Virginia is home to a diverse array of state parks, each offering unique natural landscapes, rich history and hands-on educational experiences, making them perfect extensions of the classroom.  

Whether you're a homeschooler or a teacher in a public or private school, Virginia State Parks offer opportunities to expand your curriculum with real-world learning. 

Why state parks make great classrooms 

Salamander Meander at Douthat State Park 

With more than 40 parks scattered across the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, there’s always an opportunity nearby to turn a typical school day into an outdoor adventure. 

State parks offer immersive learning experiences that go far beyond textbooks. Students can: 

• Explore ecosystems by hiking through wetlands, forests and coastal plains. 
• Discover Virginia’s history at parks featuring historical landmarks, Civil War battlefields, pioneer homesteads and more. 
• Practice scientific observation through birdwatching, wildlife tracking and water sampling. 
• Develop outdoor skills like orienteering, fishing and even primitive camping. 

Ranger-led homeschool programs 

Floating classroom at York River State Park 

Many Virginia State Parks offer smaller educational programs designed specifically for homeschooled families. These events are scheduled throughout the year and include ranger-led activities.  

Topics vary by the park but include park ecosystems and their organisms, art in nature, watershed education, fossils and more. 

Check the Virginia State Parks events calendar or reach out to individual parks to learn about upcoming homeschool-friendly events. 

Field trips for the whole classroom 

Field trip to First Landing State Park 

At Virginia State Parks, teachers can work with park rangers to select or customize programs that best support their classroom instruction, ensuring that students gain valuable knowledge while enjoying the benefits of learning in an outdoor setting. 

In addition to providing a fun day outside the classroom, many of these field trips are designed to meet specific grade-level SOLs, from science to visual arts. 

If a field trip isn’t possible, you can request a ranger to come to your school to lead a fun, interactive lesson.  

For more information about field trips and ranger visits, contact a park near you.   

Self-guided parent-student adventures 

Mosaic scavenger hunt at Seven Bends State Park 

Even when there’s not a formal program scheduled, state parks are great locations for independent learning through self-guided activities.  

• Activity sheets: Some parks have brochures, trail maps and checklists for specific topics such as wildflowers or animal tracks. Others offer photo scavenger hunts, aquatic trails, exhibits, orienteering and more. Download a self-guided activity sheet here. 
• Citizen science: Participate in park-based citizen science projects like iNaturalist or eBird, contributing to real scientific research. 
• Geocaching: Combine geography, tech skills and treasure hunting by trying geocaching. Learn more about parks with hidden caches here. 
• Junior Ranger booklets: The Junior Ranger program offers kids a fun and interactive way to explore nature while learning about conservation, wildlife and park history. Once the booklet is complete participants earn their official Junior Ranger badge. Find a park with a Junior Ranger program here.  
• Track Trails: Claytor Lake, First Landing, Grayson Highlands, Hungry Mother, Natural Bridge and Sky Meadows have Kids in Parks TRACK Trails. These family-friendly, self-guided hiking trails are designed to engage children and families in outdoor activities and nature exploration.
• Nature Explore Classrooms: The Children’s Discovery Area at Natural Bridge and Sky Meadows state parks are certified Nature Explore Classrooms. These immersive play spaces are designed with natural materials and are recognized by the Nature Explore program for their quality, creativity and engagement. 

Students don’t have to stay indoors or stick to the page to learn. Whether they’re uncovering history, exploring ecosystems or simply spending time in nature, Virginia State Parks provide the perfect blend of education and adventure. 

Learn more and start planning a trip today at www.virginiastateparks.gov.