Get Involved
Want to help the Shenandoah River? There are many ways that you can take action, and take part.
Friends of the North Fork
Our mission is to keep the North Fork of the Shenandoah River clean, healthy, and beautiful through advocacy, community action, education and science.
What we’ve been up to:
Community
We put on a variety of educational workshops, lecture series, community outreach at public events and give talks/provide educational programs to independent groups and organizations upon request.
Youth
We engage with youth through putting on engaging, place-based educational programming in schools and youth groups. Each summer we organize environmental education day camps for kids in grades 1st through 8th. They’re quite the hit!
Teachers
We strive to support teachers through providing curriculum supplementation and training workshops. We also provide programs in conjunction with Experience Learning. Izaak Walton League of America, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
What projects are underway:
We are currently piloting our first year of the new Shenandoah Stream Team in-class program! We are also running a series of Make and Take workshops through Fall 2022 and are starting our fall lecture series on November 10. Contact Kathleen, Education and Science Program Lead, for more info.
Stream Team
This program is free and open to grades 3-12. Classrooms receive one to two FNFSR-led programs per month introducing a new aspect of their watershed community and how they can engage with that community. Teachers can customize their Stream Team Experience, choosing which programs they want and when FNFSR staff will present in class. For middle school and high school classes, Stream Team will operate on a semester schedule, and for elementary students the program will run the entire school year. Mid-way through the semester or year, students will design a public product to present to their peers; products could range from a school-wide energy audit, to a recycling and composting workshop, a web page, or even a pollinator garden. Students will be invited to the Shenandoah Stream Team Symposium, where they will have the opportunity to present their project and what they have learned, participate in a community art project, and more!
Where we want to go from here:
We want Friends of the North Fork to provide inclusive educational resources, opportunities and support that bring people of all ages closer to the river and our watershed, in a way that promotes life-long learning about, connection to, and advocacy for the environment.
Educational Resources and Articles
- At Home Environmental Education Activities
- Teacher Resources
- Middle School Workbook: ‘Stanley Stands Up’
- Seven Bends State Park Self-Guided Hike: available upon request
- Explore Seven Bends State Park with our virtual field trip imagery:
- Seven Bends Lecture Series & other educational talks
Interested in getting involved or have another idea for an educational program? Contact our Program Coordinator for more information!
Join us in the fun of learning about our river.