More than a thousand K-12 students visit the Clifton Institute on field trips each year. Our goal is to get students outside, engaging with plants and animals, and learning that anyone can participate in research–including kids!
On these trips, students help collect data for one of our on-going research projects. They spend anywhere between 2 and 5 hours exploring Clifton’s 900 acres, learning to identify local species, practicing field techniques, analyzing data, and discussing their results. For some students, this is their first experience in a semi-wild space. Having enthusiastic, engaged adults at their side makes a huge difference in the quality of their trip. Clifton’s education team is very small and we need help to give these students the best experience possible!
If you are interested in working with kids outdoors or simply curious about our education programs, please register for this Education Volunteer Training (and check out our Field Trips page)! By attending the training, you are not automatically beholden to volunteer. This is simply a way for you to learn more about what the field trips look like, what a volunteer’s role would be, and hone your own identification and field work skills. At the end of the training, there will be further instructions for how to sign up to volunteer.
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults
Availability Requirements: Volunteers must be able to volunteer on Thursdays or Fridays, as those are our big field trip days. Our busy seasons are from September – November and March – May. We ask that volunteers help with a minimum of 3 trips per season. In the fall, the research topics are insects, grassland restoration, and waterfowl behavior. The spring field trips are vernal pools, tree phenology, and insects.
There will be an additional training for the spring season trips in February. We appreciate your interest in helping us get Fauquier County kids outside and engaged with science! If you have questions about this training or our education programs, email Bridget Bradshaw (bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org)
COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!