va field trips spring 2015

Cover Spotlight

see story andphotos on

page 5

Virtual Field Trips ............................................................page 5Educational Resources ................................................ page 19Use a Pine Cone as a Hygrometer .............................. page 23

thewashington

ballet

A guide to...

Virginia Field TripsINCLUDES DCVolume 14 Number 4

SPRING 2015

www.VirginiaFieldTrips.com

The Washington Ballet presentsA Wild Ride with Alice and FriendsALICE (in wonderland)

Virginia Field Trips – Spring 20152

Forward all correspondence to:EC Publishing, Inc.

P.O. Box 845, Abingdon, Virginia 24212Phone: 1-800-357-0121 • Fax (276) 739-0015

Keith RobinsonPublisher

[email protected]

Jill SunderlinEditor

[email protected]

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 2015 Issue

Teresa ChristianArt Director

Featured Field Trips are found on the VFTG website:

www.virginiafieldtrips.comFEATURED

FIELD TRIP

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Want more copies of this magazine?

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[email protected]

LURAY — The best way to

learn something is to experience it! Luray Caverns is history and science at its best, in a live lesson your kids will never forget. Bring your students to Luray Caverns and experience a geological thrill ride! Guided tours along well-lighted, paved walkways lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10-stories high, towering stone formations, and natural wonders at every turn. To learn more call (540) 743-6551 or visit www.luraycaverns.com.

Luray Caverns A Subterranean

World of Wonder

Virginia Field Trips – Spring 2015 3

In Norfolk, hands-on learning means more than hands-on fun. That’s why so many student groups visit Norfolk to explore the Chesapeake Bay and delve into wetlands preservation, oyster restoration, maritime sciences, animal wellness and beyond. Contact our sales team today to learn more.

Discover all the details at visitnorfolktoday.com. 1-800-368-3097

DISTINCTLY NORFOLK.

What educators have to say about Friendship ORC :

“We have found that facilities to be more than adequate. The lake, amphitheater, game room, fields, tennis, and volleyball courts and cabin sites all our students to engage in a variety of activities. MCE students have also taken the Ropes Course from time to time, and this has provided many students with opportuni-ties to cooperate in solving problems and to build their self-confi-dence”.

David Murphy - Montessori Community Schools

“We always start our school year, with an overnight trip to Friendship Outdoor Recreation Center. The staff is knowl-edgeable and helpful, the facilities are top-notch, and Colleen manages all the logistics. Every year this experience is beneficial for our teachers and students”.

John Harmon - Highland School

“Friendship Outdoor Recreation Center is beautifully situated in the mountains of Virginia, the scenery is breathtaking, and the staff is amaz-ing. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School has taken our 8th grade students to Friendship Outdoor Recreation Center on team building retreats for many years now. The staff

is attentive and well organized. The activities they prepare are always age appropriate, fun for the students, and

generate good bonding experiences for them. We enjoy our retreats there immensely, and we

always look forward to going back the following year”.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

To learn more call 1-800-873-3223 or visit www.campfriendship.com.

Building a Community for All at Friendship Outdoor Recreation Center in Palmyra


WINCHESTER — Get attracted to magnets, dive into atoms, wrap your-

selves up in the weather or gaze at the stars. The Discovery Museum experience will spark the imagination and make learning fun.

Experience our interactive exhibits that are designed to teach and delight. As an educator – either as a parent or classroom teacher – we know you are always looking for ways to enhance your students’ learning process and to give them lasting educational experiences. In addition to the interactive, hands-on exhibits and Special Presentations at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Mu-seum, our staff has developed a wide variety of Outreach Programs that focus on the sci-ences and mathematics, the humanities, and the arts. Most of our exhibits and programs meet Virginia Standards of Learning require-ments. To learn more call (540) 722-2020 or visit www.discoverymuseum.net.

Use the Shenandoah Valley Discovery

Museum to inspire learning!

Follow us on Twitter!

@VaFieldTrips


Photo credits: Sleepy Hollow - Morgann Rose and Hyun-Woong Kim - photo by Dean Alexander

MARTINSBURG, WV —For The Kids, By George Chil-dren’s Museum is a hands-on, high-touch, total immersion

experience in 6,000 square feet of exhibit space. Three paths, highlighted as Yellow, Red and Green lead visitors on a journey through the Museum traveling through time and exploring 300 + years of history. You will explore the early Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, learn about young George Washington’s time here, learn about jobs on the railroad and much more!

The museum features a lifelike statue of a young George Wash-ington paddling a canoe, Projection Theater and 3-D map, train models, artifacts, a LEGO model of 1920s-era streetscape, and the 3-D bike simulation theater, where children power up their bike generator to watch a video of the scenic views of the Wash-ington Heritage Trail.

To learn more call (304) 264 – 9977 or visit www.forthek-idsbygeorge.org.

For the Kids, By George! Children’s Museum

WASHINGTON, DC — Originally founded as The Wash-ington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer

Mary Day, The Washington Ballet (TWB) was incorporated as a professional company in 1976 and is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB has built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, and with its first artist-in-residence, Choo San Goh, set the tone for the company’s emergence as a powerhouse among national ballet companies. Contemporary pieces by Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, William Forsythe and Nacho Duato expand-ed the repertoire, as did Neoclassical masterworks and fresh interpretations of 19th century classics. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Septime Webre, along with the guidance of the Board of Directors, TWB continues to pursue its three part mission to bring joy and artistry of dance to the nation’s capital, to provide the highest caliber of dance training and to serve and involve the entire community. Get your students “on point” with group savings at The Washington Ballet! Groups of 10 or more can save on select performances for all productions. The Washington Ballet’s Group Sales Coordinator helps you create a trip that will be entertaining and educational. Special opportunities for backstage tours are available. For more information, call 202.362.3606 x141 or email [email protected]. The Washington Ballet welcomes any group of 10 or more to take advan-tage of our special group offers, including discounts, concierge service and more! Whether it’s a group of students, volunteers, families or friends, join us at the Ballet for a matinee or evening of delightful dance. Learn more about The Washington Ballet at www.washingtonballet.org.


Hands-on STEM -all living things native to Virginia

Virginia Nature Loversinspired daily!

Newport News • 757-595-9135 • thevlm.org

NEWPORT NEWS — The Mariners’ Museum is one of the largest maritime museums in the world and has been des-

ignated by Congress as America’s National Maritime Museum. The Museum has a collection of over 35,000 maritime artifacts including miniature ship models, scrimshaw, maritime paintings, decorative arts, carved figureheads, working steam engines and much more. The Museum is also home to the USS MONITOR Center where you can walk the deck of a full-scale replica of the Civil War ironclad, see artifacts undergoing conservation such as the iconic revolving gun turret and 20-ton steam engine and experience interactive exhibits. The Museum sits on a 550-acre park featuring a 5-mile nature trail and lake. The Mariners’ Museum offers a wide array of educational programs in Social Studies, Science and Language Arts subject areas. These topics include Age of Exploration, Clash of Armor: The Battle of the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, Slave Trade, The Chesa-peake Bay, Pirates and much more. Programs are for grades pre-K – 12 and are designed to meet Virginia SOLs, National Standards, and Common Core. The Mariners’ Museum can even

visit your classroom virtually through their award-winning Inter-active Video Conferencing program. Additionally, the Museum offers professional development on a variety of subjects and provides many teaching resources on the Museum’s website. For additional information on the Museum’s educational programs or to book your program today, call (757) 591-7745 or visit Mari-nersMuseum.org/Education.

The Mariners’ Museum

Did you know that many of the state parks have backpacks for you to borrow? You can sign these out for the day for

free and have loads of fun! Packs contain a variety of tools but generally contain binoculars, field guides, story books, and other goodies to help you explore, as well as suggested activi-ties. Some parks have Packs for specialized explorations such as night time in the park, fossil hunting, bug catching, or fishing. Not all state parks have Park Packs available, but GPS Units are available to rent at all Virginia State Parks. Contact the indi-vidual park for more information.

Virginia State Parks Park Packs & GPS Units


fun in the Sun

Charlottesville, VA

CartermountainOrchard.Com

434•977•1833

ChilespeachOrChard.Com

434•823•1583

Crozet, VA

STRAWBERRY FIELD TRIP

SPRING FIELD TRIP PACKAG

ES

Virtual Field Trips in Virginia and Washington, DC

Does your museum or field trip venue have a virtual field trip? If so let us know and we will add it to the list on our website Resources page.

America’s CapitalVirtual tour of the buildings and history of Washington, D.C. www.ahp.gatech.edu/dc_map.html

Jamestown and the Powhatan: America in 1607Explore the historic Jamestown fort and the Powhatan village of Werowocomoco through this interactive feature.http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/james-town-standalone

Library of Congress - Online ToursThe Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress in 1800 when President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington. The legislation described a refer-ence library for Congress only, containing “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress -- and for putting up a suitable apartment for containing them therein…”www.loc.gov/visit/tours/online-tours/

National Air and Space Museum YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/user/airandspace

Smithsonian National Museum of National History Virtual Tour Take a virtual walking tour of the entire Smithsonian National Museum of National History.www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas/

U.S. Capitol Virtual TourAn interactive, user friendly, comprehensive and integrated mul-timedia tour of the U.S. Capitol. It includes panorama views and historical information about the rooms of the U.S. Capitol, as well as, information about the objects found in those rooms. This tour will leave you with the feel of an actual visit to the U.S. Capitol and serve to provide a unique “Capitol” experience.www.senate.gov/vtour/

For more Virtual Field Trips visit the “Resource” section of our website:www.virginiafieldtrips.com.

It is wonderful what we can do if we are always doing.—George Washington

For The Kids, By George Children’s Museum is a hands-on, high-touch, total immersion experience in 6,000 square feet of exhibit space. Three paths,

highlighted as Yellow, Red and Green lead visitors on a journey through the Museum traveling through time and exploring 300 + years of history. You will

explore the early Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, learn about young George Washington’s time here, learn about jobs on the railroad and much more!

For The Kids, By George! Children’s Museumwww.forthekidsbygeorge.org|304.264.9977


Hands-on, out-of-classroom learning adds educational options and greatly enhances comprehension. Virginia’s widespread

and numerous state parks are ideal settings for such learning, and the system’s SOL-referenced Your Backyard Classrooms pro-gram offers an easy, fun and exciting ways for teachers to help students learn about the natural world. The Virginia’s State Parks… Your Backyard Classrooms guide is a set of K-12 science and social studies activities tailored to the parks.

Each activity:• Is correlated to the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).• Has clearly stated objectives.• Has background information and step-by-step instructions.• Includes pre- and post-visit classroom elements.• Includes a list of enriching suggestions and resources.

DCR, which manages Virginia’s state parks, provides on-site workshops conducted by staff. At workshops, instructors learn to

use lessons suitable for students’ interests and abilities. Teachers also get to know friendly, professional park staffers, the park and its resources. Teachers interested in Virginia State Parks… Your Backyard Classrooms should contact the state park nearest their school to set up a workshop or field trip. Find out more at www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/backyard-classrooms.shtml.

Your Backyard Classrooms – Virginia State ParksNature is the greatest and most gentle of all teachers (if you’re careful)


@VaFieldTrips19 W. Cork Street

Winchester, VA 22601540-722-2020

www.discoverymuseum.netTuesday - Saturday 9am -5pm

Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Imagination at Play!

IgnitingCreativity

Sparking Curiosity

Inspiring

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FEBRUARY 18–22 Kennedy CenterEisenhower Theater

ALICE (in wonderland)

MAY 6–17Kennedy Center

Eisenhower Theater

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT washingtonballet.org

BOOK YOUR GROUP SEATS TODAY!

202.362.3606 [email protected]

SAVE WHEN YOU BRING A GROUP OF 10 OR MORE TO THE BALLET!

NEWPORT NEWS — The Virginia Living Museum is the mid-Atlantic region’s premier science education facility. The mu-

seum’s exhibits correlate with and reinforce Virginia’s Standards of Learning for Science. Students can observe:

• Live animals and plants in their natural habitats• Plant and animal life cycles, food chains and food webs• Animal survival adaptations for finding food and shelter, rearing young, avoiding predators, defense • Animal migration, camouflage and hibernation• Endangered and threatened species • Vertebrates and invertebrates• The importance of conserving Virginia’s animal, plant and mineral resources• Habitats of pond, forest, stream, Chesapeake Bay, cypress swamp, mountain cove, cave and more• Virginia’s prehistoric past: rocks, minerals, fossils• Phases of the moon, reasons for the seasons, earth’s revolution and rotation, planets in our solar system.

All programs are grade-level-targeted, correlated to Virginia and national science standards and taught by professional science educators. The museum’s education programs are endorsed by the

Virginia Dept. of Education, the U.S. Dept. of Education and the National Science Foundation.

To learn more call (757) 595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org.

Groups Go Wild at the Virginia Living MuseumScience comes alive for students of all ages at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News


WYTHEVILLE — Visit the only birthplace museum of a First Lady in Virginia to learn how this Pocahontas

descendant journeyed from Wytheville to the White House. Museum exhibits chronicle Mrs. Wilson’s strong, indepen-dent nature and her role as a caregiver. In 1919, when a stroke left President Wilson partially paralyzed, Mrs. Wilson man-aged many governmental details for the President. While Mrs. Wilson publicly minimized her involvement in the affairs of state, her stewardship of governmental duties earned her such labels as “The Secret President” and “The First Woman Presi-dent.” Edith Bolling Wilson is one of the most influential and historically significant women of the twentieth century. Visit the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum and tour the Bolling Home to discover how her early life in the town of Wytheville, Virginia prepared her for life as First Lady. For more information call 276-223-3484 or visit www. edithbollingwilson.org.

Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace MuseumHistory, Heritage and Romance!

Have you ever wondered where fish are raised before they are released to stock streams?

If you’ve ever wondered what a hatchery is, or what a baby trout looks like, fish hatcheries are a wonderful place to explore. Virginia State hatcheries, operated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, are in many counties includ-ing Campbell, King and Queen, Smyth, Warren, Nelson, Bath, Wythe, and Craig. Five of the hatcheries are cold-water and raise trout. Four hatcheries are warm-water so you will see pike, bass, catfish, or other warm-water fish. The best time of year to visit hatcheries is April through June or in the fall. It is fascinating way to learn about the life cycle of these fish. You can find out more by visiting the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website at:www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/stocking/hatcheries.asp

Visit a Fish Hatchery this Spring!


CHARLOTTES-VILLE — Look-

ing for a great outdoor outing? A trip that’s educational and fun? The seasons offer lots of reasons to take a field trip to Carter Mountain Orchard.

Pick your own fun! The summer field trip package includes: pick-your-own peaches, fun puzzle packet (great for the trip home!), and frozen yogurt treat. Fall-time offers: pick-

your-own apples, wagon ride, home-made cider and donut snack, and mini pumpkin or gourd memento. Both packages include VA SOL-based learning time.

Family-owned and operated since 1912, Carter Mountain Or-

chard offers breathtaking views and many fun family events, including

Spring Fling, Thursday Night Sunsets, Peach Festival. During Teacher Appreciation week all teachers with a school ID receive a discount. We also do birthday par-ties! Remember: every season, there’s a reason…to visit Carter Mountain Orchard.

Visit www.cartermountainorchard.com or call (434) 977-1833 for more information or to make a reservation.

Carter Mountain Orchard A Charlottesville Family Tradition Since 1912

CROZET — What could be more magi-

cal than peach-picking at an old-fashioned fam-ily orchard? Field trips are always welcome at Chiles Peach Orchard, and group packages are offered seasonally. (We do birthdays too!)

PEACHES N’ CREAM SUMMER FIELD TRIPS include Pick-Your-Own Peaches, VA SOL-based educa-tional story time, fun puzzle packet (great for the trip home), and a fro zen treat.

APPLES, PUMPKINS, AND CIDER, OH MY! A fall school field trip perfectly combines learning and outdoor fun. Packges include Pick-Your-Own Apples, Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins, VA SOL-based educational

story time, a wagon ride through the orchard, tasty cider, and a donut snack.Family-owned and operated since 1912,

Chiles Peach Orchard offers pick-your-own and already picked strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins, in season. Join us for family-oriented events, such as Come Grow with Us, Old-Fashioned Peach Ice Cream Days, Pancake Breakfasts, Fall into Fun and more!

Visit www.childspeachorchard.com or call (434) 823-1583 for more information or to make a reservation.

Chiles Peach Orchard Pick Your Own Fun in Crozet!

GREAT EVENT INFO ONLINEEvent Planners - Add Your Event Info /Free/!

www.festivalnews.infoFREE Link Your Business or Event

Add Your Event to State CalendarComplimentary Copy of Magazine

Fun Facts!The Brook Trout is the official state fish of Virginia. Native to the Eastern United States, the brook trout is also known as a speckled trout, a spotted trout, a brookie, or a squaretail. Considered an indicator species, they help show the health of the water. Large groups of trout indicate that the en-vironment in which they inhabit is healthy. A decline in the population is usually a sign of a deteriorating habitat and unsanitary water.

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Virginia Field Trips

Dublin

Luray

Big Stone Gap

Ewing

Huddleston

Lynchburg

Max MeadowsWythevilleSaltville

Breaks

Green Bay

Clarksville

Shenandoah

Stuart

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Gladstone

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Bentonville

Winchester

Austinville

Scottsburg

Randolph

Mt. Jackson

Massanutten

Clifton

Independence

11 Mouth of Wilson

Abingdon

RoanokeBedford

GreenbayAppomattox

21Foster Falls

Marion14

CharlottesvilleStaunton

Crozet

Clover

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NaturalBridge

Grottoes

Featured Field Trips

are found atVirginia Field Trips website

www.virginiafieldtrips.comwww.virginiafieldtrips.com is a free web-site dedicated to presenting outstanding Virginia and Washington, DC field trips. There are no fees or membership require-ments. The site includes teacher resourc-es & downloads, past issues of the guide, Featured Field Trips (including thumb-nail sketches of each of the Virginia Park System’s 37 parks) and hot links directly to hundreds of Virginia field trip venues. Add your field trip url - free of charge.

formerly Camp Friendship

QuicksburgNew Market

Amazing Farm Fun at Ticonderoga Chantilly www.AmazingFarmFun.comBusch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg www.buschgardens.comCamp Motorsport Clover www.campmotorsport.comCarter Mountain Orchard Charlottesville www.cartermountainorchard.comChildren’s Museum Of Virginia Portsmouth www.arengee.comChiles Peach Orchard Crozet www.chilespeachorchard.comEdith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum Wytheville www.edithbollingwilson.orgEncore Stage & Studio Arlington www.encorestageva.orgFor the Kids, By George Children’s Museum Martinsburg, WV www.forthekidsbygeorge.orgFriendship Outdoor Recreation Center Palmyra www.campfriendship.comFrontier Culture Museum Staunton www.frontiermuseum.org

Grand Caverns Park Grottoes www.grandcaverns.comHampton Attractions Hampton www.www.visithampton.comHarrisonburg – Explore Downtown Harrisonburg www.visitharrisonburgva.comJamestown Settlement Jamestown www.historyisfun.orgKeystone Tractor Works Museum Colonial Heights www.keystonetractorworks.comLuray Caverns Luray www.luraycaverns.comLynchburg Museum System Lynchburg www.lynchburgmuseum.orgMadame Tussauds Washington, DC www.madametussauds.com/WashingtonMariners Museum (USS Monitor Center) Newport News www.marinersmuseum.orgMassanutten Resort Massanutten www.massresort.comNational Air and Space Museum Chantilly www.airandspace.si.edu

Harrisonburg

Martinsburg, WVA

- ExploreMore Discovery Museum- Valley Turnpike Museum- Harrisonburg Fire Department Museum- You Made It Studio

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National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC www.airandspace.si.eduNational Firearms Museum Fairfax www.nrahq.org/museumNewport News Tourism Newport News www.newport-news.orgNewseum Washington, DC www.newseum.orgNorfolk CVB Norfolk www.visitnorfolktoday.comOutdoor Learning Center At Horizons Harrisonburg www.horizonshorseback.comScience Museum Of Viriginia Richmond www.smv.orgShenandoah Caverns Shenandoah Caverns www.shenandoahcaverns.comShenandoah Valley Discovery Museum Winchester www.discoverymuseum.net/The Washington Ballet Washington, DC www.washingtonballet.orgTodd Rosenlieb Dance Norfolk www.trdance.org

Virginia Association of Museums Richmond www.vamuseums.orgVirginia Beach Field House Virginia Beach www.beachfieldhouse.comVirginia Holocaust Museum Richmond www.va-holocaust.comVirginia Living Museum Newport News www.thevlm.orgVirginia Repertory Theater Richmond www.va-rep.orgVirginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Portsmouth www.vshfm.comVirginia State Parks Statewide www.dcr.virginia.gov/parksYorktown Victory Center Yorktown www.historyisfun.org

R O S E N L I E BD A N C E

Yorktown

Occoquan

Stratford

King William

Chesterfield

ColonialHeights

NEWSEUMTHERE’S MORE TO EVERY STORY

Norfolk9

WASHINGtON, D.C.

Martinsburg, WVA

Hampton

THIS ISHamptonVIRGINIA

- Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe- Virginia Air & Space Center- Hampton University Museum- Sandy Bottom Nature Park- Aberdeen Gardens Historic MuseumUSS MONITOR

CENTER

the numbers inside the indicate a Virginia State Park. Locate any park by using the Map Legend on Page 20.

Leesburg

Montross

Virginia Beach


WILLIAMSBURG — Whether they’re exploring the sci-ence of roller coasters or encountering wolves, your

students will learn, create memories and have a blast on this school outing.

Behind the Scenes Tours:

Wolf Encounter – Take a closer look at these misunderstood animals and how they are coping to survive in the modern world. Learn about the wolf’s fierce loyalty to its pack, the important role wolves play in the wild, and what we can do to help them survive in this up-close encounter with America’s top predator. (approx. 30 minutes) Ideal for groups 15 -100 people.

Coasters 101 – Experience the thrills of science and technol-ogy in a real-world setting. Coasters 101 puts classroom learn-ing into motion. Take a tour with the experts at Busch Gardens as they lead your group into the control rooms and the mainte-nance bays of some of the world’s most beloved and advanced thrill coasters. Learn what makes these thrill machines work. At Coasters 101, education and exhilaration combine for one wild ride. (approx.. 60-90 minutes)

Find out more at www.seaworldparks.com/en/busch-gardens-williamsburg/ or call 800-343-7946 to reserve your tour.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

While the Earth appears to be round when viewed from the vantage point of space, it is actually closer to an ellipsoid.

However, even an ellipsoid does not adequately describe the Earth’s unique and ever-changing shape. Our planet is pudgier at the equator than at the poles by about 70,000 feet. This is due to the cen-trifugal force created by the earth’s constant rotation. Mountains ris-ing almost 30,000 feet and ocean trenches diving over 36,000 feet (compared to sea level) further dis-tort the shape of the Earth. Additionally, the shape of the Earth is always changing. Sometimes this change is periodic, as is the case with daily tides that affect both the ocean and the crust; sometimes the change is slow and steady, as with the drift of tectonic plates or the rebound of the crust after a heavy sheet of ice has melted; and sometimes the shape of the planet changes in violent, episodic ways during events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or meteor strikes.

Is the Earth round?No - the Earth is an

irregularly shaped ellipsoid.


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.

WASHINGTON, DC — See for yourself why the Newseum is called the “must-see”

attraction in Washington, D.C. Located between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, a visit to the Newseum is a conversation-inspiring experience you won’t find anywhere else.Explore historic artifacts, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, seven levels of interactive exhibits, a 4-D theater and much more, to relive historic moments through the eyes of the media. Discover how the news and the First Amendment shape and connect our world. Among the many permanent exhibits you’ll find The Bancroft Family Ethics Center. The Ethics Center challenges visitors to take on some of the difficult questions that reporters and editors face each day. An Ethics Table and interactive kiosks allow you to tackle real-life reporting dilemmas and see how journalists and other visitors responded. Or, challenge your friends to a fast-paced game on media ethics. The Newseum offers national standards-linked, educator-led classes at no additional charge for students in grades three through University throughout the school year. Find out more in the Learning Center Offerings section of the Newseum website: www.newseum.org.

There’s More to Every Story

FAIRFAX — The NRA National Firearms Museum details and examines the nearly 700-year history of firearms with a special

emphasis on firearms, freedom, and the American experience. Each gallery is evocative of a period of time in American history, from the stockade fort at Jamestown to the gun factories of New England. Life-sized dioramas include a nineteenth-century riflemaker’s shop, a trench on the Western Front in WWI, and a shelled-out town square in Normandy in WWII. The firearms tell the stories of how they were used to provide security and sustenance to the early colonists, how they were used to secure our freedom and independence, and have been used ever since to maintain and preserve those liberties. To learn more visit www.nramuseums.com.

NRA National Firearms Museum

Image credit: Maria Bryk/Newseum


Together Everyone Achieves MoreFriendship Outdoor Recreation Centeris conveniently located an hour fromRichmond and under 2 1/2 hoursfrom Washington D.C. With 520 acresof rolling hills and scenic woods, our grounds offer groups aunique experience with plenty of space for fun and adventure.Here at Friendship Outdoor Recreation Center, we foster an atmosphere perfect for leadership retreats and group events.

Ideal Venue for: Leadership Workshop Youth Organizations Church Groups Retreats Family Reunions Weddings And More!

Facilities Include: Meals Lodging Wi-fi Campfires Meeting Halls More than 20 Different Activities

SCHEDULE A TOUR WITH US TODAY!E: [email protected] / T: 434.589.1252

CLOVER — Camp Motorsport provides unique STEM learning in a hands-on, fun, real-life motorsports environ-

ment, outside of the traditional classroom setting. The cur-riculum includes scientific concepts related to driving a race

car - such as friction, traction, force, ac-celeration, decelera-tion, motion, torque, kinetic energy, etc. We offer a wide range of topics and can also design the specific activities for your group based on students needs and desired learning

outcomes.Extensive facilities include indoor classroom and meeting

spaces, dining hall, overnight cabins and cottages, as well as fa-cilities for many recreational activities. For more information call (855) 454-6205 or visit www.campmotorsport.com.

New Culinary Specialty Camp!

Chef Camp is a new “sibling” program of Camp Motorsport, operating on the same beautiful camp property in Clover Virginia. Chef Camp is for every kid and teen who wants to be chef- or even just a better cook. After all, cooking is an everyday life skill – we all have to eat! At Chef Camp, campers will learn and practice skills needed for planning, preparing, and serving meals- from slicing and sautéing to sauces and seasoning! Chef Camp is staged to become the premier residential culinary arts summer camp for youth in the US. For more information call (855) 454-6205 or visit www.chefcamp.com.

NEW! Chef Camp at Camp Motorsport

ARLINGTON — Encore Stage & Studio’s mission is to build a lifelong appreciation for live theater by involving

young people in all aspects of theater arts –onstage, backstage, in the classroom, and in the audience.

Encore Spring / Summer

2015 performances: February 27-

March 8, 2015The Three Musketeers

June 5-14, 2015 Alice in Wonderland

July 17-26, 2015 Shrek

For more information visit www.encorestage.org or call (703) 548-1154.

“Theatre By Kids, For Kids!”


WILLIAMSBURG — Experience the story of America’s beginnings. Through film, artifact-filled galleries and outdoor living history, the Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center engage visitors in the first two centuries of our nation’s

history - from the founding of America’s first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the decisive Revolutionary War victory in 1781 and implementation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Educate Your Group at

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia history and

culture, tells the story of America’s first permanent English colony through film, gallery exhibits and living his-tory. Expansive gallery exhibits and an introduc-tory film trace Jamestown’s beginnings in England and the first century of the Virginia colony and describe the cultures of the Powhatan Indians, Europeans and Africans who converged in 1600s Virginia. Outdoors, visitors can board replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Vir-ginia in 1607, explore life-size re-creations of the colonists’ fort and a Powhatan village, and tour a seasonal riverfront discovery area to learn about European, Powhatan and African economic activities associated with water. In the outdoor areas, costumed historical interpreters describe and demonstrate daily life in the early 17th century.

Yorktown Victory Center

The Yorktown Victory Center, a museum of the American Revolu-

tion, chronicles America’s evolution from colonial status to nationhood through a unique blend of film, thematic exhibits and outdoor living history. Out-doors, visitors can explore a re-created Continental Army encampment, where historical inter-preters describe and depict daily life of American soldiers at the end of the war. A re-created 1780s farm, complete with a house, kitchen, tobacco barn, crop fields, and herb and vegetable garden, shows how many Americans lived in the decade following the Revolutionary War.

Learn more at www.historyisfun.org.


MarinersMuseum.org/[email protected] • (757) 591-7745

100 Museum Drive • Newport News, VA 23606

Join us on a Voyage of Discovery

�e Mariners' Museum o�ers great programs on explorationand more!

Visit The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA or virtually through our award-winning Interactive Video Conferencing programs.

Captive Passage: Investigating the Transatlantic Slave TradeGrades: 5th – 12th

Learn about how slavery shaped history, culture and commerce in the 15th century. This program is offered at the Museum, through in-class outreach, and interactive video conferencing.

Schedule your program today!

HARRISONBURG — The Outdoor Learning Center (OLC) at Horizons offers a variety of programs meant to

expand and enhance classroom learning opportunities while offering tremendous field-based learning in areas such as Geology, Environmental Studies, Biology, Archaeology, History, and Earth Science. Horizons also offers programs focusing on non-traditional learning in areas such as communication, cooperation, decision-making, conflict resolution, self esteem, trust and creativity. OLC’s newest activity option is located at the Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center (NROC). NROC, formerly know as the Nelson Rocks Preserve, is a privately-owned nature preserve that encompasses 145 mountainous acres, including the double-fin Tuscarora Quartzite fins of Nelson Rocks. Home to incredible rock climbing, via ferrata climbing, a canopy tour, and miles of

breathtaking, awe-inspiring hiking trails NROC is sure to offer the dose of adventure that’s right for you.

Onsite tent camping, rustic cabins or a vacation house rental are available here (with nearby caving and whitewater rafting for a 2ndday activity), or we can provide transportation to and from NROC if you choose to lodge at the Outdoor Learning Center at Horizons. Group discount available! See our suggested SOL applications for a creative and inspiring earth Science/ Geology lesson plan for your next outdoor classroom! To learn more call (540)-896-7600 or visit www.horizonsoutdoorlearningcenter.com.

Perfect for snacks, breakfast, dessert, or whenever you need a boost.Suggested by Todd Rosenlieb Dance Center - a Featured Field Trip on www.virginiafieldtrips.com

10 minutes to make • Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients:1 cup Oatmeal, dry2/3 cup toasted Coconut flakes1/2 cup Peanut butter (or other nut butter)1/2 cup ground Flax seed (can substitute wheat bran or finely ground nuts)1/2 cup Chocolate chips or cacao nibs (can substitute raisins or dried cranber-ries)1/3 cup Honey or agave nectar1 tablespoon Chia seeds (optional)1 teaspoon Vanilla extractDirections:1. Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thor-oughly mixed. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.2. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. (About 1” in diameter works well.) Store in an airtight con-tainer and keep refrigerated for up to one week.3. Makes about 20-25 balls.

No Cook Energy Bites


EDUCATOR RESOURCES

NASA eClipsShort, relevant educational video segments. These videos inspire and engage students, helping them see real world connections. Also on this web page are links to other educator resources from NASA.www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/nasaeclips/index.html

National Air and Space MuseumOnline activities, Online conferences (past conferences archived online), Webcast Lecture Archive, How Things Fly Website, Teaching Posters, and more!www.airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/educator-resources/

Newseum - Inside MediaInside Media gives Newseum visitors the story behind the story

through interviews with journalists and newsmakers. The pro-gram format offers the audience an opportunity to ask questions or make comments. Episodes available can be found at:www.newseum.org/podcasts/inside-media

The Washington Ballet - BALLET 101Bone up on Ballet by reading through our Ballet101 page before seeing a performance.www.washingtonballet.org/news-media/ballet-101/default.htm

Virginia Repertory Theatre Study Guides Classroom Guides are available online in a printable pdf format for many of the plays performed. www.va-rep.org/theatreiv/guides.html

VIRGINIA & WASHINGTON, DC FIELD TRIPSFor more Educator Resources visit the “Resource” section of our website:

www.virginiafieldtrips.com.

THE SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

WHERE EDUCATION TAKES FLIGHT

Free programs for groups of 20 or more (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED)

Tours • Science Demonstrations • Learning Labs

Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more for the Museum’s IMAX theaters, digital dome planetarium, restaurants, and simulators.

Visit www.si.edu/groupsales for information and reservations.

National Air and Space Museum6th St. and Independence Ave., SWWashington, DC

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy.Chantilly, VA

Free admission. Open every day except December 25.

SmithsonianNational Air and Space Museum

airandspace.si.edu/groupreservations(202) 633-2563

17614 NASM EducationAd.indd 1 12/16/14 10:04 AM

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


Wild Fish of Virginia - and some of the places

you can find them.


• Discounted Newseum admission for school groups

• Free online resources available at newseum.org/digitalclassroom

• FREE history, civics and media literacy classes for grades 3 – university

• Call 202/292-6650 to book your class trip today!

NEWSEUM.ORG/EDUCATION 555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.,N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C.

DISCOVER. EXPERIENCE. CONNECT.

“Engaging, great topics, interactive. A great place to bring students.”

– TEACHER, GUNSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, ARLINGTON, VA.

TripAdvisor’s 2014 Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Museums in the U.S.

LYNCHBURG — Experience The James is an 18-month exploration of the myriad ways the James River intersects

with Lynchburg’s history, culture, recreation, and civic identity running through December 31, 2015. The centerpiece of the experience is an exhibit at the Lynchburg Museum in Downtown Lynchburg that focuses on the historical impact of the James on our community – from the earliest Monacan Indian tribes, to the ferry operated by John Lynch that made Lynchburg possible, to the boom days of the batteau boats, the early tobacco warehouses and factories, and the growing reliance on the James to power our factories, clean our wastewater, and provide recreation for the community. In addition to the exhibit, there are opportunities to experience the James as it is today: festivals such as the Batteau Festival , workshops on the environmental impact of humans on the James, children’s environmental education programs, and volunteer opportunities to help clean up our waterways. Speakers throughout the year will offer different perspectives on the river – from early exploration to memorable disasters associated with flooding, to an examination of the natural history of the river. Of course, having fun is a big part of life on the river, and boating, floating, fishing and hiking programs are offered throughout the area by partners and other organizations. Visit www.experiencethejames.com to view more information about the exhibit at Lynchburg Museum and various events being held around the city.

PORTSMOUTH — Estab-lished in 1966, the Virginia

Sports Hall of Fame & Museum honors the Commonwealth’s greatest sports legends. But the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is so much more... The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum offers Math, Science, Health and Character

Development programs to Pre-K through 12th grade students. Students will enjoy being active while learning or reviewing current SOL lessons.

Home educators – if math is not some-

thing you do well – you can find help, guidance and solutions for your children. Take a look at our new Math Academy - kids and teachers love it! Visit www.vshfm.com to download the current Education Brochure or for more information.

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum


@VaFieldTrips


WASHINGTON, DC — The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is one of the world’s most popu-

lar museums with more than 8.2 million visitors in 2012. Its mission is to commemorate, educate and inspire visitors by preserving and displaying aeronautical and spaceflight artifacts. The museum maintains the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft among more than 60,000 objects and serves the public through exhibitions, public programs, educa-tional activities, publications and electronic outreach. It is also a vital center for historical research on aviation and spaceflight and related science and technology, and home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, which performs original research and outreach activities in planetary sciences.

CHANTILLY, VA — The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion

facility to the museum in Washington, D.C. Construction began in October 2000, and the center opened in December 2003. It provides enough space for the National Air and Space Museum to display thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited in the Washington museum. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. The Smithsonian offers educational resources for school groups, both to use during their trip, and as a way to extend the museum visit into the classroom. The education departments at the National Air and Space Museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center have developed Standards of Learning (SOL) guidelines for select films in our library. Find out more at: www.airandspace.si.edu.

Photo: The Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center contains the largest aircraft in the National Air and Space Museum collection.

National Air and Space Museum & Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Weather Sayings...“Sound traveling far and wideStormy weather doth betide.”

“If crows fly low, winds going to blow.”


The science behind it. Pine cones open and close depending on the humidity to help seed dispersal. Inside the pine cone there are lots of feather light seeds. When the weather is dry the pine cone opens up and any wind will catch the seeds and allow them to be dispersed in the air far away from the original tree. When the humidity rises and rain is likely then the pine cone closes up to prevent the seeds escaping and becoming water logged, unable to travel any distance from their parent tree. Grow-

ing too close to the parent tree would mean having to compete with the parent tree for resources – light and water. If you want to build a “Pine Cone Hygrometer” that actually measures the humidity changes — and for a more scientific expla-nation — follow the link below to a great article about using pine cones to measure humidity.

www.thehappyscientist.com/science-experiment/pinecone-weather

Use a Pine Cone as a Hygrometer (Humidity Sensor)1) Find several pine cones.2) Locate a window with an outside sill to mount the pine cones on. Make sure you can also easily view this outside window sill from inside the house.3) Mount your pine cones on the outside window sill with something tacky to hold them in place – heavy tape or modeling clay.

When the weather is dry the pine cone’s scales open. When it’s going to rain the pine cone’s scales close.

WASHINGTON, DC — More than just a wax museum! Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is a fully interactive

experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear histori-cal icons and celebrities in a way unlike any other Washington D.C. attraction. At Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., expe-rience the glory of the U.S. presidency first-hand in an unparal-leled interactive exhibit, featuring life-sized wax figures of all 44 Presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama. Learn more: www.madametussaudsdc.com.

MCGAHEYSVILLE — Wacky weather can make planning your next field trip, birthday party or group outing a real

hassle. At Massanutten Indoor Wa-terPark, we have taken the guess work out of your planning woes! With all access to the WaterPark, Diamond Jim’s Arcade and our optional private party rooms, your group is sure to have a splash’n good time! Learn more: www.massresort.com/waterpark.

Massanutten WaterPark


We’ll do the rest.Give your students the gift of connecting classroom knowledge with real world situations. Allow them to make new discoveries and understand their world on a whole new level. Explore nature, history and culture with a park ranger or on your own.

Ranger-led programs meet grade level SOL requirements. Outreach programs are available in many locations.

Call 800-933-7275 or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov to find a park near you and arrange a visit.

800-933-PARK (7275) | www.virginiastateparks.gov |

You bring them~

va field trips spring 2015

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