Professional Learning
Empower your teaching practice!
We provide professional learning workshops that equip educators with the tools and confidence to lead high-quality environmental science lessons.
You don’t have to book a field trip to engage your students in the James River! Our training sessions focus on the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) framework, ensuring your curriculum meets state standards for environmental literacy. Participants engage in hands-on activities while earning valuable professional learning points toward recertification.
Whether held at the James A. Buzzard River Education Center or in the field, our workshops help you bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world James River education.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Summer 2026
This summer, the James River Association invites educators to step outside the classroom and dive into the ecology, data, and future of the James River. Our professional development workshops are designed to empower teachers with hands-on, immersive experiences—from earning ACA-certified paddling skills and exploring freshwater mussel habitats to conducting real-world field science aboard the Spirit of the James. Whether you are looking to integrate Problem-Based Learning (PBL) into your curriculum, design innovative green infrastructure projects, or master new data-driven labs, these sessions provide the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to bring the science of the river directly to your students.
Green Infrastructure & PBL
Design a Problem-Based Learning module in this 3-day workshop. Tour regional green infrastructure projects and build your own green model using JRA tools to bring sustainable design to your class.
Reduced Fee: $30
Richmond
Elementary School Teachers:
June 10-12, 2026
Middle School Teachers:
June 24-26, 2026
High School Teachers:
July 15-17, 2026
Mussel Power!
Canoe the Upper James to explore freshwater mussel habitats! Work with our specialists to master engaging, multi-grade activities centered on the unique life cycles and adaptations of these species.
Reduced Fee: $30
Lynchburg
June 16, 2026
Canoe Paddle Skills and Ecology
Earn your ACA Level 1 certification while connecting with the tidal James at Deep Bottom Park. Master flatwater safety and paddling basics while diving into the ecology of our local river ecosystems.
Fee: $250
Deep Bottom Park
June 30-July 1, 2026
Citizen Science with JRA
Become a field scientist on the Spirit of the James! Trawl for fish, collect RiverWatch data, and study invasive species to design a custom, data-driven lab for your students to “do science” in class.
Fee: $200
Richmond
July 7-9, 2026
School Year 2026/2027
JRA offers Professional Learning opportunities for division and school implementation. Let us help you understand how to implement MWEE programs and use models for student engagement!
Contact Matt Scott Stone at mscott@thejamesriver.org to schedule one of the below opportunities!
Planning a MWEE with JRA
Work with JRA’s Education Specialist to plan out a full Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) for your classes. MWEEs require a lot of critical thought and planning. Let JRA help you understand their structure and how to maximize your field trips with JRA into the MWEE format! Participants will come away with examples for each stage, lesson ideas and a roadmap to conduct an effective MWEE in their schools. 3rd-12th Grade Science Teachers
Four Hour Workshop, Fee: $250
Ecosystems Connections
How can we get students to connect JRA’s research and programs with theoretical concepts in their classwork? Let JRA help your students connect theory with reality by building an ecosystem model step-by-step. Students can build models to represent food webs, cause-and-effect, and nutrient cycles using activities to represent each step along the way. Teachers take home lesson plans for their grade level as well as digital resources to print and use in their classrooms. 3rd – 12th Grade Science Teachers.
Two Hour Workshop, Fee: $150
Bring the wonders of the James River directly into your classroom! Explore the virtual resources and lesson plans compiled by JRA’s education team in 2020. This webpage offers a wealth of engaging and ready-to-use resources for elementary, middle, and high school students. Empower your students to connect with nature and become the next generation of river stewards!
JRA has partnered with Explore Learning to develop two Gizmo STEM Cases that help students dive into current, pressing challenges for the James River
River Detective: The Case of the Missing Shad
Engage your middle school students with the living laboratory of the James River! Our “River Detective: The Case of the Missing Shad” STEM Case, developed with ExploreLearning, transforms middle schoolers into citizen scientists. They’ll actively monitor river health and explore watershed ecosystems, making complex concepts tangible. This interactive tool is perfect for complementing Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences and fostering future river stewards!
Microbiologist Mission: Reducing River Runoff and Pollution
Bring the James River to life in your classroom! Our new online STEM interactive, “Microbiologist Mission,” lets middle schoolers become real microbiologists, investigating river contamination and wastewater management. Developed in partnership with ExploreLearning, this tool makes learning about water quality hands-on and engaging. It’s a fantastic resource for inspiring the next generation of environmental scientists!
Join Our Educator Newsletter
We’re currently working to broaden our offerings, including more professional learning opportunities. We encourage you to join our email list to stay in the loop about upcoming workshops, webinars, and more!