The Dominion Virginia Power LEARNING BARGE is the world's first floating
wetland classroom and America's
Greenest Vessel...teaching
how to make the Elizabeth River swimmable and fishable by 2020. Video by
Hampton Roads Community Foundation 2010
NOW BOOKING STUDENT FIELD
TRIPS FOR 2012-2013
Powered by sun and wind and equipped
with live wetlands, an enclosed classroom, composting toilets and a
rainwater filtration system, the 120 by 32 foot
Learning Barge is designed to both
model and teach ecology and sustainability
to the next generation of lower Chesapeake Bay stewards. The mission is
to help teach how to help make the Elizabeth River swimmable and
fishable by 2020.
Over 17,000 K-12 students have visited the Learning Barge since
her launch in 2009. Here's what teachers and students from Old Donation
Center in Virginia Beach had to say about their field trips in spring
2012:
"This was the best
fieldtrip I have ever been on and I have been teaching for 30 years!"
"This covered everything we learned this year"
"Pure heaven out on the river, in the heart of Norfolk"
"The kids were so engaged that they never mentioned that they were
hungry or thirsty, even though lunch was delayed for over an hour that
day"
"The staff was the most professional and most informed than on any
fieldtrip that we have ever been on"
"The students were talking the whole way back to school.. . not the
usual chit chat, but instead about how they can conserve resources to
save the river."
"Our whole school is raving about their experiences on the barge!"
The barge will be
docked at various locations
including near the port highlighting
the working river. Check out the map for the barge's latest location and
download
Field Trip Summary for the barge's docking schedule.
The
best way to schedule a field
trip is to download and fill out the
Field Trip Request
form and email to Robin
Dunbar, Education Director, at
rdunbar@elizabethriver.org.
If you prefer, you can also call 757-392-7132.
The Learning Barge came to being thanks to the generous sponsorship of
numerous organizations and individuals. Special thanks go to
Dominion Virginia Power, the lead sponsor of the vessel's
construction, and Lowe's, sponsor of the enclosed river
lab onboard.
Current leading sponsors of our field trips include American
Honda Foundation, Virginia Environmental Endowment, Captain Planet,
NOAA B-Wet, Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, Portfolio Recovery Associates,
The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Advisory Committee and Kinder-Morgan.
Our generous maritime community also donates countless services for
maintenance and tug moves!
