School & Group Environmental Science
Our overnight environmental science programs in Prince William Forest Park offer students the opportunity to engage in inclusive, hands-on learning experiences in the DC Metro Area’s largest green space. Students explore a Piedmont forest ecosystem while challenging themselves physically, building meaningful relationships and discovering a caring relationship with the natural world. We collaborate with each school or group to ensure their program experience meets their educational goals.
Program
Sample Day & Activities #
Morning: Gather in the historic dining hall for breakfast, pack backpacks and prepare for a day in the forest.
Instructional Day: Spend the day in small learning groups led by a professional NatureBridge educator. Students engage in collaborative, authentic scientific learning experiences in a safe and supportive environment. These experiences are designed to support curriculum standards and students’ social and emotional development.
Sample Activities
- Conduct a reptile and amphibian study. Observe salamanders, turtles and frogs in their natural habitats.
- Explore a nearby creek and participate in a stream bio-monitoring project while learning about watersheds and water use.
- Investigate the physical processes that affect the landscape and the forest ecosystem. Topics include erosion, weathering, rock types and soil composition.
- Learn about nocturnal animals and astronomy on a night hike.
Afternoon/Early Evening: Return to campus to relax or play in the ball field while school chaperones supervise. Dinner in the dining hall gives everyone a chance to share their trail stories.
Evening: NatureBridge educators will facilitate evening programs chosen by the school’s Group Coordinator. Options include an evening hike, nature art, herpetology and a closing campfire (s’mores may be provided by the school). Students then return to the cabins and get ready for bed.
Areas of Study #
Life Science & Ecology: Learn about the diversity of life in the Piedmont Forest by investigating the wide range of flora and fauna that live in terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Watershed Studies: Explore Quantico Creek and its tributaries while learning more about the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the water cycle, stream hydrology and riparian ecology.
Our Educators #
NatureBridge environmental science educators bring our programs to life. Our skilled and passionate educators provide inclusive and culturally responsive programming that challenges students to step out of their comfort zones and connect to themselves and one another. Our staff have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work and training experience, cleared background checks and are certified to manage risk in the field.
The energy and passion our educators have for engaging with youth and the natural world is a vital element of our success.
Outcomes #
Connect to SCIENCE + NATURE + SELF AND OTHERS: Students experience personal growth, build interpersonal skills, gain science knowledge, strengthen critical thinking skills and learn to act as environmental stewards. NatureBridge strives to create an impactful and lasting educational program for every student.
Everybody should have the experience of learning through the lens of a nature adventure. Students were engaged in productive talk, experimenting and curiosity. It's amazing how much learning takes place when students are immersed in the actual environment.Tondra Odom, Teacher at Savoy Elementary School
Campus
Lodging #
Our campus at Cabin Camp 1 is made up of several cabins, a dining hall and craft lodges, which can be used as indoor teaching spaces. The cabins are divided into four loops, which each have their own bath house with sinks, toilets and showers. The Cabin Camp was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's as a summer camp for inner-city Washington, D.C. youth. It has a very rustic feel that allows students to feel fully immersed in the forest environment.
Dining #
The kitchen staff at our campus have worked at several Park Service locations and are excited to provide healthy, delicious food to our participants. Breakfast and dinner are served in the dining hall. Lunch is served on the trail during the hiking day. Most individual dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, can be accommodated with advance notice. All participants are asked to bring their own lunch on arrival day.
Rates and Availability
Rates #
| Rates | Students | Teacher/Chaperones |
| 3 days/2 nights | $340 | $205 |
Tuition for a NatureBridge in Prince William Forest includes:
- Customized instruction for groups of approximately 120 students.
- On-site lodging in historic cabins.
- Nutritious meals provided in our dining hall and field lunches (except arrival day lunch).
- Educational evening programs for each night of stay.
Tuition does not include transportation to and from Prince William Forest Park.
Scholarships & Fundraising #
NatureBridge Scholarships
NatureBridge is committed to reaching students in all communities we serve. Scholarships are awarded based on the free and reduced meal rate (or private-school equivalent) of each school and/or additional information to demonstrate need. If you believe your school may qualify for a scholarship, please reach out to princewilliamforest@naturebridge.org.
Funding Ideas
Explore additional funding opportunities to support your NatureBridge program! Visit our Funding Ideas page for valuable resources on securing grants, launching crowdfunding campaigns, and discovering product sales ideas to help make your educational journey possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare for Your Trip
Students and Families #
- Participant Registration: Registration form are completed online. The Group Coordinator for each program emails the registration link for each participant.
- Packing List (Spanish)
- Student Expectations (Spanish): Ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time at NatureBridge by reviewing these expectations with your students.
- Safety and Risk Management Practices
- Dietary Restrictions (Spanish)
Chaperones #
Teachers and Group Coordinators #
Request Information
If you are interested in learning more or scheduling an overnight school program, then please fill out the form below and a member of the outreach team will be in touch soon.
Find Us
Prince William Forest
Get directions to our campus
703-634-9041
princewilliamforest@naturebridge.org