DRBA Educates the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards

December 20, 2024

Thanks to a generous grant from the Roanoke Women’s Foundation, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) partnered with Snow Creek Elementary in Franklin County to provide all students in grades K-5 with real world environmental science focused projects, presentations and activities over the last two years. 

This unique learning opportunity for students encompassed award-winning programs such as a nationally certified Monarch Waystation, weather monitoring station, Trout in the Classroom, Streamside Trees in the Classroom, a rain barrel system, outdoor classroom, a girls’ afterschool science program and classroom presentations. The Dan River Basin Association worked closely with staff and administration at Snow Creek Elementary to build lasting environmental education programs that align with Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) guidelines and provide authentic hands-on opportunities for students. 

Sue Weinstein Nussbaum of the Roanoke Women’s Foundation says, "The Roanoke Women’s Foundation was pleased to award the Dan River Basin Association a grant for $30,000 in 2022.  The leadership and staff of DRBA have utilized the funds over the past two years to cultivate knowledge and to interact directly with the surrounding environment.  Dan River Basin Association is developing future stewards of our environment by reaching elementary school students and building behaviors that result in the care of our natural habitats." 

The Dan River Basin Association is the only environmental non-profit in the area, which perfectly aligned DRBA with providing this innovative learning opportunity for the elementary students, starting with early nature experiences, as early as kindergarten and continuing to provide those experiences into upper elementary grade levels, with hopes of motivating the next generation of environmental stewards.

Carrie McCrary, lead teacher on the project from Snow Creek Elementary says, “My students were able to get first-hand experience in nature, they were able to see nature up close, and they have been able to sit back and realize the importance of preserving what they have learned to love. Having an outdoor classroom beside a weather station and a monarch waystation is a pretty cool opportunity for adults and students alike. We have truly enjoyed the opportunity that the grant has provided, thanks to DRBA and the Roanoke Women’s Foundation.”

DRBA’s education staff and their Volunteer Environmental Educators (VEEs) provided programs and presentations to students focused on watershed education topics like erosion and ways to control it such as planting trees, water conservation, and introducing wildlife that depends on the waterways for survival.  Students learned about their local watershed and how pollution can impact waterways through in classroom presentations and investigating aquatic insects. 

DRBA worked with Snow Creek Elementary to build a space for upper elementary students to take learning outside in an outdoor classroom.  The outdoor learning space includes four picnic tables on a gravel area next to a nationally certified Monarch Waystation where they can investigate and learn about monarch butterflies.  The outdoor classroom also includes a rain-barrel water-collection system and a weather monitoring station.

Krista Hodges, DRBA’s Education Outreach Manager says, “Studies have shown that not only does frequent outdoor learning experiences often improve academic success, but it can also create a sense of belonging among youth in their own community.  DRBA is proud to be the community partner that helps to sustain and connect teachers with environmental education programming available to the schools.”

DRBA has provided hands-on programs such as Trout in the Classroom, Streamside Trees in the Classroom and other programs and presentations for over the decade to Franklin County.  The programs focus on improving academic success in STEAM, inspiring environmental awareness and teaching an appreciation of the natural world for pre-school through high school.

To learn more about DRBA's environmental education programs that reach 8,000 students throughout the Dan River basin annually and how to sign up for programs, visit danriver.org.

The mission of the Dan River Basin Association is to promote and protect the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River Basin through education, recreation, and stewardship. DRBA works to fulfill that mission by building river accesses and trails, educating people of all ages about protecting our natural resources, and protecting our water resources through water quality monitoring, cleanups and master planning. The Dan River basin is 3,300 square miles including sixteen counties throughout Virginia and North Carolina.

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