• New River flowing through the gorge

    New River Gorge

    National River West Virginia

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  • Cunard Road construction completed

    Construction on the Cunard Road has been completed and the road is now open. Access may be delayed at times while striping is being painted.

  • Rend Trail closure

    Repairs to the stone retention wall will cause closures from June through September, 2013. More »

Curriculum-Based Education Programs

The Park's Educational staff offers a series of curriculum-based, ranger-led educational programs for kindergarten through eighth grade students. These programs are free and available Monday through Friday throughout the school year. They address the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives.

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

K-5th Grade Environmental Education Curriculum

This curriculum helps students understand the importance of caring for and protecting the natural history and cultural heritage of New River Gorge National River and the National Park System as a whole.

Available in: Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: K - 5th (offered as a school wide program with all grades participating)

Water We Can Live With (Water Resource Education Curriculum)

This curriculum is a six-unit program focusing on current and critical issues related to water quality within the New River Watershed with pre- and post-visit activities for each unit.

Available in: Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 6th - 8th (offered as an entire grade level program with all students participating)

Introduction to a National Park

Students learn to recognize the National Park Service arrowhead and to understand the park ranger to be a person who cares about parks and who cares about them.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: K

Explore Your National Park

Students use their senses to explore and learn about things that are found in their National Park.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: K

Habitats

Students learn that the area where a living thing finds food, water, and shelter is its habitat.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 1st

Adaptation, Tools for Survival

Students participate in several hands-on activities that help them to understand the special features that different animals have that helps each to survive.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 2nd

Natural Communities

Students explore what human and natural communities are, who lives in each and how they depend on each other.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 2nd

Ecosystems

Students role play the parts of an ecosystem and how the living things interact with each other and with the non-living parts of the ecosystem.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 3rd

People Are Part of the Ecosystem

Students learn how people depend on the parts of an ecosystem to survive and how the ecosystem depends on people to protect it.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 3rd

West Virginia Heritage

Students role play members of a family that once lived in the New River Gorge to learn past life ways.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 4th

Native Americans in the New River Gorge Region

Students learn some of the life ways of native peoples that lived in West Virginia.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 4th

Early Settlers in the New River Gorge Region

Students become a pioneer family to learn how to survive as new settlers in the New River Gorge region.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 4th

Responsible Action

Students discuss ways that they can take care of the world around them and learn that an individual can make a difference.
Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 5th

West Virginia Industrial Heritage

Students look at the early railroad, lumber, and coal mining industries of West Virginia to learn their importance to the New River Gorge area and development of the United States.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 5th

National Parks

Students get involved in small group research to learn about a national park site and what is being protected at that site.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 5th

Geology - Rocks and Rivers

Students explore the types of rocks found in the New River Gorge and the rivers role in carving the landscape of today.

Available in: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 5th - 8th

Endangered Species in West Virginia

Students play a game and watch a video to help them see and understand the ways that species become endangered.

Available in: Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh & Summers counties

Grade Level: 4th - 6th

ON_SITE PROGRAMS

Habitats

Students join a park ranger in an exploration of animal habitats and learn that all plants and animals depend on their habitat for survival.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, Glade Creek, Grandview, Sandstone Falls, and Thurmond

Grade Level: K - 3rd

Water Safety

Students learn that the New River is very powerful with many potential hazards and ways that they can enjoy the river is with safety and respect.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, Glade Creek, Sandstone Falls, and Thurmond

Grade Level: 1st - 8th

Water Quality

Students acquire a basic understanding of water resources and learn about issues that threaten our water resources.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, Glade Creek, Grandview, Sandstone Falls, and Thurmond

Grade Level: 2nd - 5th

Railroading

Students focus on the importance of the railroad to the New River Gorge and to the United States as a whole and that it brought changes... people, jobs, mines, and lumber camps to West Virginia.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, Glade Creek, Grandview, and Thurmond

Grade Level: 4th - 6th

Logging

Students focus on the historic lumber industry of the New River Gorge and learn the impact of the logging industry on the local and national economy.

Available at: Glade Creek, and Grandview

Grade Level: 4th - 6th

Coal Mining

Students learn their connection to coal, what is coal, how coal is mined, and the uses of coal through hands-on activities with equipment, role playing, and discussion.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, and Grandview

Grade Level: 4th - 6th

Geology - Rocks and Rivers

Students explore the types of rocks found in the New River Gorge and the rivers role in carving the landscape of today.

Available at: Burnwood, Canyon Rim, Grandview, Sandstone Falls, and Thurmond

Grade Level: 5th - 8th

Did You Know?

Ranger and children at park overlook

Over one million visitors come to New River Gorge National River each year. Park rangers assist visitors and help them better understand the park and the park resources.