Overnight Field Trips
Give your class an unforgettable trip to Virginia's highest mountains and stay in our historic 1925 schoolhouse on the Blue Ridge Discovery Center campus. Your students will learn core standards of learning material in an inspiring outdoor setting through hands-on, experiential programs. All meals, lodging, and instruction are covered within the cost of the program.
Lodging
Dormitory accommodations are provided for the students and accompanying staff in the recently restored Historic 1925 Schoolhouse. Upon arrival students are given their "Species Room" assignments and will sleep in bunk bed rooms with private bathrooms.
Curriculum
An individualised program and itinerary is developed in discussion with your school based on your class grade, size, goals, and the season. All of our programs align with your state standards of learning and are led by highly educated staff who provide hands-on experiential learning that exponentially increases the absorption of the lessons.
Activities
Beyond our engaging curriculum, field trips include fun activities like night hikes with "Owl Prowls and "Dark Sky Astronomy"; cultural heritage programs featuring the "Highland Games" and traditional dancing; and excursions to some of the most scenic and globally unique habitats in the East Coast.
Meal Service
Hot nutritious food is served at every meal in "family style dining". Sitting in locally handmade chairs and tables, students are led by a table captain passing serving dishes in a circle. Dishes are cleared by the captain with students separating food scraps for composting and waste. The BRDC is a nut-free facility and diet accommodations can be made for food allergies and gluten sensitivity.
Campus
Our 12-acre campus, nestled at the base of Virginia’s highest mountains and bordering the National Forest, provides an ideal setting for outdoor learning. At the heart of our campus is the 17,250 square foot Historic 1925 Schoolhouse, which includes dormitories for up to 70 guests, a dining hall, library, classrooms, auditorium, and an infirmary. The schoolhouse entrance features an educational rain garden, a 130 seat stone amphitheater graces the back, and a two story slide exits from the dorms. The campus also offers woodland and streamside trails that wind through lush wetlands, across boardwalks, past a picnic pavilion, and along the tumbling Big Laurel Creek.
Partnership with the United States Forest Service provides educational access to some of the most scenic mountains in Virginia including the Mount Rogers, Whitetop Mountain, Elk Garden and more!
Packing
We provide all the necessary gear. Participants are asked to bring a pillow and sleeping bag OR sheets & blanket for a twin XL mattress. Bedding sets are available through BRDC based on need. Students should bring personal items including toiletries and a bath towel; outdoor shoes and proper attire for the season. Please refer to this sample Welcome Packet for more details. Your visit packet will be customized based on your season and activities.
Financial Assistance
If your school is within our local region including Grayson County, Carroll County, City of Galax, Smyth County, and Washington County there is potential financial assistance to cover all or part of your class participation in our programs. Please contact us to learn more about assistance currently available!