File Transfer Site

Visit Industry Heroes

State of the River
Report for 2008
 

Go Natural
Order Our
Wildlife Habitat
Guide

• What is a River Star School?

• Who Can Be a River Star School?

• Benefits

• Project Examples

• Getting Started

• Instructions

• Applications

What is a River Star School?

A River Star School is a school/youth organization that implements a project in pollution prevention or habitat enhancement and has an education value that benefits the Elizabeth River or its watershed.  The project can be small or large and could take one day to all year to complete.  The River Star School program is based on the school year, with the expectation that most schools will commit to the program at the beginning of the school year. At the end of April, summaries of projects are turned into The Elizabeth River Project and reviewed by a committee.  Schools are notified in May of committee decisions and awards are then mailed or delivered to schools. Schools are recognized with a plaque and students with certificates.  If the school has participated in the program for more than one year and goes above and beyond, they could be recognized as a Model level school.  If recognized as a Model level school a banner is awarded along with plaque and certificates.

Who Can Be a River Star School?

Any school in the four Elizabeth River watershed cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach may participate, provided they make the connection between their project and the Elizabeth River watershed.

Benefits

• Elizabeth River cleanup efforts progress through increased participation of area residents

• Community recognition

• Standards of Learning objectives addressed in science, math, geography, and history

• Opportunity for service learning

Project Examples Include:

Water monitoring, oyster gardening, plant & wildlife identification, worm composting, recycling, field trips, science projects, eco-art, poetry, journaling, literature, clean-ups, plantings, letters to community/legislators, outdoor classrooms, butterfly gardens, native plants, wetland activities, water/life cycle activities, seed collection, river history, Native American history, maritime history, import/export activities, watershed, storm drains, air pollution, habitats, rain gardens, migration, raising money for restoration efforts/habitat/wildlife, theatre, astronomy, navigation, tides, Earth Day activities, exhibits, environmental clubs, environmental literacy and river stewardship.

How to Get Started

Students/teachers should complete the application (from link below) briefly explaining project and submit to The Elizabeth River Project. If you have questions, please call the Elizabeth River Project at 399-RIVR (7487) or email Robin Dunbar, Public Outreach Manager @ rdunbar@elizabethriver.org

Download the Instructions and Application from links below. Files are in Adobe pdf format. Get a free FREE Acrobat Reader here.

Instructions

Application