Inspiring students to become future river stewards

Warrenton, Virginia (November 15, 2021) — We are pleased to announce our participation with the Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) on a grant FOR was awarded from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The goal of their grant is to implement a sustainable Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) program over three years in Culpeper and Fauquier County Public Schools. The grant supports NOAA’s mission to expand environmental literacy through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. The Clifton Institute will participate by hosting a teacher-training workshop in summer 2022.

“Every year, hundreds of school children visit our property to learn about Virginia’s plants and animals, but we don’t usually get to spend a lot of time with their teachers,” says Dr. Eleanor Harris, Managing Director The Clifton Institute. “We’re excited to work with Friends of the Rappahannock to teach teachers about watershed conservation and about how to engage their students with this important issue.” 

FOR’s new Upper Rappahannock Educator Manager, April Harper, will be working with local partner organizations like Clifton Institute as well as teachers and public school staff to integrate MWEEs into the schools. For more information about the Upper Rappahannock B-WET program, you can email April Harper at april.harper@riverfriends.org. If you are interested in learning more about MWEE programs watershed wide, contact FOR’s education team education@riverfriends.org or visit riverfriends.org.

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The Clifton Institute is a Northern Virginia-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature, to study the ecology of our region, to restore habitat, and to conserve native biodiversity. We provide environmental education to people of all ages, carry out ecological research, and restore habitat for native plants and animals. Our 900-acre property in central Fauquier County, which is permanently protected under a conservation easement, provides a beautiful and easily accessible environment for our programs. For more information, visit cliftoninstitute.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.