Education
Education
Our mission at the Clifton Institute is to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature. Our goals in our education programs are to teach people about Virginia’s native plants and animals, to cultivate curiosity and scientific thinking, to give people positive and meaningful experiences out in nature, and to inspire people to take care of our shared natural landscape. We have all sorts of education programs: field trips for school groups, programs for the whole family, drop-off programs meant just for students, and programs for adults. You can learn more about each type of program below. You use the filter on our calendar of events here to find the kind of program you’re looking for (Adult, Family, Youth, etc.). We hope we’ll see you out here soon!
Pre-K-12 / Homeschool Field Trips
Our Scientist for a Day field trips give students of all ages and abilities the opportunity to explore nature, get experience doing real scientific research, and learn about Virginia’s native biodiversity. Learn more on our Field Trips page, where you can find our program calendar, field trip request form, payment and policy info, and FAQ’s. Please direct any questions to our Education Associate Bridget Bradshaw (bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org).
Teacher Reviews
“The women who guided the children were fantastic in engaging the students in the topic of vernal pools and amphibians. Initially I had some children who were not excited about the field trip however when we were leaving I had many of them say to me that they really enjoyed being at the Institute and loved collecting and analyzing the data. As a science person, that spoke to my heart!”
“This was our second field trip to the Clifton Institute – I was once again impressed by the quality of their program and the Clifton educators… We’ll definitely be back next year.”
“This is my favorite field trip of all time and I’ve been teaching for more than twenty years! It was fun, interesting, reasonably priced, and educational. We will be returning soon!”
Piedmont Polliwogs (Pre-K)
This September – May program for preschoolers is all about building independence and natural history skills in a fun setting! Students attend with a family member for one Thursday morning each month. Students start by checking in with each other, learning about a new topic through a hands-on activity, and listening to Blossom the Opossum read them a story. Then we go on an adventure on one of Clifton’s many trails. Registration for Polliwogs usually opens in June.
Nature Club (6th-12th grade)
Do you have a nerdy young adult in your life who needs some space to commune with other nerds? This may be the place. Nature Club meet on the first Saturday of each month starting in September and culminating with a party in May. Students experience what it’s like to work on the three different pillars of the Clifton Institute–restoration, research, and education. This could range from spending a day collecting seeds and planting plugs, to conducting plant and amphibian surveys, to creating lesson plans and teaching materials for younger students. We also allow for plenty of time for students to build friendships and spend some precious, un-rushed time together outside. Registration for Nature Club usually opens in June.
Summer Camps
We hold four, week-long summer programs for children interested in spending time outside and following their curiosities about the world around them. From 5-year-olds to young adults, students are given the chance to explore our 900-acre facility full of fluffy, scaly, slimy, crunchy, sometimes stinky, mysterious, and abundant life. You can learn more about our summer camps here. Registration usually opens in February.
College and University
We invite teachers and professors from colleges and universities to use the field station as an extension of their classrooms. Our field station is ideally situated to serve as an outdoor laboratory. We are happy to provide a lecture or a guided tour of the field station. We are also happy to let you explore and study the property on your own.
Adult Programs
Through our adult programs, members of our community of all ages have the opportunity to visit the field station, to learn about ecology and conservation, and to engage with other people who are interested in natural history and spending time outdoors.
We host a series of adult programs throughout the year. Some programs focus on a particular type of organism, like American Woodcocks, butterflies, or fungi. Others focus on a particular way of experiencing nature, like photography or nature journaling.
We hope these programs teach you a bit about the natural history of our property and of the area and inspire you to continue spending time outside learning about nature. You can find our full calendar of events here.
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