Education and Outreach
Do you enjoy learning about nature? The Roundtable helps create outdoor education sites for the purpose of environmental education. The Roundtable is currently developing a litter timeline trail to be installed in the spring of 2026 at Critterville Park in Richlands.
Previously, the Roundtable helped develop the Saltville Outdoor Classroom in Smyth County, the Stone Creek Outdoor Classroom and Community Park in Lee County, Lake Fleming outdoor classroom at Gate City middle and high schools, and the Clear Creek Outdoor Classroom in the City of Norton. The Roundtable also provided funding from grants for outdoor classrooms at Lebanon Middle School, Abingdon High School, Abingdon Elementary School, Meadowview Elementary School, and Richlands beside the Clinch. The Roundtable also provided a mini grant with Virginia Department of Forestry funds for a monarch waystation at Dungannon Elementary School, which is used by the teachers for environmental education activities.
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable offers education and outreach programs, including two Conservation Camps for third graders, one for Washington County and one for Smyth County.
Another lesson source is a website by the Clinch River Valley Initiative: www.teachtheclinch.com, which can be adapted to other watersheds. The Clinch River Valley Initiative is a separate 501c3 nonprofit which collaborates with the Roundtable on education and on-the-ground projects for the Clinch River.
Previously, the Roundtable helped develop the Saltville Outdoor Classroom in Smyth County, the Stone Creek Outdoor Classroom and Community Park in Lee County, Lake Fleming outdoor classroom at Gate City middle and high schools, and the Clear Creek Outdoor Classroom in the City of Norton. The Roundtable also provided funding from grants for outdoor classrooms at Lebanon Middle School, Abingdon High School, Abingdon Elementary School, Meadowview Elementary School, and Richlands beside the Clinch. The Roundtable also provided a mini grant with Virginia Department of Forestry funds for a monarch waystation at Dungannon Elementary School, which is used by the teachers for environmental education activities.
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable offers education and outreach programs, including two Conservation Camps for third graders, one for Washington County and one for Smyth County.
Another lesson source is a website by the Clinch River Valley Initiative: www.teachtheclinch.com, which can be adapted to other watersheds. The Clinch River Valley Initiative is a separate 501c3 nonprofit which collaborates with the Roundtable on education and on-the-ground projects for the Clinch River.
Who Polluted the River?
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Richlands Outdoor Classroom
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable launched the development of an outdoor classroom in Richlands on the Clinch River. These three education signs are posted there where the town is creating a walking trail. The Roundtable restored this section of the river, stabilized the streambanks and planted a riparian buffer. The cleanup photo at the bottom of the programs page features one of the photos taken of a huge cleanup coordinated by the Roundtable and Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful prior to the restoration project.
Stone Creek Outdoor Classroom and Community Park
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The Stone Creek Outdoor Classroom and Community Park located at the corner of Routes 421 and 606 near Pennington Gap has eight learning stations and is available for school field trips. The litter timeline lesson featured above is included at the Stone Creek Community site as well as these topics:
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Saltville Outdoor Classroom
The Saltville Outdoor Classroom located in Saltville, Virginia offers eight learning stations and is available for school field trips. Be sure to visit the Saltville Library to check out the "Go, Play, Learn" bags with many activities for parents and children to do at the classroom. The following topics are featured at the classroom.
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Watershed
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Can you describe or give a definition for watershed? A watershed is land that drains rain and snow to a stream, lake, river, bay or ocean. We all live in watersheds. The larger watershed for our region is called Upper Tennessee River Watershed.
This link will take you to a lesson about how water travels through a watershed. |
Life Cycles of Animals
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Do you ever see animal tracks such as those in the photo? Can you figure out which animals made the tracks that you saw?
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Plant Life Cycles
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Plants and trees are very important in nature.
Check out the Penn State website that has a lot of lessons about trees: |
Clear Creek Outdoor Classroom
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable added several teaching sites to this classroom over the years, including a rain garden, a vegetated roof kiosk, and a pollinator garden. Shown here are the photos of the recently rebuilt kiosk with signs that describe pollination and explain the purpose of a green roof.
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Litter Prevention and Recycling
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Litter is not only unsightly, but also littering is against the law. Hold onto all trash until you reach a trash can or a recycling bin.
The sign in the photo shows how long it takes for litter to decompose, rot, or go away if left on the ground. Some materials, such as plastic, take a very long time to decompose. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality offers a variety of lessons in "Pollution Solutions." Visit this website to see the lessons: |
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Monarch Waystation
Dungannon Elementary School completed a Monarch Waystation with mini grant from the Roundtable, which was funded by Virginia Department of Forestry.
Teacher Mrs. Lenora Chandler served as mentor for the students throughout the project.
Looks wonderful! See the Slideshow.
Teacher Mrs. Lenora Chandler served as mentor for the students throughout the project.
Looks wonderful! See the Slideshow.
Conservation Camps for Washington County and Smyth County.
Thanks to our wonderful presenters!
See the Slideshow.
Thanks to our wonderful presenters!
See the Slideshow.
Did you know that your pet's waste can be harmful if washed into waterways?
Click to download PDF of each.
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Acid Mine Drainage
A key concern of the Roundtable is Acid Mine Drainage. The Roundtable created a flier that highlights the harm of AMD and also serves as a field guide for identifying water sources affected by AMD. Click here to download the flier in PDF format.
Asbestos Recycling Resource
Asbestos was used from the 1930s until the late 1970s to make thousands of products. AS these products are used or worn down, they can send stray asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma or other disease later in life. Luckily, asbestos can be recycled into a harmless glass with the help of professional abatement teams.