Clifton Institute Info
Dear STEAM school,
We're looking forward to having your group visit on Wednesday, 2nd April from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM for our Field Scientist for a Day: Vernal Pool Monitoring program!
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE:
With your students, watch the Vernal Pool introductory video.
Discuss with your children how they should be dressed and what they should bring on the field trip (see the TO WEAR/TO BRING section below).
Have your students divided into (2 large groups and with each of those large groups divided into 3 teams--Yellow, Red, and Green).
Please look through the attached Google Drive folders for pre-trip and post-trip activities you can do with your learners.
GENERAL SCHEDULE:
10:00: Arrival + Introduction @ Peach House
10:15: Handwashing and Bathrooms
10:30: Data Collection
11:45: Lunch
12:15: Data Debrief
12:30: Reflection + Wrap-Up
1:00: Depart!
TO WEAR/TO BRING:
Waterproof shoes (and warm socks!) – strongly recommended even it it’s not going to rain
Snack – strongly recommended because children get hungry when they are outdoors
Backpack – strongly recommended because the children need their hands free to hike and need to carry water
Reusable water bottle – we can refill them if needed
Warm layers on top and bottom
LUNCH
Trash bags (we are pack-in, pack-out)
KEEP IN MIND
Have your students dress for weather 10 degrees colder and 50% wetter than they might expect. You can always take layers off!
We will be outdoors during the entire field trip (except in the case of a weather emergency); this is not the time/place for new/favorite clothes or shoes.
We often walk on wet grassy trails and muddy paths, which is why we recommend rainboots at all times of year. If you have mobility concerns, please let us know so we can plan the best possible route!
We have well-maintained port-a-johns and an outdoor handwashing station for all field trip participants to use.
TRASH:
We are a pack-in, pack-out facility. We do not have trash pickup service at our site, so please bring trash bags with you to take all snack and lunch trash back to school for disposal.
ROLE OF TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES:
All adults are free! We have limited space in our parking lot, so if you have more than 20 chaperones they will have to carpool. Teachers, at the beginning of the trip we will ask the students to treat us as they do you, their teachers, for the day—raising hands, waiting for our instructions, etc. Any help and reinforcement you can give us is much appreciated and will hopefully lead to a fun trip for all! Thank you! Chaperones are welcomed and valued; please share the “Pre-Trip Parent Letter” with them prior to the field trip.
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:
Driving: We are located at 6712 Blantyre Rd., Warrenton, VA. If you are coming from Route 17, we are on the left side of Blantyre Rd. Our first driveway has a black mailbox with 6712 on the post. Continue to the next driveway on your left, where you will see a large, rectangular Clifton sign. If you are coming from John Marshall Hwy (Rte. 55), the driveways will be on your right hand side. Programs meet at the peach-colored farmhouse at the end of the driveway (see map at the bottom of this email).
Parking: Buses can pull around the loop and park facing downhill on the driveway so that students can exit directly only the lawn. Chaperone cars can park inside the loop on the grass.
Congratulations! You made it through this enormous email. Thank you for giving your students the opportunity to spend time outdoors exploring our beautiful preserve. Please reach out with any questions.
Best,
Bridget
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Bridget Bradshaw (she/her)
Education Associate
6712 Blantyre Rd. | Warrenton, VA 20187
Mobile: 206-734-5689 | Office: 540-341-3651
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My work week is Tuesday to Saturday
