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Campers have fun and learn in the field
Adventure. Discover. Explore. This was the theme of Camp RiverRidge at the Burwell Van Lennep Land Trust, near Millwood, held July 14-18.Seven boys and nine girls from Clarke and surrounding counties discovered the region's rich variety of plant life by participating in Smithsonian's Conservation and Research Center's Biodiversity Monitoring Project, investigated and compared the animal life in a river, a pond and a spring-fed stream, and took a rafting adventure down the Shenandoah River with the Downriver Canoe Company.
This year, campers got a chance to stay overnight at the Northern Virginia Lions Club Youth Camp, near Howellsville. Here they studied the components of a mountain habitat, comparing and contrasting it to the habitat of the river valley. Why do certain species thrive in the mountains, while others are found in the river valley? What will happen to plants and animals if our climate continues to get warmer? What happens when livestock have free access to the river?
After discussing and pondering such questions, campers got a chance to view a climbing black rat snake and to learn to recognize animal tracks and the songs of various bird species. A new portable weather station was set up at both sites to compare relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed from two positions of high and low pressure systems.
During their overnight stay, campers attended a Star Party, hosted by members of the Shenandoah Astronomical Society. Campers got an unusual opportunity to look through powerful telescopes at many stunning views of stars, planets, constellations and other celestial phenomena. Singing and toasting smores around a campfire made the evening complete.
On returning to the Burwell Van Lennep Land Trust, campers learned about the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center's wildlife rehabilitation program. Certified wildlife rehabilitator Peggy Coontz introduced them to three of the center's educational resident wild animals: Red Baron, an Eastern screech owl, T.W.O, an opossum, and LaMonte, a barred owl.
“This was the best camp yet. Thanks go out to all the groups that helped to make this camp session possible,” said Chris Packert, RiverRidge Foundation President ,who has led the camp for eight years. “And we’ll keep developing even more environmental education programs for children in the future.”
Such plans include taking groups of local high school students to Costa Rica again next spring, and to Nova Scotia next summer.
For more information see www.riverridgefoudation.org. Visit the website and click on the RiverRidge Academy for student trip details.
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