With a generous sponsorship from Jones and DeShon Orthodontics and Roanoke Valley Orthodontics, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) worked over the past twelve months with Meadowview Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary and Martinsville Middle School to build lasting environmental education programs that align with Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) guidelines and provide authentic hands-on opportunities for students.
Dr. David Jones of Jones and DeShon Orthodontics said, “We are thankful that we have such a wonderful organization as DRBA! The work they do is incredible and so needed. We all need to think about leaving the world in better shape. We are thrilled that we are able to help create an environmental education legacy.”
DRBA’s education staff and their Volunteer Environmental Educators (VEEs) worked with Meadowview Elementary in Henry County to start a watershed education program for their fifth-grade students. Students learned about their local watershed and how pollution can impact waterways through in classroom presentations and investigating aquatic insects. An Enviroscape watershed model was also provided to the fifth-grade teachers through the sponsorship. The model can continue to be used to teach future fifth-grade students about the effects and sources of stormwater runoff.
Dr. David L. Jones of Roanoke Valley Orthodontics said, “I enjoy giving back to the wonderful community where I grew up. Having children has made me truly understand the importance of clean air, water and a healthy environment. DRBA has been instrumental in accomplishing these goals.”
DRBA worked with Patrick Henry Elementary to build a nationally certified Monarch Waystation on school campus for all students to visit and learn about monarch butterflies. Monarch butterfly life cycle castle kits were provided for all second-grade students to learn about and witness their amazing life cycle. The Monarch Waystation will be cared for and investigated by the second-grade students year after year.
Finally, Martinsville Middle School sixth grade students took an environmental awareness and cultural history field trip to Fairy Stone State Park this fall. This field trip included water quality testing, effects on stormwater runoff and pollution on our waterways from the Dan River Basin Association staff and a cultural history presentation from Fairy Stone State Park Ranger. Martinsville Middle School sixth grade students plan to continue to take this field trip annually, investing in the student’s knowledge of our local state parks and natural science.
Krista Hodges, DRBA’s Education Manager said, “DRBA is excited to be the community partner that helps to sustain and connect teachers with environmental education programming available to the schools. Students often benefit from environmental education in an outdoor setting more than we realize, including greater enthusiasm, motivation and academic performance.”
DRBA has provided hands-on programs such as Trout in the Classroom, Streamside Trees in the Classroom and other programs and presentations over the fifteen years for Martinsville City and Henry County Public Schools. 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. DRBA’s programs connect students to their local watershed and how they can make a difference in their own communities.
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.
