractor Works Museum

The Keystone Tractor Works Museum in ColonialHeights, Virginia welcomes school field trips to experi-ence 70,000 square feet of agricultural heritage incor-

porating fully restored antique farm tractors, ongoingrestoration projects and other farm related equipment. Hun-dreds of farm tractors are on display in this private collection

dating back to 1917 through 1960 and featuring antique roadtrucks, classic cars, vintage gas pumps, oil cans, automotivesignage, clocks, advertising posters of yesteryear and so muchmore! For further information visit www.keystonetractor-works.com. Visit this Featured Field Trip and many more atwww.virginiafieldtrips.com.


• In the 17th century, children were to show reverence to adultsby bowing and not interrupting them.

• Children were supposed to stand up straight and not fidget, andwhen an adult entered the room, the child was to give up theirseat to the adult.

• They were also told that it was impolite to put the end of thespoon in their mouths, but that they should sip from the side ofthe spoon. It was considered impolite to put your knife in yourmouth or to use a spoon when a fork could be used.

• In the 1800’s a young man was not permitted to speak to ayoung girl even if they knew her unless she acknowledged him.

• Not to leave the inner side of a pavement to a womanThe idea being that a man should go on the outside edge of thepavement so that he protects her from passing cars and splashesfrom puddles, etc.

• To lounge about, or put feet on chairs in public

• To question people about their private affairs

• Children should not be allowed to eat hastily and rush away toplay; if the meal is very long they may be excused upon a quietrequest.

• Never speak of unpleasant subjects at table, such as death, dis-ease, and great disasters.

Etiquette Manners through time...

The 5th generation farm, Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, Vir-ginia, invites families and school groups to experience “morethan just a farm”. The goal of the farm is not only to entertain

but to provide hands-on agricultural experiences and outdoor class-room for environmental education. Ticonderoga Farms offer an as-sortment of including an Indian Tee Pee Village, Historic Ruins,Hay Forts, BIG Slides, Demonstration Gardens, Giant BambooWind Chimes, Petting Farm, VA’s Longest Swinging Bridge andmuch more. So take a tour of their website and explore all the fun tobe had! For details call (703)-327-4424 or visitwww.ticonderoga.com. Visit this Featured Field Trip and manymore at www.virginiafieldtrips.com.

A twist on the generic ideas of what a “farm” should be!

Create a lasting educational experience at the Shenandoah ValleyDiscovery Museum in Winchester, Virginia. In addition to theinteractive, hands-on exhibits and special presentations, the mu-

seum staff has developed a wide variety of Outreach Programs that focus onthe sciences and mathematics, the humanities and the arts. Choosefrom programs including Five Senses, Masters of Adaptation - Migra-tory Songbirds, All about Air, Mind-Boggling Molecules, Race Away with Physics, Kines-thetic Astronomy and many more. In addition to the interactive, hands-on exhibits andspecial presentations, the museum staff has developed a wide variety of Outreach Pro-grams. To make reservations call (540) 722-2020 or visit www.discoverymuseum.net.

FYI - The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum moves to 19 W. Cork Street inspring 2014 and will offer nearly four times the present space, new exhibits and programs.

Shenandoah Valley Discovery MuseumTo touch is to explore, to explore is to discover,

to discover is to learn.


akeTTTaTfofoe your cllaor hands

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outdtdoo ssrrrsrsninng!ffoor hanndsds-on llearnrniingng!

Virginia Field Trips Guide - Spring 2014

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