Galax Enrichment Program 

Galax After School and Full Week Enrichment Programs

As part of Galax Public School's ongoing efforts to provide a top tier education for their youth, they have partnered with Blue Ridge Discovery Center to offer a series of engaging programs.  Each week, BRDC brings hands-on classes and field trips about natural history as it relates to the Blue Ridge. Each semester, Galax public school system takes a two week break, but for one of those weeks they offer enrichment programs. As a partner in the program, BRDC has built a butterfly garden, taught fly fishing, explored primitive technology, created art with nature, played games and provided the opportunity to travel to treasures in the Blue Ridge!

Featured
BRDC Partners with Galax for Hands-On Summer Day Camp Fun
Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor
Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor
BRDC Partners with Galax for Hands-On Summer Day Camp Fun
Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor
Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor

Continuing a successful relationship built through afterschool programs and weekend field trips during the 2016 and 2017 school years, BRDC partnered with Galax Public Schools this summer to offer four unique, weeklong camps in June and July. The camps were hands-on, experiential learning based, outdoor skills focused, and offered free of charge to 3rd-7th grade Galax students.

Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor
Summer Camp, Galax Enrichment Program Discovery Day Camp, Archeology Day Camp, Pioneering Day Camp, Blue Ridge Explorers Day Camp Cynthia Taylor
Galax Middle Visits Grandfather Mountain
School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish
School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish
Galax Middle Visits Grandfather Mountain
School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish
School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish

On May 6th, students from Galax Middle School took a trip up 5,946’ to the top of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. There they had the opportunity to learn about the various flora and fauna that inhabit the mountains’ 16 distinct ecosystems.

School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish
School Programs, Galax Enrichment Program pinkshell azalea, Grandfather Mountain, Natural History, citizen science Lisa Benish
Learning about Amphibians & Aquatic Insects
Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams
Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams
Learning about Amphibians & Aquatic Insects
Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams
Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams

BRDC has been busy with education programs, working with Galax Middle School, Fries School, Fairview Elementary, Grayson Highlands, Independence Elementary.

Grayson County's fourth grade students participated in the Natural Heritage Program with an emphasis on salamanders, toads, and frogs. Students learned about salamanders commonly found in the Blue Ridge.

Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams
Fish Bugs, Galax Enrichment Program, Natural Heritage Program, NFSP, School Programs, Trout in the Classroom fishing, fly fishing, fly tying, education, Matthews State Forest, Galax Middle School, galax after school, Grayson County Schools, Grayson County, Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, fish bugs, native fish, Whitetail Deer, Bio Survey, Biology, data analysis Cassidy Williams
Galax After School Field Trip
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams
Galax After School Field Trip
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams

Students in Galax Middle School's After School Program are learning about Primitive Technology this month. At the beginning of the week, students discussed the meaning of primitive technology and experimented with different pottery techniques.

Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, primitive technology Cassidy Williams
A Week of Exploration, Messy Adventures, Engineering & Creativity!
Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams
A Week of Exploration, Messy Adventures, Engineering & Creativity!
Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams

Both staff and volunteers were on-the-go as we taught students from Galax Middle School for their Enrichment Week. Enrichment week gives students a break from the everyday class routine and allows them to gain crucial experience outside of the classroom. BRDC provided students with three different programs that they could choose from including Pioneering, Crafting with Nature, and Exploration and Discovery.

Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Week Begins!
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Week Begins!
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams

Students from Galax Middle School take a break from the classroom and have the opportunity to get outdoors and discover the natural world! 

Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams
Galax Enrichment Program Galax Middle School, Enrichment Week Cassidy Williams
Geology Lessons along the Virginia Creeper Trail
Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish
Geology Lessons along the Virginia Creeper Trail
Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish

Galax Middle School students braved a very cold day in order to be enlightened about the geology of the Blue Ridge. 

Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program geology, geologic maps, Virginia Creeper Trail Lisa Benish
A Field Trip to SciWorks
Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment
Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment
A Field Trip to SciWorks
Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment
Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment

Eight energized students from Galax Middle School joined BRDC staff for a day of exploration at SciWorks in Winston Salem, Saturday, November 12.

Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment
Galax Enrichment Program science center, SciWorks, Enrichment, astronomy Lisa Benish Comment
Galax Students enjoy American Chestnut Celebration
Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish
Galax Students enjoy American Chestnut Celebration
Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish

 BRDC took eight excited and enthusiastic young ladies from Galax Middle School to learn about the American Chestnut tree and enjoy the festivities. 

Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School Lisa Benish
Galax Middle School Studies Leaves, Invasive Plants and the American Chestnut
Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish
Galax Middle School Studies Leaves, Invasive Plants and the American Chestnut
Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish

Students from Galax Middle School travel to Matthews State Forest to learn about the forests of the Blue Ridge. 

Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish
Galax Enrichment Program Matthews State Forest, American Chestnut Tree, Galax Middle School, Trees Lisa Benish